First Lady MaryPat Christie was in Newark today to honor a local hero.

New Jersey’s First Lady pops into a classroom at YouthBuild Newark – a school for at-risk young people where they gain skills for construction jobs and help build affordable housing in surrounding neighborhoods.

Christie is honoring the school’s founder Robert Clark who is himself a graduate of the program in Boston.

“I knew there were a lot of young people who I believed would respond well to the model so I jumped at the chance to come here, to be part of the team to bring the program here.”

Clark has been named the state’s fifteenth New Jersey Hero, a charity started by the First Lady to celebrate residents who are working to make a difference – and give them financial support.

“And lastly and maybe most importantly is that we get to give you a check for $5,000,” she says.

As for how to spend the money, Clark says he’s leaving that up to his students.