The New Jersey Council for the Humanities has welcomed its organizations to the newest cohort of its Community History Program. The organizations, which represent five counties and a diverse array of sectors, missions, and interests, will take part in the nationally recognized program designed to grow and support grassroots history efforts.

The nine were selected from a record number of applicants. The Council received approximately twice the average number of applications for the program and exceeded its prior record by 33 percent.

“The record interest shown in this program from organizations throughout New Jersey is representative of Americans’ thirst for accurate history, the preservation of local culture, and community-level connection,” said Gigi Naglak, Director of Programs. “The enthusiasm these organizations have demonstrated to participate is a testament to the value New Jerseyans continue to place on the humanities.”

In the program, the organizations will receive free, expert training on public history practices and develop projects in collaboration with their local communities to learn about and share their untold stories. In addition to the training, each organization will be eligible to receive up to $5,000 in funding from NJCH to launch projects that build on their work in the program.

The new cohort includes:

• Four Oranges (West Orange, Essex County)
• Friends of the Howe House (Montclair, Essex County)
• Interfaith Neighbors (Asbury Park, Monmouth County)
• Nassau Presbyterian Church (Princeton, Mercer County)
• Prallsville Mills [Delaware River Mill Society] (Stockton, Hunterdon County)
• Ringwood Public Library (Ringwood, Passaic County)
• Say More Poetic Society (Irvington, Essex County)
• The New Weis Center (Ringwood, Passaic County)
• Vivekananda Vidyapith, Inc (Wayne, Passaic County)

Launched in 2021, the Community History program has helped dozens New Jersey organizations capture, preserve, and present untold stories of their communities. View more information about the program and read profiles of the organizations’ goals for participation at https://njhumanities.org/programs/community-history/ or by clicking the markers on the map below.

The New Weis Center

The New Weis Center is connecting environmental history with community resilience, using the diverse stories of people who protected Ringwood’s nature to inspire today’s youth to take hope and action in the future.

Interfaith Neighbors

With a strong focus on Springwood Avenue, once the thriving cultural and economic heart of Asbury Park’s African American community, the group aims to integrate history into neighborhood revitalization and cultural tourism.

Four Oranges

Four Oranges is expanding its work to document the arts and architecture of Essex County to encompass not only journalism but also public history methods. It is looking to Community History for training its team in oral history and other documentary methods, as well as to receive a grounding in ethical leadership as it records the stories of modern-day caretakers of Essex County’s historic sites.

Prallsville Mills (Delaware River Mill Society)

Celebrating 50 years of preservation, the Delaware River Mill Society at Prallsville Mills is uncovering the stories of the people who shaped the mills over three centuries, seeking new ways to engage and educate today’s community.

Friends of the Howe House

The Friends of the Howe House aim to use the methods and processes learned through Community History to transition its efforts around preserving the first home owned by an African American in Montclair from commemorative events to sustained, research-driven interpretation.

Say More Poetic Society

Irvington’s Say More Poetic Society aims to leverage spoken word and oral history to record the lived experiences of residents and activists, strengthening community ties through shared memory and creative expression.

Vivekananda Vidyapith, Inc.

Vivekananda Vidyapith aims to archive a vast trove of materials documenting its 50 years of cultural contributions in Wayne, as well as recording the oral and video histories of its community to preserve the spiritual and cultural legacy of the Indian diaspora for future generations.

Nassau Presbyterian Church

Building upon their prior efforts to document and digitize 268 years of burial records from Princeton Cemetery, Nassau Presbyterian Church now aims to go beyond records to find engaging ways share the diverse, often-untold stories of those interred there, from revolutionary leaders to anonymous residents whose lives reflect the broader American experience.

Ringwood Public Library

With a thirst for history and a legacy that is often hard to access, Ringwood Public Library seeks to harness community fascination to uncover hidden stories and create interactive experiences that bring the past to life.