Opening Spark
Civic Pulse 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Inspired by the Ignite format, this "Spark" session will present dynamic and powerful voices driving civic engagement across New Jersey. Each speaker will explore different ways that nonprofits and philanthropy are civically engaged to spark ideas for your own work. The session will be emceed by Craig Drinkard, CNJG Board of Trustees’ Chair and Executive Officer, Victoria Foundation.
Join us as we hear from:
• Fannie Chan Jarvis, Community Relations Specialist, New Jersey Division on Civil Rights – Protecting civil rights and promoting inclusivity.
• Amanda Ebokosia, Founder & CEO, The Gem Project – Empowering youth through civic education and participatory action.
• Justin Kiczek, President, F. M. Kirby Foundation – Strengthening communities via philanthropic leadership.
• Brandon McKoy, President, Fund for New Jersey – Catalyzing public policy change through strategic grantmaking.
• Nicole Rodriguez, President, New Jersey Policy Perspective – Advancing equitable policies through data-driven advocacy.
• Charlene D. Walker, Executive Director, Faith in New Jersey – Redefining organizing as sacred work.
Morning Sessions
The Future of Civic Engagement 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM
Shaping Civic Spaces through the Arts
Join an inspiring conversation exploring the intersection of art, public space, and civic life. This dynamic panel brings together leading voices from government, cultural institutions, and the arts to discuss how creative practice can shape civic engagement, foster community dialogue, and illuminate personal narratives and histories. This panel share insights from their work and explore the power of collaboration between artists and civic institutions to imagine more inclusive and participatory futures.
Funding Our Future Together: The Power of Community-Driven Decisions
Civic engagement is more than just the ballot box. It is people showing up for their community to ensure it continues to be a vibrant and sustainable place to live. Participatory Budgeting brings people into the fold of resource management by demystifying and empowering everyone to decide how a portion of a public budget is spent and empowering them to propose, discuss, and vote on projects that address their needs. This panel will discuss how budgets can bring consensus, excitement, and increase civic engagement through direct democratic processes, and how philanthropy can ensure community led decisions take center stage.
Innovating Economic Justice: New Jersey's Guaranteed Income Collaborations
How can economic security strengthen democratic participation? This panel explores the intersection of income inequality, public policy, and civic engagement through the lens of guaranteed income and social equity. Experts and advocates will discuss the research, pilot programs, and policy strategies shaping guaranteed income initiatives in New Jersey and nationally. The conversation will highlight how economic stability can empower individuals to more fully participate in civic life and influence systemic change.
Empowering the Next Generation: Civic Learning & Engagement
Join this dynamic panel exploring how New Jersey youth are engaging in and learning about civic engagement in and out of the classroom. We welcome insights from three youth civic leaders from Newark and Lincroft, a dedicated classroom teacher from Edison, NJ, and an statewide afterschool program advocate, and will also introduce CivicsNJ. The session highlights collaborative approaches to civic learning that center youth voice, agency, and real-world impact. Panelists will share successful strategies, challenges, and lessons learned from working across school and community settings to prepare young people for lifelong civic engagement.
Driving Community Solutions through Public and Private Collaboration
Public-Private partnerships can reflect civic engagement by incorporating community input, promoting transparency, and potentially leading to better outcomes where communities are actively involved in the planning and implementation of projects.
Keynote Address
A New Story for Local News 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Dale Robinson Anglin
Director, Press Forward
Dale Robinson Anglin serves as the director of Press Forward, the growing coalition of 88+ local and national funders committed to investing more than $500 million to strengthen communities through local news. Press Forward now includes 36 locally led chapters in 29 states. Most recently, Anglin served as Vice President for Grantmaking at the Cleveland Foundation, managing a $60 million budget. At the Foundation, Anglin led the effort to invest in a regional network of nonprofit journalism initiatives, including the creation of Documenters Cleveland and Signal, the nonprofit newsroom of Cleveland and Ohio. Anglin had previously invested in NJ Spotlight and Chalkbeat Newark while she worked at the Victoria Foundation in Newark, NJ. Anglin also launch a new system of integrated physical health and mental wellness in Cleveland schools, and led the region’s COVID-19 Fund. Anglin also served as associate director for programs at the Victoria Foundation in Newark, NJ, and executive director of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management in Washington, D.C. Originally from Chicago, Anglin has a bachelor’s degree from Smith College and a master’s degree from the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley. She lives in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
Afternoon Sessions
Mobilizing New Jersey 1:45 PM – 3:00 PM
Sharing Information, Connecting Communities, and Forging a Common Good
Access to trusted, accurate local news and information is essential for building strong, healthy, and engaged communities. When residents are well-informed, they can advocate for better policies, participate in decision-making, hold public officials accountable, and support initiatives to sustain the wellbeing of their communities. But in an era of changing media landscapes, where can people turn for trustworthy information beyond traditional journalism?
This session will explore diverse methods for staying informed, including local news outlets, local government updates, community networks, social platforms, public forums, and civic technology tools. Participants will learn strategies to discern credible information, bridge information gaps, and gather communities together to make decisions and take action to shape the future of their communities. This session will also cover how philanthropy has and can support these efforts.
Now What? The Public Policy Landscape for Nonprofits and Philanthropy
The first half of 2025 has already brought a rapid stream of sweeping policy changes that are transforming nonprofits, philanthropy, and the communities we serve. From White House executive actions and Congressional legislation to developments in Trenton, this session will cover the latest news, what it means, and how nonprofits and philanthropy can gear up for the months ahead.
Advocacy and Coalition Building for a More Just New Jersey
This session will highlight coalition building and collaboration for cross movement building. The panel brings together grassroots leaders organizing at the intersections of race, immigration, and justice to discuss the urgent need for inclusive civic engagement. Panelists will share their experiences mobilizing communities, the challenges they face, and the opportunities for building solidarity to drive policy change and increase voter power.
Democracy for All: Expanding Access and Choice in New Jersey Elections
Join a timely and dynamic conversation on the future of voter participation in New Jersey. This panel brings together leading voices from advocacy, legal reform, and data-driven research to explore the barriers to electoral access and the innovations that can help overcome them. Panelists will discuss strategies to expand voter choice, enhance civic engagement, and ensure a more inclusive democracy across the state.
Serving on State Boards & Commissions
Sam Parker, Chief of Staff to Lt. Governor Way and Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Murphy, will discuss ways to become involved with a state board or commission and the appointment process. There will also be an opportunity to learn about the expectations and responsibilities of serving the State as well as why it is important to be involved as a philanthropic organization. Sam oversees the Appointments Department, which is responsible for the numerous appointments to New Jersey’s various Boards, Commissions, Councils, Advisory Committees, and Task Forces; as well as the Judicial Bench.
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