Nonprofit profile: JerseyCAN helping N.J. students through this year’s focus on literacy

By
ROI-NJ Staff
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In Brief

Key leaders: Paula White, executive director. Board members include Tom Kean, former governor of New Jersey; Chris Cerf, former education commissioner, Josh Weston, honorary chairman of ADP, and Ray Chambers.

Origin

Founded in 2013. The only statewide advocacy organization in New Jersey committed to ensuring access to high-quality public schools for every child, regardless of ZIP code, cultural background and socioeconomic status

Mission

We believe that all families must have access to high-quality schools and that students need continuous support with appropriate resources and excellent teaching. Over the past seven years, we have worked to level the playing field. Our goal is to ensure that every New Jersey student can graduate from high school ready to enroll in college and succeed in their career.

Programs

JerseyCAN has a revolving series of advocacy programs to support New Jersey students and families in public schools. These programs are defined each school year. This year, the organization is focused on literacy.

Consistent programs include:

Achievements

This year, JerseyCAN has created the New Jersey Legacy of Literacy Coalition. The coalition serves as an umbrella alliance in support of the statewide marketing and legislative campaign to influence Gov. Phil Murphy, the New Jersey Legislature and the New Jersey Department of Education to adopt and enact a high-quality statewide plan that addresses literacy in every public school in the state.

The coalition includes Urban League of Essex County, the Reading League New Jersey, New Jersey Tutoring Corps, Decoding Dyslexia NJ, the Racial Equity Initiative Inc., New Jersey Business & Industry Association, Teach for America New Jersey, NJ Children’s Foundation, Read 4 NJ, Project Ready, Parent Impact, My Brother’s Keeper Newark, Westside Citizens United, Camden Education Fund, Roots & Bridges, Newark Opportunity Youth Network and Unapologetic Parents.

Fundraising

JerseyCAN relies on private donations from foundations and personal support.

Conversation Starter

For more information reach Matthew Frankel of MDF Strategies at 917-617-7914, or email at  matthew@mdfstrategies.com.