Category Archives: Public Policy
Sustainability ingredients: Innovation, persistence, partnerships, and leadership
November 22, 2017Sustainable Jersey 2017 special awards announced This week, Sustainable Jersey celebrated the 82 municipalities, from 18 New Jersey counties, that achieved the Sustainable Jersey certification in 2017. Sustainable Jersey has almost hit the 80 percent participation mark this year with 445 … Continue reading
Sustainable Jersey: Commit your town to climate progress, instructions included
June 28, 2017Helping NJ cities and towns meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement At the recent New Jersey Sustainability Summit over 300 local and statewide leaders convened to pledge their commitment to a sustainable future and learn the practical … Continue reading
ArtPride NJ: Mapping the needs of a strong arts ecosystem in New Jersey
May 31, 2017On May 11, thought leaders from within and outside New Jersey’s arts community gathered at Express Newark to discuss trends and conditions affecting New Jersey artists and the future of support for their work. The catalyst was the National Endowment … Continue reading
New Jersey Sustainability Summit 2017: Build your local action for increased collective impact
May 18, 2017Where will leadership and progress come from in an era of declining federal interest in sustainability issues? We believe that it will come from all of us, working together. If a more sustainable, prosperous and equitable New Jersey sounds like … Continue reading
CNJG: Embracing Philanthropic Future Shock or Bracing For It
May 17, 2017We are doing a lot of thinking about the future at the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers these days — the future of New Jersey (with a new Governor next year), the future of philanthropy (with new forms of giving … Continue reading
Arts Ed Now: 2017 National Arts Advocacy Day
April 24, 2017Just days before National Arts Advocacy Day, news hit of President Trump’s plan to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts in 2018. The announcement, though not entirely unexpected, sent a surge of energy into the day’s mission: connecting arts leaders … Continue reading
History Matters
March 8, 2017You may not have noticed, but history is having a moment. Often overlooked as a bit of a wallflower next to its showier sisters—arts, literature, and science — history does periodically take center stage and remind us of its inevitable, … Continue reading
ArtPride New Jersey: Now is the Time
February 20, 2017“Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.” It’s the (early) 70’s and that was the warm up drill in Mrs. Lester’s typing class where I learned to type over 100 … Continue reading
Don’t Weaken the Existing Ban on Electioneering by 501(c)(3) Organizations
February 16, 2017Proposed ‘Johnson Amendment’ repeal would harm nonprofit organizations Since 1954, tax law has contained a provision prohibiting 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations from directly or indirectly attempting to influence the election or defeat of any candidate for public office. This ban, also known … Continue reading
Sustainable Jersey: New Jersey Towns Provide Hope Through Local Action
November 22, 2016Woodbridge, Ewing and Bordentown City rise above Last week, Sustainable Jersey announced the recipients of the 2016 Sustainable Jersey special awards and the 74 towns that have achieved certification. The announcement was made at the 8th Annual Sustainable Jersey Luncheon … Continue reading
Sustainable Jersey Travels to South Korea for Clean Air
September 21, 2016Sharing expertise and experience to support Clean Air Asia pilot certification program I left New Jersey on Aug. 25 with my colleague, Renee Haider, en route for South Korea. Sustainable Jersey was invited to participate in the Clean Air for Cities conference … Continue reading
Arts Ed Now: I Support the Arts and I Vote!
September 12, 2016What’s your issue in the upcoming election? From gun control to immigration, there are a host of public policy issues that provoke emotional and sometimes heated debate. Government support for the arts has taken a back seat since the culture … Continue reading
CNJG: Launching the Newark Philanthropic Liaison 3.0
August 17, 2016Though it’s been nine years, it seems like only yesterday that far-sighted funders, the City of Newark and the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers came together to form the Office of the Newark Philanthropic Liaison. Our objective was to … Continue reading
Sustainable Jersey: Creating a National Network of State-level Sustainability Programs
April 20, 2016Sustainable Jersey releases Statewide Sustainability Report Imagine what we could accomplish if we worked together. The idea of starting a multi-state conversation about state-level sustainability programs originated during a national American Planning Association session in 2014. A group of us … Continue reading