Public Programs & Initiatives
Exploring the Humanities in New Jersey
NJCH offers an opportunity to connect communities with renowned speakers on environmental humanities topics.
Community History participants work closely with their communities to learn about and share their untold stories. Participants receive instruction on public history practices, develop projects in a collaborative environment, and receive funding from NJCH to launch projects in their communities.
Funding, creating, and amplifying humanities-grounded programming that raises media literacy and expands support for local journalism—particularly in communities and places that are seldom covered by traditional media outlets.
NJCH offers a free college course in the humanities in partnership with Rutgers University-Newark and the national Clemente Course initiative. The 16-week course, open to Newark-area veterans and military-connected civilians, offers an opportunity for adult learners to explore themes of war and reconciliation through literature, art, history, and philosophy.
Via both an online form and "ballot boxes" located at partner sites throughout the state, NJCH collected hundreds of responses from New Jerseyans in response to pressing questions about our democracy. Responses and creative works based on them can be explored here.
In collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street program, NJCH brought the exhibit "Voices and Votes: Democracy in America" to six community colleges around New Jersey and supported a host of democracy-related public humanities programs at nonprofit organizations.
Public Events
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Grantee Organizations
Over the past 50 years, we've provided hundreds of New Jersey organizations with millions of dollars in help programming in history, literature, philosophy, and other humanities areas bloom throughout the Garden State. Meet some of our recent grantees to explore the opportunities they're offering with our support.
The Theater Project
Union, (Action / $3,750)To support facilitated discussions and dialogues for high school students about the impact of antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and racism on contemporary society, using a new play, "The Interpreter," as a starting point. Read more
CivicStory
Summit, (Incubation / $12,210)To support the addition of a humanities journalist to the newsroom staff for a four-month evaluation period. Read more
Montclair State University (Indigenous Studies)
Montclair, (Incubation / $14,943)To support the development of an exploration of Indigenous women's roles in preserving cultural and spiritual well-being in New Jersey Native communities. Read more
Preserve Shady Rest
Scotch Plains, (Incubation / $15,000)To support the development of an inclusive master plan for the historic interpretation and public experience of Shady Rest Golf & Country Club (1921), a National Historic Landmark. Read more
Haddonfield Public Library
Haddonfield, (Action / $3,000)To support the curation of 3-4 traveling trunks that feature hands-on exploration of historical topics relating to the Borough’s history. Read more
CASA for Children of Essex County
Newark, (Action / $15,000)To support recorded interviews conducted by and with individuals who have experience with the child welfare system to document the historic, systemic problems that have led to disproportional representation of families of color and the impoverished. Read more
Clinton Hill Community Action
Newark, (Action / $15,000)To support a multi-year public history project to create a collaborative history of Clinton Hill in multiple, accessible formats. Read more
Fanwood Memorial Library
Fanwood, (Incubation / $3,000)To support the development of a community-wide read program aiming to spark dialogue and reflection on the small and large actions that saved lives during and after the Holocaust as well as the pervasive issue of anti-Semitism. Read more
