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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 Graphic

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.

Podcaster at Microphone

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.

Clemente Course participants visit the NJVVMM

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.

DCP

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.

Exhibit visitors at ACC

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

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.

Camden, (Incubation / $9,921)
To support "Capturing Stormwater Stories in the City of Camden," encompassing individuals' oral accounts of environmental impacts. Read more
Fort Lee, (Incubation / $7,000)
To support the Poetry Heals Program, a series of literary workshops for physicians/clinicians in hospitals and students in medical schools designed to build empathy and understanding. Read more
Newark, (Action / $15,000)
To support a weeklong series of events honoring Cudjo Banquante, an enslaved man who served as a soldier in the American Revolution and became Newark's first documented Blank businessman. Read more
Montclair, (Action / $10,000)
To support an after-school documentary filmmaking class for teens in Paterson, NJ. Read more
Lambertville, (Action / $15,000)
To support two cohorts of Ritual4Return, a 12-week program through which returning citizens use humanities and theater techniques to process their incarceration and life experiences and take part in a re-welcoming to their communities. Read more
Fanwood Memorial Library logo 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
The Theater Project NJ logo 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
Montclair State University logo 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

Sponsors & Partners

NEH
Mellon Foundation
AMPU
NJCCC logo
Dodge Foundation
NJ Historical Commission
SITES
Journalism + Design