Charles Bergman
Senior Director, Neighborhood Strategies
Charles is a seasoned community development professional and strategic leader who has been instrumental in shaping neighborhood revitalization efforts in New Brunswick, NJ. He joined New Brunswick Tomorrow (NBT) in January 2014 as the inaugural Director of the Esperanza Neighborhood Project, a bold initiative aimed at transforming one of the city’s most culturally rich yet historically underserved communities. Under Charles’s leadership and in close collaboration with the NBT team and local stakeholders, Esperanza has evolved into a multi-faceted, community-driven revitalization effort that delivers tangible improvements in both quality of life and the built environment.
In 2021, Charles’s role expanded to Director of Neighborhood Strategies, where he now oversees a broader portfolio of initiatives that drive equitable development, resident engagement, and opportunity in two focus neighborhoods—Esperanza and Livingston Avenue South—and across the city. His work emphasizes inclusive planning, cross-sector collaboration, and sustainable impact, ensuring that revitalization efforts are rooted in the voices and aspirations of the communities they serve.
Before joining NBT, Charles spent five years in Chicago working with a cross-cultural parent organizing and advocacy organization, where he supported families in successfully influencing local and state education policy. This experience deepened his commitment to grassroots leadership and systems change.
A Nebraska native, Charles holds a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and a Master’s in Justice Ministries from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He brings a unique blend of faith-based values, policy expertise, and community organizing to his work.
Charles lives in New Brunswick’s Esperanza Neighborhood with his wife and their three young daughters. His personal and professional life are deeply intertwined with the city’s future, and he remains committed to building a more inclusive, vibrant, and resilient New Brunswick.