The Community History Program is often just the launching point for organizations that want to do community-based history work. Many organizations receive funding to continue their work after the program’s end, expanding the scope, detail, or impact of their original work.

Willingboro Community Development Corporation

With the conclusion of NJCH’s Spring 2023 grant round, we are delighted to share that Willingboro Community Development Corporation (WCDC) has received a $15,000 Incubation Grant to further the Community History project it began in 2022.

Throughout their cohort (CH22B), WCDC explored the history of the Futuro House, a UFO-like structure designed as a portable ski chalet in the late 1960s and deposited around the world, one of which found its home in Willingboro in 1973. Only 19 remain in the U.S., and Willingboro’s is the only one in New Jersey. WCDC organized a series of focus groups of Willingboro residents to learn more about why their town was chosen as a Futuro House “landing point” and to gather community feedback to brainstorm how they might use it today. The Incubation Grant will fund WCDC’s plans to continue researching the history and possible preservation of this fascinating structure.

Other Continuing Projects

WCDC is just one organization who has received NJCH funding to continue the work it began in our Community History program. Others, including Piscataway Public Library and Salvation and Social Justice, have received funding for related projects. And still others have continued their community-based history initiatives using other funding, including Enslaved African Memorial Committee and East Trenton Collaborative.

NJ Orators Event

In other exciting news, previous Community History participant New Jersey Orators is also continuing the project they initiated in 2022. On August 10, from 6-8pm at Piscataway Public Library, NJ Orators will present a showcase of student Orators’ interviews with New Jerseyans in their 90s who lived through the Civil Rights Era. Orators began conducting these interviews during their cohort (CH22A).

Meanwhile, the current cohort continues to make progress on their own community history projects, work that holds the promise of lasting far beyond 2023. Overall, this summer has shown that Community History projects do not conclude at the end of each cohort, and NJCH is pleased to promote these projects’ success within and beyond the program.