| Executive Committee Member Carol Barry-Austin Greets Governor Corzine |
Executive Committee Member and Immediate Past Chair Carol Barry-Austin and Governor Jon Corzine discuss integration and the Coalition's nationally recognized efforts to create stable and continuting integration in Maplewood and South Orange, New Jersey. |
| Congressman Donald Payne asks for support for our AIM HIGH project |
 Congressman Donald Payne has honored the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race by including the Aim High! Bridging the Gap project on closing the Academic Achievement Gap in a request for 2010 funding. See the description here. There is no guarantee of funding, but we thank Congressman Payne for singling out our initiative to ameliorate the academic achievement gap and to improve the quality of our schools through parent advocacy and education, staff development, student engagement, and community involvement. |
Schools Committee Sponsors
Follow-Up Work Session on Minority Achievement Gap |
On May 27, 2009, the Schools Committee of the Coalition sponsored a follow-up to the well-attended February Minority Achievement Gap Study Series.
By invitation only, a group of about thirty educators, parents, and concerned citizens met at the South Orange Middle School Library to discuss practical steps for narrowing the Academic Achievement Gap. Among the initiatives being considered are offering a Study Series on the Academic Achievement Gap in the school buildings for teachers; making the readings from the Study Group available to teachers and others in loose-leaf binders; supporting the development of an in-school Parent Advocate; expanding Peer Mentoring programs; preparing lists of Top Ten Things to Do to Make Your Child an Academic Success; improving outreach to parents; and more.
The attendees, all participants in the Study Series in February 2009 or the one in May 2005, were full of enthusiasm and excitement for ways to make our schools excellent for every child.
To read some of the articles from the Study Series, go to
http://www.twotowns.org/AcAch2009.html.
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How Race is Lived in South Orange/ Maplewood Forum April 28, 2009 Was a Big Success!
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On April 28, 2009, as part of its Integration Through the Arts Initiative, the Coalition presented another forum combining discussion and improvisions by professional actors about How Race is Lived in South Orange/Maplewood. The photo below shows actors and the director of "How Race is Lived in South Orange/Maplewood."
The improvisational troupe included, left to right, Kate McAteer, Dania Ramos, Jamil Mangan, Director Carolyn Hunt, and Shamsuddin Abdul-Hamid.
To read some of the stories collected from our community that were used in the program, click here. And for some great publicity, check out The New York Times Local and Patch.com!
This program was supported by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts administered by the Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs.
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| Realtors Join Coalition for Coffee and Conversation |
South Orange Village President Doug Newman , Program Director Audrey Rowe, Executive Director Nancy Gagnier, and Maplewood Mayor Vic DeLuca
On April 21, 2009, twenty realtors representing seven different realtor agencies in the area gathered at the invitation of the Coalition to hear briefings and to have dialogue with Superintendent Brian Osborne of the South Orange-Maplewood School District, Mayor Vic DeLuca of Maplewood and President Doug Newman of South Orange Village. These leaders delivered impressive information on the state of ou  r schools and shared plans for revaluation and growth in both towns, respectively. This effort was part of the Coalition's Realtor Advisory Committee and aligns with the Coalition's Marketing Committee objective to work toward increasing housing demand in our area by equipping realtors with accurate and effective responses to questions from prospective home buyers.
School Superintendent Brian Osborne
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| Coalition Again Honored with Arts Grant |
 For the fourth year in a row, the South Orange/Maplewood Coalition on Race's Integration Through the Arts Initiative has been awarded a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts that is administered by the Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs. The Coalition is proud to be a recipient of this award again. Our Integration Through the Arts includes The Forum "How Race Is Lived in South Orange/Maplewood" above as well as our beloved interreacial, inter-generational, inter-religious Two Towns sing-ins.
Learn more about Arts in New Jersey at www.jerseyarts.com.
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Former Trustee Phylis J. Peterman Wins Rutgers Award!
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 Phylis J. Peterman, a founding trustee of the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race and Associate Professor and Chairperson of the undergraduate Department of Social Work Rutgers-Newark, has won the THE RUTGERS COLLEGE CLASS OF 1962 PRESIDENTIAL PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD. She is also the past recipient of two University teaching awards. For the whole story, click here. |
| If this is your first issue of the Coalition's E-Newsletter.... |
...Welcome! This newsletter is one way we let people know what we are doing, and what we are planning. These  e-newsletters come out three or four times a year, and we have a yearly annual report/hard copy newsletter that goes to every home in the community in Matters Magazine. Please let us know what you think-- call us at 973-761-6116 or email us at info@twotowns.org, and consider volunteering for one of our committees! We are thrilled to have you with us. |
Join Us--We Need You!
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 The Coalition needs your help. If you're a grant writer, a fund raiser, a web consultant, a graphic designer or a photographer (especially one whose digital camera is always handy!), please let us hear from you. If you want to actively support the Coalition's efforts to create true integration in our Two Towns, please call the office at 973-761-6116 and VOLUNTEER! |
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We hope you enjoy our newsletter. And if you'd like to share our good news with a friend, just click the "Forward email" link below. . . .
Have you a question for us or a comment about the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race? If so, send us an email at info@twotowns.org,
or call our office, 973-761-6116 ext. 6.
For more information about the Community Coalition and its programs, please visit our website, www.twotowns.org
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From the Executive Director
Executive Director, Nancy Gagnier
We're only halfway through 2009 and we've already made a lot of strides in our on-going quest for a truly inclusive community. The Trustees held their annual spring forum in April entitled Conversations on Race: How Race is Lived in South Orange and Maplewood. This event serves part of the Community Coalition on Race's mission to provide residents with opportunities to engage in honest dialogue between racial groups.
We had a very nice turn-out of people who were so engaged by the dramatic presentation that we had to put a time limit on the talking in order to end the evening.
This was the first of the two main Integration Through the Arts events for 2009. This coming fall, look for the Two Towns Sing-in, in which we use music and professional, local music leaders to bring people together.
In addition to the Spring Forum, we held a Realtors' Summit in April and a workshop on Narrowing the Achievement Gap in May. Read more about these informative and productive events in this newsletter.
The Schools Committee will be hard at work this summer producing a publication for parents that is sure to help them advocate for their children in the schools. These tips for parents come out of the work of both the Schools Committee and the participants in the Achievement Gap Study Series and are part of our award-winning Aim High: Bridging the Gap project. This publication anticipates the larger handbook we plan to publish in 2010.
This is the season when many neighborhood associations gear up for block parties and celebrations. The Coalition's Neighborhood Association and Civic Life Committee is here to help if you are thinking of starting or resurrecting a neighborhood group. If you are part of an active neighborhood association, let us know what you're up to and we'll pass on the good news. Neighborhood associations are an integral part of the vibrancy of our two towns!
Feel free to email a response to us at info@twotowns.org
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About Us |
The South Orange/ Maplewood Community Coalition on Race has entered its fourteenth year of service. The Coalition is a nationally recognized non-profit organization with hundreds of volunteers who work together to build an inclusive community free from racial segregation in housing patterns and community participation. The pro-integrative work of our South
Orange/Maplewood
Community Coalition on Race serves as a successful model for other communities nation wide.
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| Coming Events |
Hold the Date!
Saturday, October 3, 2009...
will be the Coalition's Gala at the Woman's Club in Maplewood!
All of October 2009 will be Coalition Month!
Also on the Fall: Two Towns Sing-Ins! Dates TBA
Pre-School Open House
Annual Report to the Community
... and much more.
Please visit
or call
973-761-6116 x6
for updates and details!
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