ORAL HISTORY SHOWCASE & TOWNHALL
Remembering Their Legacy: An Oral History of Our Seniors
Join us for an extraordinary event presented by New Jersey Orators: “Remembering Their Legacy: An Oral History of Our Seniors.” This showcase features captivating interviews conducted by our student Orators with esteemed senior citizens from Middlesex and Union County who lived through the Civil Rights Era and are in their 90s or older.
“Remembering Their Legacy” is made possible by a generous grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities and the New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission. Through this initiative, we document and preserve the firsthand recollections of our local seniors regarding the Civil Rights and Voting Rights movements, providing a valuable blueprint for future generations.
Don’t miss our engaging intergenerational Town Hall discussion on the history of Civil and Voting Rights. Together, we will reflect on the progress we’ve made and acknowledge the work that still lies ahead. This remarkable showcase is co-hosted by the Piscataway African American Senior Citizens Club and the Piscataway Township School District.
Join us for this enlightening event, where light refreshments will be served. Let us honor the legacy of our seniors and gain valuable insights into the struggles and triumphs that have shaped our society.
The Oral History Showcase will feature captivating storytelling, highlighting the resilience, triumphs, and challenges faced by our seniors throughout their lives. It is an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments, honor their contributions, and preserve their legacies for generations to come.
Following the showcase, we will have an engaging Townhall session, where attendees can actively participate by asking questions, sharing thoughts, and engaging in meaningful discussions. This interactive segment aims to foster connections, bridge generational gaps, and facilitate a deeper appreciation for the experiences and wisdom of our seniors.
We encourage community members of all ages to attend this event, as it promises to be an enriching and inspiring experience for everyone involved. Let us come together to celebrate our seniors, learn from their life stories, and create lasting connections that transcend generations.
Save the date and join us at the ORAL HISTORY SHOWCASE & TOWNHALL, “Remembering Their Legacy: An Oral History of Our Seniors.” Together, we will honor their remarkable journeys and preserve their invaluable contributions to our community.
New Jersey Orators, Inc., Awarded $5000 by The New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission
New Jersey Orators, Inc. has been chosen as the recipient of the prestigious 2023 “I have a Dream” grant by the New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission. This grant, in the amount of $5000, was awarded to the organization to support their impactful initiatives.
After receiving applications from various organizations throughout the state, each proposing a range of engaging activities to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s iconic “I have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963, an independent panel of volunteer readers evaluated the proposals. Among the multitude of exceptional submissions, New Jersey Orators, Inc. stood out as a shining example of dedication to the spirit and vision of this grant opportunity.
June 23, 2023
Congratulations Eloise Samuels!
The New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission has awarded New Jersey Orators, Inc., a 2023 I have a Dream
grant for the requested amount of $5000.
The Commission received 69 applications from across the state purposing range of interesting and creative activities to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivering thetrailblazing I have a Dream speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28,1963.
An independent panel of volunteer readers selected your organization’s proposal as one of best–representing the spirit and intention of this grant opportunity. The Commission was able to fund 22 programs across the state of New Jersey!
Congratulations!
September 23, 2022
Aliyah Saleem Selected as Inaugural Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service Scholarship
The $100 million “Voyager Scholarship” supports students pursuing careers in public service with an academic scholarship, exposure to travel, and connections to a network of leaders
Bridgewater, NJ — The Obama Foundation and Airbnb announced that Aliyah Saleem, undergraduate Biological Science major at Rutgers University, resident of Plainfield, New Jersey, an alumni of the New Jersey Orators, Inc. Plainfield Chapter (www.oratorsinc.org), and founder of Hope for Health and Hygiene (www.Hope4HealthHygiene.com), a nonprofit organization, was selected as part of the inaugural cohort of Voyager Scholarship recipients. The cohort for competitive scholarship includes 100 rising college juniors who plan to pursue a career in public service. These “Voyagers” are from every corner of the country and share a curiosity about the world and the conviction to want to make positive change within it—just like the scholarship’s founders.
“Michelle and I know that change only happens when ordinary people get involved, get engaged, and come together to create it,” said President Obama. “These young Voyagers believe in a fairer and more inclusive world, and they’re ready to help us address important challenges in new ways. I can’t wait to see what they accomplish through public service.”
“Through their stories, it’s clear that each of these Voyagers has a commitment to serving their communities, a deep curiosity about the world and big plans for the future,” said Chesky. “Traveling to new places and connecting with new people will help them turn those plans into reality and I can’t wait to see where they go from here.”
Funded by a $100 million personal contribution from Chesky to the Obama Foundation, the Voyager Scholarship is a two-year program for students in their junior and senior years of college from across the United States who are committed to pursuing careers that serve the public and their communities. Voyagers will receive:
● Up to $50,000 in financial aid: Students will receive up to $25,000 per year in financial aid for their junior and senior years of college. This financial aid should alleviate the burden of college debt so that students can afford to pursue a career in public service.
● Summer Voyage: Students will receive a $10,000 stipend and free Airbnb housing to pursue a summer work-travel experience between their junior and senior year of college. The students will design their own Summer Voyage to gain exposure to new communities and experience in a chosen field.
● 10-year travel stipend: After graduation, Airbnb will provide the students with a $2,000 travel credit every year for 10 years, totaling $20,000. This will allow students to continue to broaden their horizons and forge new connections throughout their public service careers.
● Fall Convening: Students will be invited to a fall convening to help define their public service voyage. At this year’s gathering they will meet with President Obama and Brian Chesky to discuss the role of empathy and understanding in leadership and public service. They’ll also hear from guest speakers on different approaches to service and connect with other scholarship recipients.
● Network of leaders: Throughout the program, students will be invited to an ongoing speaker series, giving them access to a network of leaders. This network of leaders will expose them to new areas of service and innovations happening in their fields. After graduation, they will join the Obama Foundation’s global community, providing them with Foundation resources and programming.
The inaugural cohort of Voyagers represent 35 states and territories and 70 colleges and universities. They are an inspiring group of young people who are eager to bridge divides and take on the world’s biggest challenges.
The Voyager Scholarship was created by the Obamas and Brian Cheskky, Airbnb CEO, to help shape such leaders. Even though they come from different backgrounds, both the President and Brian believe that exposure to new places and experiences generates understanding, empathy, and cooperation which equips the next generation to create meaningful change. This scholarship gives college students financial
aid to alleviate the burden of college debt, meaningful travel experiences to expand their horizons, and a network of mentors and leaders to support them.
Summer Voyage: President Obama and Brian have different backgrounds but share the fundamental belief and lived experience that exposure to new places and experiences broaden our horizons and redefine what we believe is possible. With a budget of $10,000, students will design their own summer voyage between their junior and senior year of college. The experience will allow students to pursue internships or mentorship opportunities anywhere in the world that will broaden their horizons and prepare them for careers in public service. Students will also be able to stay in homes on Airbnb using credits provided by Airbnb.
The Obamas and Brian Chesky believe that exposure to new places and experiences generates understanding, empathy, and cooperation, which equips the next generation to create meaningful change. It’s why the Obamas and Chesky came together to create the Voyager Scholarship—to shape the next generation of leaders like Aliyah Saleem.
For more information about the Voyager Scholarship visit obama.org/voyager-scholarship. For more information about the New Jersey Orators, Inc. visit www.oratorsinc.org. Press Release Contact: Eloise Samuels at njorators@gmail.com.
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PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Dan Armstrong, SKA Associates
(847) 749-9675 | dan@skaassociates.com
July 12, 2022
NJCH Builds Capacity and Community with $402,514 in New Grant Awards
(Camden, NJ) – The New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) is pleased to announce that we have awarded $402,514 in grant funding to 33 organizations across the state for Spring 2022.
These awards cap off a banner grant cycle which saw the largest-ever response to an NJCH call for applications, with 83 Letters of Intent submitted earlier this year. The high demand for funding reflects both the robust activity of the cultural sector and the need for ongoing support in that sector, as we emerge from the COVID-related challenges of the last few years.
The grantees’ projects reflect the creativity, excellence, and lifelong learning that public humanities programming contributes to New Jersey’s cultural and civic life. NJCH’s awards include Incubation Grants, which help organizations plan, research, develop, and prototype public humanities projects and events; Action Grants, which help organizations implement a wide array of humanities-based projects, including public programs, exhibitions, installations, tours, and discussion groups; and Seed Funding, a brand-new award type that recognizes promising applicants from the Action and Incubation award pools and supports them in building greater capacity to do high-impact public humanities projects.
“From telling underrepresented stories to exploring new modes of audience engagement as we emerge from the pandemic, the new grantees’ projects speak to the astonishing breadth and depth of public humanities work in the state,” said NJCH Executive Director Carin Berkowitz. “NJCH’s grantmaking not only highlights those who are already doing exemplary work in the field, but also supports those organizations and communities that traditionally have less access to the public humanities. This approach ensures that New Jersey’s cultural sector will continue to thrive—now and well into the future.”
For 50 years, NJCH has explored, cultivated, and championed the public humanities. We are dedicated to fostering appreciation for the field across New Jersey’s diverse community, in every district in the state. To learn more about upcoming grant opportunities and NJCH’s other exciting work in New Jersey, visit njhumanities.org.
Incubation grants were awarded to:
Alice Paul Institute, Mt. Laurel Township ($15,000), for additional research and understanding needed to update a permanent exhibit on suffragist and New Jersey native Alice Paul with more inclusive narratives.
Barnegat Bay Decoy and Baymen’s Museum, Tuckerton ($15,000), to lay the framework for an oral history of Tuckerton Seaport that captures the story of its birth, rebirth, and unconventional approach.
Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, Morristown ($15,000), to develop a public historyinfused public high school curriculum for Thomas Nast’s caricaturamas “The Last Ditch” and “The Palace of Tears.”
Morven Museum and Garden, Princeton ($7,500), for a project that researches the history and genealogy of the people enslaved at Morven and lays groundwork to share these stories with the public.
Museum of Early Trades and Crafts, Madison ($12,150), to create a museum civics literacy program that introduces students to core democratic principles and explores democratic ideals, values, and the role of citizenship.
New Jersey Orators, Bridgewater Township ($15,000), to bring workshops on the art of public speaking, reading and media arts literacy, civic engagement and college readiness, and life skills to youth in more school districts around New Jersey.
Ocean City Arts Center, Ocean City ($10,500), to support research and planning for the development of a listening tour and performance piece on the cultural and demographic changes in and around the South Jersey Shore in Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland Counties.
Redhawk Native American Arts Council, South Amboy ($6,390), to support the planning stages of two Indigenous solstice celebrations, in collaboration with leaders of the Ramapough Lunnape and the Nanticoke Leni Lenape Nations in New Jersey and Indigenous student groups from Rutgers University and Ramapo College.
Trenton Historical Society, Trenton ($14,800), to develop and test a searchable electronic database for employee records from the John A. Roebling’s Sons Company, a producer of wire cable that employed thousands of Eastern and Southern European immigrants and African Americans at sites in Trenton and Roebling in the twentieth century.
Action grants were awarded to:
Clinton Hill Community Action, Newark ($20,000), for a multi-year public history project that will create a collaborative history of Clinton Hill in multiple accessible formats.
Historic Cold Spring Village, Cape May ($3,814), to support an art history-themed free hybrid speaker series held at the Cold Spring Brewery during the winter of 2022-2023.
Hoboken Historical Museum, Hoboken ($20,000), to support “The Hoboken Fires: A History of Gentrification & Arson for Profit,” a partnership with the artist Christopher Lopez that uses community engagement, social justice, and digital practice to revisit Hoboken’s history of the 1970s-80s.
Luna Stage Company, West Orange ($10,000), to support the design and implementation of humanities-based materials that complement creative productions about Underground Railroad Safe Houses and Freedom Routes in Essex County.
Mighty Writers, Camden ($20,000), for a series of activism workshops to teach middle and high school students the crucial power of writing and critical thinking skills to broaden the understanding of themselves, their communities, and their natural and social surroundings.
Montclair Art Museum, Montclair ($16,500), for a performance series to complement “My Home to Yours,” an immersive film and sound installation that centers local and regional Indigenous perspectives on the meaning of home.
New City Kids, Jersey City ($20,000), for professional development activities and workshops that integrate culturally rich humanities work into programming for teens.
New Jersey State Museum Foundation, Trenton ($15,732), to support the exhibition “History Beneath Your Feet: Archaeology in the Capital City,” which will explore the social, cultural, and environmental evolution of Trenton through archaeological artifacts.
The Petey Greene Program, Princeton ($20,000), to build upon its successful pilot of a humanities-based college bridge program for incarcerated and reentering students and expand the program to additional facilities.
Regional Plan Association, Newark ($18,000), to implement a centennial series of public engagement events that will celebrate park and open space initiatives at the Meadowlands, Nat Turner Park in Newark, and Paterson Great Falls.
Roebling Main Gate Museum, Roebling ($18,000), to create an immersive, learning-focused audio walking tour for an upcoming museum exhibit.
Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, Skillman ($20,000), to create a series of youth historical fiction books that will provide a unique firsthand account of life through the lens of African American children who grew up in the Sourland Mountain region of central New Jersey.
Summit Interfaith Council Anti-Racism Committee, Summit ($13,203), for a presentation and book discussions that use both fiction and non-fiction by authors of color to educate New Jerseyans on the economic, societal, and personal costs of racism.
Truehart Productions, Newark ($19,575), to produce a second 30-minute episode of the documentary series “The Price of Silence: The Forgotten Story of New Jersey’s Enslaved People.”
Vietnamese Boat People, Montclair ($20,000), to build out the next phase of a collaborative digital map of stories from the Vietnamese diaspora with enhanced functionality and recruitment/ interactive workshops for users.
Seed grants were awarded to:
Bloomfield College, Bloomfield ($5,000), to advance the Stories of Newark Oral History Project by focusing the work of this grassroots digital archive upon the theme of social mobility for the upcoming year.
Enslaved African Memorial Committee, Englewood ($5,000), to continue work that enlightens the public about the history of slavery in NJ and presents new findings and programming about
recently discovered burial sites located in New Jersey towns, including New Milford, Bergenfield, and Jersey City.
The Jewish Community Center of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties, Inc, Bridgewater ($2,000), for free Holocaust education workshops that use creative and artistic mediums to teach students how to confront hatred and anti-Semitism and promote human kindness and dignity.
Jewish Historical Society of North Jersey, Fair Lawn ($2,500), to develop a multifaceted interfaith initiative focused on the history of Jewish/African American relations in Passaic, Bergen, and Hudson Counties, from the Civil Rights period and beyond.
Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum, Rahway ($5,000), to support the design and installation of a new permanent exhibit that interprets the almost-40 years during which the building served as a Girl Scout headquarters.
NJ YMCA State Alliance, Trenton ($5,000), to expand a statewide storytelling project on the impact of COVID-19 by documenting and digitally archiving oral histories about the vaccine.
Renaissance Newark Foundation, Newark ($5,000), to create a companion electronic curriculum guide for the critically acclaimed documentary film “Rust” by Marylou & Jerome Bongiorno.
- Thomas Fortune Foundation, Red Bank ($3,250), to create a permanent exhibit highlighting journalist and publisher T. Thomas Fortune’s leading role in the Black Press in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Ukrainian History and Education Center, Somerset ($3,600), to support an exhibition on Ukrainian and Ukrainian American responses to the Holodomor genocide, an artificial famine perpetrated against Ukrainians in the Soviet Union in the 1930s.