Programs

Community Coalition programs cover areas of community life in which we can best leverage change toward racial inclusion as well as areas in need of pro-integrative strategies. Our activities are designed to build a community where the leadership of civic, governmental, business and community organizations is racially inclusive and values integration in policy and practice. Our programmatic goals include: improved racial diversity on boards and in community leadership roles; continued progress on neighborhood integration and an improved housing market; responsive action by the school district to ameliorate the achievement gap and to increase the number of people of color on staff; increased inclusion of people of color in community cultural and social events.

We reach our goals through:

Community Forums & Workshops

• Achievement Gap Study Series & Workshops to learn about how our schools can challenge students of all races to achieve academic excellence
• Annual Preschool Open House featuring thirty preschool programs as a community service to families with young children

Community Building—Integration Through the Arts

• Conversations on Race: How Race is Lived in South Orange/Maplewood, an opportunity for neighbors of all races to come together to discuss difficult and often painful issues related to race
• Two Towns Sing-In, bringing people of different races and backgrounds together around a shared love of learning and singing

Community Support—Interfaith Dialogues, Strong Neighborhoods & Schools

• The Annual MLK Observance, Volunteer Fair, and Weekend of Service
• Recruiting and Retaining Racially Diverse Volunteers, a resource for all local organizations developed and administered by the Neighborhood Associations & Civic Life Committee
• Parent Advocacy publications created by the Schools Committee to support children’s success in school

Promoting the Benefits of Integration—Marketing Programs

• Free tours for prospective homebuyers by trained volunteers from the Touring Committee
• Story and ad placements in local and national media highlighting the quality of life in an integrated community
• Information sessions for realtors-in accordance with the Fair Housing Act-to help them market our towns and to ensure that prospective homebuyers of all races are shown available homes and are welcomed in every part of the two towns
• Financial incentives programs to encourage homebuyers to make pro-integrative purchasing decisions