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The 2017 President’s Report is our annual look back at CNJG’s robust programming and services in benefit to our members and by extension, the communities that our members serve. These programs, services and leadership initiatives elevate not only our members’ work and practice, but also grantmakers throughout New Jersey, and often even beyond. CNJG remains at the ready to assist New Jersey grantmakers in meeting the ongoing challenges of yesterday and today.
Kevin Callaghan, CNJG’s Newark Philanthropic Liaison, along with the city of Newark, have coordinated a philanthropic response to helping the residents of Newark with their water. This two-page overview offers suggestions for how philanthropy can assist with short-term and long-term needs. To help support the efforts, please contact Kevin.
To stay up-to-date on their efforts, visit the Newark Water Challenge area of our website.
The presence of lead in New Jersey, whether in drinking water, paint, or soil, is one of many environmental justice issues that disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color. This funder briefing for all funders in New Jersey will cover how lead affects New Jersesyans, where it comes from, as well as local solutions, success stories, and partners to help communities equitably remove lead. Panelists will also discuss what funders can do in partnership with local governments to address the issue, including understanding new state mandates for lead pipe replacement and lead paint inspections and remediation.
Speakers:
Deandrah Cameron, New Jersey Future
Ruth Ann Norton, Green and Healthy Homes Initiative
Heather Sorge, Lead-Free NJ
Shereyl Snider, East Trenton Collaborative
Moderator: Anthony Diaz, Newark Water Coalition
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Non Member Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
Deandrah Cameron
Deandrah develops and advances state policies that affect health, water infrastructure, and redevelopment, with a primary focus on lead in drinking water. Prior to joining New Jersey Future, Deandrah worked as a case investigator at the Monmouth County Health Department to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Deandrah holds a B.S. in Public Health from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, as well as a Master of Public Health focused on Health Systems and Policy with a Graduate Certificate in Public Health Nutrition from the Rutgers School of Public Health.
Ruth Ann Norton
Ruth Ann Norton, President & CEO of the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, joined the organization in 1993 and has led its development into one of the nation’s most effective and foremost authorities on healthy housing and its impact on the social determinants of health. GHHI is dedicated to addressing the social determinants of health and racial equity through healthy housing. An expert on lead poisoning prevention, healthy housing and the intersection of climate, energy and health, Ruth Ann directs GHHI’s national strategy, policy framework and services to integrate climate, healthcare and healthy housing as a platform for improved health, economic, educational and social outcomes for low-income communities.
Heather Sorge
Heather is the Lead-Free NJ program manager and oversees its day-to-day operations. Lead-Free NJ is a new inclusive and equitable collaborative focused on addressing lead hazards and preventing childhood lead poisoning. Heather’s work is centered on facilitating a diverse statewide network that hopes to ultimately ensure the eradication of childhood lead poisoning in New Jersey within 10 years. Prior to joining New Jersey Future, Heather was the organizer for Healthy Schools Now with the New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC), a coalition of over 80 organizations representing a diverse set of stakeholders dedicated to ensuring all New Jersey children and school employees learn and work in safe, healthy, modernized school buildings. Heather graduated from Churchman Business School with a degree in Accounting Finance.
Shereyl Snider
Shereyl Snider joined the East Trenton Collaborative (ETC) in 2019 as a Community Organizer. Originally a New Yorker, she has lived in East Trenton since 2003. As an ETC staff member, Shereyl provides dynamic leadership, amplifies the voices of the marginalized, facilitates collaboration among individuals from diverse backgrounds, and develops a robust commercial and residential community. After moving to Trenton, she earned an associate’s degree in Early Child Care from Mercer County Community College and worked as a substitute teacher in the Hamilton School District for five years. As a neighborhood resident and volunteer at the ETC, she learned how to organize in her local community. In addition to her work in the East Trenton neighborhood, Shereyl is also a member of The City of Trenton American Rescue Plan Committee championing for a lead safe Trenton.
Anthony Diaz, moderator
Anthony Diaz was born and raised in Newark, NJ where he currently resides and is the oldest of 4 boys. He is the co-founder and executive director of the Newark Water Coalition, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the city's lead water crisis and other social justice issues. The Newark Water Coalition has given out over 100,000 gallons of water and over 90,000 lbs of food. He has traveled nationally and internationally to work on water issues on indigenous lands and rural communities. Anthony was able to represent Newark at the United Nations Climate Conference in Glasgow, Scotland. He believes that people power can win against the interconnected struggles of humanity. He is an avid Star Wars and Anime fan.
Webinar Video
Articles of Interest
Gov. Murphy announced grants for organizations ridding NJ of lead exposure
New Jersey will grant $38 million to lead abatement. Here’s where it will go.
New Jersey Lead Poisoning Prevention Action Plan
Jersey Water Works Lead in Drinking Water Task Force
Facts about Lead in the Home
Lead in Drinking Water, a Permanent Solution in New Jersey
Lead in Drinking Water in Child Care Facilities: Ensuring the Future for New Jersey’s Children
Lead Free NJ
East Trenton Collaborative
Newark Water Coalition
Green & Healthy Homes Initiative
In 2004, a group of foundations came together to create a funder collaborative in support of Freedom to Marry’s state-by-state strategy to win marriage equality. Over the following 11 years, this unique collaborative and its funding partners invested a total of $153 million to support a wide range of activities across the country to change hearts and minds on a massive scale — and ultimately to deliver a historic win for equality and love.
A new case study and video tell the untold, behind-the-scenes story of this funder collaborative — how its members worked with movement leaders to develop a strategy for winning, how they persevered in their support despite enormous setbacks, and how they invested in the opinion research, state-by-state grassroots action and litigation that pushed marriage over the finish line from coast to coast. As the Civil Marriage Collaborative closes its doors in 2015, the case study and video also draw lessons from this historic victory for foundations supporting other social justice causes.

This guide was designed to help the state’s philanthropic community understand their ethical, legal, and fiduciary requirements and obligations.
The Future of Work and the Role of Philanthropy
Date: This event has been postponed.
After much consideration and in light of the ongoing spread of coronavirus, CNJG has decided to postpone the 2020 Spring Colloquium, entitled The Future of Work and Philanthropy’s Role.
This was a difficult decision, but the health and safety of attendees and staff are of the utmost importance at this time. It is especially significant because our communities--and indeed our state--rely so heavily on the services and programs made possible by New Jersey’s foundations and charitable organizations. We do not want to do anything that could impede the good work being done by our philanthropic and nonprofit staff, leaders and stakeholders.
We are tremendously grateful to PSEG, our Signature Sponsor, for their continued support, and thank the CNJG Program Committee for their thoughtful guidance and ongoing assistance.
Community colleges offer greater affordability than private or state colleges, are adept at providing flexible education schedules and delivery, and are often deeply tied to the local areas in which they reside. This type of accessibility and inclusivity provides enormous opportunities for students left out of traditional higher education models. And while there is a road to recovery for community colleges post-COVID, they can play a critical role in building a future workforce in local communities and creating a more equitable higher education system for New Jersey students.
During this program, we’ll hear from several community college leaders on the impact of the pandemic on enrollment and learning, the biggest challenges facing higher education right now, and the opportunities they see to close education gaps and improve student outcomes. Join us to learn more about community colleges as a pathway to success for students in New Jersey, and philanthropy’s role in supporting more accessible, affordable, and flexible higher education models.
Speakers include:
Brian Bridges, Ph.D., Secretary of Higher Education, State of New Jersey
Dr. Michael Gorman, President, Salem Community College
Steven M. Rose, President, Passaic Community College
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Non Member Grantmakers.
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
Webinar Video
How the government can partner with impact investors to unleash new capital, talent and energy for maximum impact.