WHAT WE DO

Creating Social Change

The Institute's activities arise in the following four areas:

The Institute's efforts to promote the community revitalization potential of the state's multi-billion dollar school construction program illustrate how we approach our work. Recognizing the potential inherent New Jersey's single largest public works project, the Institute:

	commissioned an independent analysis of the issue six months prior to legislative enactment of the authorizing law;

	co-founded the Coalition for Our Children's Schools, a statewide alliance of over one hundred organizations representing business, community groups, elected officials, and advocacy groups, that became the primary non-profit voice for the community and economic development aspects of the program;

	initiated and incubated the Essex County Construction Careers Program, a collaboration of urban school districts, building trade unions, and community-based organizations that facilitates urban residents entering the building construction trades; and

	performed a detailed legal analysis of the state's affirmative action program and conducted a broad education effort regarding the potential and the pitfalls inherent in the state's proposed economic development initiatives.

The flexible application of these tools in partnership and collaboration with others is a hallmark of our work.