Bridging the Two Americas: A Community Conversation about Jobs and Economic Opportunity in Newark

Media Advisory

On Wed., Feb. 24, the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice (SCJ) at Rutgers University-Newark (RU-N), the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice (NJISJ), and the City of Newark will host a free public event to discuss jobs, unemployment, and economic opportunity in Newark. The public event is the first in a series of community forums that will explore both the significant challenges facing urban communities and the opportunities that this moment presents to address them. Featured speakers include The Honorable Ras Baraka, mayor of the City of Newark; Dr. William Rodgers, chief economist of the Heldrich Center; and Vivian Cox Fraser, president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Essex County. Ryan P. Haygood, president and chief executive officer of NJISJ will serve as the moderator for this event. This forum will provide a space to explore ways businesses, government, educational institutions, and the community can work together to combat poverty by connecting unemployed Newark residents to work.

In partnership with the City of Newark and RU-N, NJISJ is developing a program to connect unemployed residents with jobs in Newark, which has one of the highest poverty rates among U.S. cities and an unemployment rate almost double the national average. As part of the first phase of the program, NJISJ is conducting a comprehensive study of poverty and unemployment with its research partners, the Institute on Assets and Social Policy at Brandeis University and the Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies at RU-N.  Based on the study, NJISJ will unveil a comprehensive jobs initiative in Newark to connect local residents with jobs and to pursue policy changes to dismantle structural economic barriers for people living in poverty.       

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

WHAT:         
Bridging the Two Americas: A Community Conversation about Jobs and Economic Opportunity in Newark

WHEN:
Wednesday, February 24,      6-8 PM

SPEAKERS:
Ras Baraka, City of Newark, Mayor
Dr. William Rodgers, Chief Economist, the Heldrich Center
Vivian Cox Fraser, President and CEO, Urban League of Essex County
Ryan P. Haygood, President and CEO, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice

WHERE:
Rutgers University-Newark, Center for Law and Justice, 123 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102, Room 010

RSVP:
Bridging the Two Americas: A Community Conversation about Jobs and Economic Opportunity in Newark