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The New Jersey Council for the Humanities has awarded 18 grants totaling $216,319 in its most recent grant round. These funds will support a diverse array of projects in nine counties across the Garden State, highlighting NJCH’s ongoing commitment to fostering the public humanities.

Of the 18 awarded projects, five had their beginnings in prior NJCH grants or programs.

Two organizations, the AIDS Resource Foundation for Children and the Hispanic Family Center of Southern NJ, received funding for projects that expand upon the Dear Rosa Project, an oral history initiative amplifying the voices of women living with HIV/AIDS that was funded by a prior NJCH grant. Additionally, Clinton Hill Community Action and Raíces Cultural both received funding to extend projects initially developed in NJCH’s Community History Program. And Truehart Productions received funding to produce a new episode of the PBS documentary series “The Price of Freedom,” which previously received developmental funding from an NJCH incubation grant.

“We are thrilled to see the continued impact and evolution of projects that have received our support in the past. Their success demonstrates the profound influence of our programs on the public humanities in New Jersey,” NJCH Executive Director Carin Berkowitz said. “The diverse and dynamic projects funded in this round will significantly contribute to the understanding and appreciation of our state’s rich cultural heritage.”

Learn how you can register for events online, search the member directory for organizations and colleagues who have the same interests, and update your profile.

Summer always brings to mind those great “summer reads.” This has been an “occasional series” of CNJG eNews during the summer, over the years. In addition to this year’s curated list – I’m thrilled to share recommendations from a few CNJG Board members and the CNJG team!

CNJG Board of Trustees’ Secretary, Maisha Simmons, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, recommends Heather McGhee’s The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How we can Prosper Together. There’s also a podcast series, and the book has been adapted for young readers.

The Work: My Search for a Life that Matters by Wes Moore is the top pick from Board member, Jasmyne Beckford, The Prudential Foundation. Jasmyne reflects, this book helped her think about how she can live a life that creates impact for generations both personally and professionally.

CNJG Board member Justin Kiczek, F. M. Kirby Foundation, recently read Getting Beyond Better: How Social Entrepreneurship Works. “As our foundation holds both stewardship and entrepreneurship as core values, it helps me understand how social entrepreneurs start their journey and scale their solutions.” 

In honor of Black Philanthropy Month this August, I’m excited to feature a few great reads created to inspire and inform your philanthropic journey. Thank you to Manager of Communications Shakirat Odunsi for curating this list:

• Madam C. J. Walker's Gospel of Giving: Black Women's Philanthropy during Jim Crow highlights Walker’s visionary approach to philanthropy and community-building, emphasizing the vital role of Black women’s giving in advancing social justice. Freeman’s work sheds light on how Walker’s philanthropy was an extension of her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to racial and gender equality.
   
• Ford Foundation’s Darren Walker reimagines Andrew Carnegie’s vision of philanthropy for the modern era in From Generosity to Justice: A New Gospel of Wealth, urging philanthropists to go beyond charity and address systemic inequalities to foster justice and lasting change.
   
• Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds encourages readers to embrace adaptability and resilience by using emergent strategies – small-scale actions that create large-scale impact. Author adrienne maree brown challenges traditional models of organizing and invites us to envision a more just and equitable world through collaboration, creativity, and deep connections with others. It’s a guidebook for those seeking to shape the future and navigate the complexities of change.
   
• Isabel Wilkerson explores how entrenched hierarchies based on race and class impact every aspect of our lives in Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. Through compelling narratives and meticulous research, she reveals how this hidden system continues to perpetuate inequality and injustice, challenging us to confront these deeply rooted structures and work toward true equality.

From the CNJG team, Director of Member Services Craig Weinrich is currently reading How We Give Now: A Philanthropic Guide for the Rest of Us by Lucy Bernholz. This book demonstrates that philanthropy is about much more than money. Bernholz posits that even giving our data willingly to companies is an act of philanthropy. This is a great intersection to the Spring Colloquium conversation around AI, and ongoing discussions about how we can expand our definition of philanthropy as guided by our Strategic Plan.

Chanika Svetvilas, Manager of Programs and Learning recommends Against Technoableism by Ashley Shew and Imagination A Manifesto by Ruha Benjamin. Not too long ago I read Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, which prompted me to really consider what each of us should focus on in our day-to-day work, and what we need to let go. It’s a practical, insightful guide that led to several “aha” moments. All three books challenge us to think very differently about our world and what’s possible. 

And finally, a recently discovered read I’ve gifted to family and friends, All the Colors of Life by renowned artist Lisa Aisato; this will lift your spirits as you find yourself paging through it and experiencing it over and over again. 

Happy Summer Reading!

On a different note, I hope you will join us at the Summer Joint Policy Forum – Nonprofit and Philanthropic Champions for New Jersey on August 13, at The Heldrich in New Brunswick. I look forward to seeing you there, and hearing what’s on your summer reading list! 
 
Sincerely, 

Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers

Community Investment Strategies, Inc. (CIS), a women-owned leader in affordable housing, has announced a strategic partnership with the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation to preserve and rehabilitate affordable housing in Elizabeth.

The first phase of this collaboration will support the renovation of Portside II, a 169-unit affordable housing community for low-income families. Originally completed in 2006 as part of the HOPE VI redevelopment, Portside II has been recognized for its contributions to the city’s revitalization.

CIS, founded by President and CEO Christiana Foglio, is dedicated to ensuring long-term housing stability through innovative funding strategies, policy advocacy, and community engagement. The Dodge Foundation’s predevelopment financial support will help maintain affordability, enhance accessibility, and improve living conditions for residents.

“This partnership enables us to expand our reach and secure critical funding early in the process,” said Foglio. “Our investment in Portside II will preserve safe, sustainable, and affordable housing for generations to come.”

The New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) recently awarded $199,637 in Incubation and Action Grant funding to sixteen organizations. Incubation Grants help organizations plan, research, develop, and prototype public humanities projects and events. Action Grants help organizations implement a wide array of humanities-based projects, including public programs, exhibitions, installations, tours, and discussion groups.<BR><BR>

Public humanities programming allows individuals to engage in lifelong learning and share in the exploration of history, values, cultures, and beliefs. NJCH supports and acts as a resource for cultural and service-oriented nonprofit partners as they bring the public humanities to the residents of New Jersey, harnessing the power of the humanities to strengthen communities.