The Institute seeks to ensure that urban residents live in a society that respects their humanity, provides equality of economic opportunity, empowers them to use their voice in the political process, and protects equal justice.
Our Work:
The Three Pillars of Social Justice
Facebook Live Conversation with Senator Cory Booker
Institute President & CEO Ryan Haygood joined U. S. Senator Cory Booker and Amol Sinha of the ACLU-NJ for a critical and compelling conversation about the cracks of structural racism being exposed in the pandemic, and the need to repair them now.
The Institute was proud to host the 1619 Project's Nikole Hannah-Jones and an esteemed panel.
Watch the livestream here
"The United States is a nation founded on both an ideal and a lie."
With her unvarnished 100k at the role of slavery and its legacy on the making of our nation, Nikole Hannah-Jones tells us that "[w]ithout the idealistic, strenuous and patriotic efforts of black Americans, our democracy today would most likely look very different—it might not be a democracy at all."
In front of a sold-out crowd at NJPAC, the award-winning journalist discussed the NYT Magazine's 1619 Project, a multi-media initiative marking the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Black people in Jamestown, Virginia, the system of slavery that followed, and its enduring legacy in America.
Nikole was introduced by Shané Harris (Executive Director, The Prudential Foundation), and joined by a distinguished panel of scholars and advocates, moderated by Marcia W. Brown (Rutgers University- Newark), who brought the conversation home to New Jersey. Panelists included Ryan P. Haygood (President and CEO, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice), Prof. Elise Boddie (The Inclusion Project at Rutgers Law School), Rev. Charles F. Boyer (Pastor and Founder Of Salvation and Social Justice), Marley Dias (Creator of #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign) and Richard Roper (Public Policy Consultant).
Presented in association with the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, Prudential, The Inclusion Project at Rutgers Law School, and Salvation & Social Justice
Learn About the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice
In the News
Voting Rights Advocates Applaud Hybrid Primary Election Decision
May 18, 2020
Voting Rights Advocates Applaud Hybrid Primary Election Decision
NEWARK – The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey applaud Governor Murphy’s decision to significantly expand vote-by-mail in our state while maintaining in-person voting options. The groups praised the Executive Order signed Friday as a smart approach to elections that recognizes that people should not have to choose between their health and their ability to participate in a democracy.
In March, the groups joined with over 30 other national, state, and community organizations to send recommendations ahead of the decision to the Governor, Secretary of State, and legislative leadership meant to ensure a safe and robust election during the public health crisis. Several of those recommendations, including automatically sending postage paid vote-by-mail ballots to voters, maintaining in-person voting opportunities, providing secure ballot drop boxes, and relaxing the deadline for vote-by-mail ballots to be received, were adopted.
Voting Rights Groups Challenge New Jersey Signature Match Ballot Requirement
May 18, 2020
Voting Rights Groups Challenge New Jersey Signature Match Ballot Requirement
New Jersey Must Provide Notice and Opportunity to Cure Rejected Mail-in Ballots in Time for July 7 Election
NEWARK—Today, Campaign Legal Center, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, and Kaufman Lieb Lebowitz & Frick LLP filed a lawsuit on behalf of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, the NAACP New Jersey State Conference, and an individual New Jersey voter, asking for relief for voters from the state’s flawed ballot signature match requirements which, each election, often impacts at least one percent of all mail-in voters.
As New Jersey continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Phil Murphy announced Friday that mail ballots will automatically be sent to the state’s active Republican and Democratic voters, with applications sent to unaffiliated and inactive registered voters. The resultant surge in mail ballots underscores the urgent need for procedural safeguards to assure voters that they can cast their mail ballots with confidence.
Facebook Live Conversation with Senator Cory Booker
May 11, 2020Institute President & CEO Ryan Haygood joined U. S. Senator Cory Booker and Amol Sinha of the ACLU-NJ for a critical and compelling conversation about the cracks of structural racism being exposed in the pandemic, and the need to repair them now.
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N.J. to be First State to Test Every Juvenile Offender as Coronavirus Cases Rise
May 04, 2020 -
Inmates Beg for Testing After Gov. Phil Murphy's Order Excludes 90 Percent of NJSP Population for Release
May 04, 2020 -
After Slow Start, NJ Begins Furloughing Prisoners to Stem Spread of COVID-19
May 04, 2020 -
COVID-19 Isolation for Youths Raises Concerns in New Jersey
May 04, 2020 -
Coronavirus Hitting NJ Minority, Immigrant Communities Hard
May 04, 2020
Given the significant challenges we face, we have only two options: to embrace chaos or embrace community. We choose community. Join us as we work to bend our neighborhoods toward the beloved community.