New Jersey Regional Coalition -

Building One New Jersey!

gracely — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 09:10:34 -0600

Building One New Jersey: State Planning for Inclusion, Sustainability, and Economic Growth" -- a powerful, dynamic summit meeting on equity and planning brought close to 400 people together in Princeton on July 23, 2010. Panelists and attendees made up an amazing array of Federal, State, municipal, corporate, civic, and clergy leaders who joined in a powerful discussion of regional equity and a NJ state plan.

See a summary of the ONE New Jersey policy platform.

Marty Johnson's excellent summary of the event for the Trenton Times is here. The Trenton Times own coverage of the event is here. A news story from NJ Spotlight is here. See pictures here.

Visit PlanSmart NJ's website for more information about NJRC's partner in this Building One New Jersey event.

Capitol District Screening of "The New Metropolis"

gracely — Thu, 13 May 2010 18:12:41 -0600

NJRC Capitol District hosted a successful screening and panel discussion of "The New Metropolis" on May 6, 2010, with honored guest panelist Mayor Michael Powers of Lawrence Township. More than 50 people came out to view the screening, participate in discussion, and prepare turnout commitments for NJRC's statewide summit on regional equity scheduled for July 23, 2010. PANELISTS (left to right): Adam M. Gordon Esq., Fair Share Housing Center, Cherry Hill; Mayor Michael Powers, Lawrence Township; Marlene Lao-Collins, St. Joseph’s Church, Trenton; Alex J. Allen III, Managing Director, Community Outreach & Education, Isles Inc., and a member of Shiloh Baptist Church, Trenton

Camden County Screening of "The New Metropolis"

gracely — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:21:31 -0600

Another successful screening of the movie, with over 50 people in attendance on May 7, 2010. Panelists for this viewing were (from the left) Pastor Robert Hargrove of the Christ Care Unit Missionary Baptist Church, Winslow Township; John Kendall, Haddon Township Board of Education and President of the Camden County School Boards Association; Pastor Joe Capella, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Lindenwold; Mayor John Gentless of Stratford; and Mayor Michael Blunt of Chesilhurst. At the podium is the moderator, Pastor Reggie Johnson, Grace Temple Baptist Church, Lawnside.

NJRC Annual Leadership Assembly Jan 24, 2010

gracely — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:24:48 -0700

Over 100 New Jersey Regional Coalition leaders gathered on Sunday, January 24, for a powerful annual statewide NJRC Leadership Assembly, hosted by Rev. Darrell Armstrong, at Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton.

Leading the meeting were NJRC President Rev. R. Lenton Buffalo, Jr., of Union Baptist Church in Elizabeth, and NJRC Vice President Marlene Lao-Collins of St. Joseph ’s Catholic Church in Trenton.

The picture shows attendees from a Local District Council in a caucus session to plan their Power Event for the spring of 2010 and to identify leaders to participate in the March 2010 Weeklong Leadership Training. Each Local District Council held a caucus session during the meeting.

New Jersey Regional Coalition's Action Day in Trenton

gracely — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:49:18 -0700

Good news! The New Jersey Regional Coalition's "Building One New Jersey" action day in Trenton on Thursday, December 10, 2009, was a resounding success! We used this visit to the Statehouse to educate legislators on our social justice issues and to push for change.

The picture shows our NJRC members in State Senator Raymond Lesniak's office. The Senator is sitting next to the computer screen.

All together, about 100 members from across the state gathered for 4 scheduled meetings to speak with targeted legislators and "Jingle for Justice" -- As we walked through the Statehouse and the Statehouse annex, we handed out green fliers listing our 3 current issues along with little holiday jingle bells. We were there to press for:

* Criminal Justice Reform
* In-State Tuition for children of immigrants
* Property tax reform and regional tax equity for all New Jerseyans

* You can view an informative NJN TV segment about us here.

* WHYY Radio coverage is here.

* Newspaper coverage is here.

New Jersey Regional Coalition Hosts ‘Building One New Jersey’ Banquet

gracely — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:35:36 -0700

On November 12, 2009, the New Jersey Regional Coalition (NJRC) held its Second Annual Awards Banquet at the Trenton Marriott. More than 300 guests attended the “Building One New Jersey” benefit banquet honoring seven individuals from all parts of the state for their success in advancing social justice reform.

Launched in 2003, the New Jersey Regional Coalition (NJRC) is a diverse, statewide non-profit organization of congregations and civic groups working to bring about regional solutions to such pressing and pervasive local problems as poverty, racial and economic segregation, and sprawl. Over its short life, NJRC has developed pragmatic solutions to New Jersey’s high level of economic and racial segregation, problems of municipal fragmentation and competition, and the severe regional disparities in housing, tax base, poverty, and educational opportunity.

The picture (above) shows awardees and presenters at the awards banquet. From left: Rev. R.L. Buffalo; Rohn Hein; Thomas Carver; Brian Levine; Martin Johnson; Bishop Roy Riley; Senator Nia H. Gill; Nicole Plett; Assemblyman Donald Norcross; and Marlene Lao-Collins. More pictures here.

600 Attend Building ONE America Summit in DC, Keynote Address from Valerie Jarrett

admin — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:31:05 -0600

More than 600 participants, including over 150 members of the New Jersey Regional Coalition, attended the “Building One America” national conference in Washington, D.C., on September 17 and 18, 2009. The two-day “National Summit on Regional Opportunity” was designed to bring before the federal government successful, proven regional policies, programs, and strategies to combat concentrated poverty, residential and school segregation, and sprawl.

At left, Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama, with NJRC President Rev. R. Lenton Buffalo, Jr. seated behind her.

Watch video highlights of the event here.

NJ Obama for America Director & 100 Attend NJRC Willingboro Prayer Breakfast; NJRC Leaders Meet with Congressman Adler

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:06:23 -0600

One hundred clergy and community leaders attended the NJRC Lower Delaware Local District Council Prayer Breakfast in Willingboro on July 14, 2009. Attendees included Samantha Gordon (NJ State Director for Organizing for America (the official successor organization for Obama for America)), Mayor Joe Gural of Palmyra, Willingboro Councilmen James Ayrer and Eddie Campbell, Barry Seymour (Executive Director of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission), Mary Campbell (District Director for Congressman John Adler) and Joseph V. Doria, Jr. (former Commissioner of the NJ Department of Community Affairs). The breakfast was held at the Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church. Local NJRC leaders met with Congressman John Adler in advance of the breakfast and secured his support for federal NJRC initiatives."

Senate Majority Leader Sweeney + 150 Attend NJRC Southern Local District Council Prayer Breakfast

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:22:34 -0600

Over 150 clergy and community leaders including Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney, Senator Fred Madden, Assemblywoman Celeste Riley, Mayor Cindy Rau-Hatton (Gloucester Township), Mayor John Washington (Penns Grove), and Donald Norcross (Southern NJ AFL-CIO) attended the NJRC Southern Local District Council Prayer Breakfast on June 27, 2009 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Washington Township. Majority Leader Sweeney committed to work with NJRC on equitable policies for all of New Jersey and is scheduled to meet with key NJRC leaders in July, 2009.

The Capitol District Council of the New Jersey Regional Coalition Prayer Breakfast hosts more than 100.

gracely — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:28:22 -0600

Congressman Rush Holt and Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman pledge follow-up meetings

NJRC Capitol District Council hosted its annual Prayer Breakfast on June 8, 2009, at Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton. The meeting centered on NJRC’s three primary social justice issues: (1) Regional equity in housing and transportation, (2) in-state tuition for the children of immigrants, and (3) criminal justice reform, with a special focus on reentry programs and juvenile justice reform. Congressman Rush Holt and Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman addressed the group on these three issues and pledged to meet again with leaders of the New Jersey Regional Coalition this summer in advance of the “Building One America: A National Summit on Regional Opportunity” (which took place at Lincoln Park United Methodist Church in Washington D.C. on September 17 and 18, 2009.)

The picture, above, shows Rev. Charles Stephens of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Washington Crossing moderating the NJRC Prayer Breakfast. As he introduced four NJRC action issues, he was assisted by Rev. Bruce Davidson (standing, left), Imam Dr. Abdul-Malik Ali, Diane Brake of PlanSmart NJ, and Rev. Karen Hernandez-Granzen of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Trenton. In front of the picture are honored guests NJ Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman and Congressman Rush Holt.

View more photos of NJRC leaders and honored guests here.