The Freedom Summer Proves Knowledge is Our Greatest Weapon
By: Paige Fleming The pen is mightier than the sword. An old adage, this saying has been heard time and time again to mean that knowledge is our greatest weapon. No more does this ring true than during…
One Year Later: A Reflection on George Floyd, Black Lives Matter, and the Future
By: Keyonna Murray It’s one year. One year since the murder of a man from Minneapolis, Minnesota changed the course of America forever. At the beginning of 2020, the sudden arrival of COVID-19 forced millions of…
Top 6 Bills Targeting Environmental Issues
By: Maggie Garbarino It is important this Earth Day to reflect on the most pressing environmental protection issues of our time. Currently, human activity is on track to do significant, permanent damage to our planet and it is our…
Community Cats Need Compassion, Not Euthanasia
By Nicole Marchione Can you imagine streets filled with hundreds of roaming cats? This is what you should envision will happen if a Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return (TNVR) program is not put in place in municipalities such as…
This Boy is my Brother
By: Keyonna Murray There’s a young boy in Northern New Jersey who was born in the mid-2000’s. With a bright smile and a contagious joy, he was always a person who brought some much-needed perspective to his family. In…
World Down Syndrome Day: How a Mothers’ Personal Story Continues to Make a Difference
By: Maggie Garbarino Every year, World Down Syndrome Day is observed on March 21st, a date symbolically chosen to represent the triplication of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome. Advocates in New Jersey, and all over the country,…
Top 6 Books Every Advocate Should Read
By: Abel Morais For National Read Across America Day, I have put together a list of books that will be beneficial for advocates in order to become champions of change. All of these books are some of my favorites…
Students need mental health services now more than ever
By Paige Fleming As our “new normal” becomes more permanent, students are struggling to find balance and strength in dealing with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and social deprivation. The mental strain of the COVID-19 pandemic…
It’s About Protecting Lives, It Shouldn’t Be That Hard?
By: Abel Morais There are 72 jurisdictions where being gay or trans is criminalized. Punishments can range from fines to death in some cases. Under Secretary John Kerry, who was the Secretary of State from 2013 to 2017,…
Remembering 9/11 Together, Six Feet Apart
By: Ashley Gadalla Through the fog and smoke, they could not see. There was fire, glass, and piles of debris. With screams and cries, fear ran through the streets. 9/11 should have been a time of defeat. But from…
Support NJ’s Environmental Justice Bill
By: Katie Parrish In a typical year, Communities of Color and low income communities face increased health issues such as asthma because they are overexposed to toxic air pollution. Now, with the added risk of Covid-19, it is…
The Road to Student Press Rights: An Interview
By: Tiffany Osoria The current landscape for student publishing rights in New Jersey is pretty grim. Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier, a supreme court case that ruled in favor of administrators having control in approving school publications, has set the norm…
Colleges and Universities Reopening Amidst Health Pandemic
By: Abel P. Morais Jr. On Thursday, July 9th, the New Jersey Assembly Higher Education Committee met with representatives from public and private institutions of higher education from across New Jersey. This meeting allowed for each representative to…
Pending Police Reform Laws In New Jersey
By Katelyn Piorkowski NJ residents are demanding systematic change to protect minority communities as they take to the streets in honor of Geroge Floyd and countless other black lives lost to unjust acts of police brutality across the…
Carteret Makes History at My First Protest
By Paige Fleming Growing up in a small town is nothing like how it’s portrayed in movies. No, we don’t know everybody’s names, and we don’t keep our doors unlocked at night. But one thing is for sure:…
The Top 5 Environmental Advocates
By Abel Morais To celebrate Earth Week, I have put together a Top 5 list of environmental advocates whom I personally feel have made an impact on environmental protection through their advocacy. Who am I you may ask?…
The Lemkin Summit To End Genocide and Mass Atrocities
By Abel Morais This is me standing outside of Capitol Hill with the other Kean University Students who had the opportunity to go to the summit! I recently had the opportunity to attend the Lemkin Summit…
The LGBTQ+ Community & The Equality Act
By: Michael Gonzales, B.A. Political Science The LGBTQ+ Community, also known as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, etc. community, is much more than your average community: It’s a family. It’s a natural unification of similarly oppressed people to…
What Happens to Bills That Were Not Passed During the Lame-Duck Session?
The 219th New Jersey Legislature begins its session on January 14, 2020 and with it comes expired proposed legislation, opportunities for new proposals, and new incumbents to contact. The lame-duck session is the period of time when the Legislature…
Sharks Need Their Fins, We Do Not
By: Jamie Zaccaria, Wildlife Conservationist, Burlington, NJ Governor Murphy has taken a huge step to make New Jersey a leader in conservation by signing S2905, which prohibits certain possession, sale, trade, distribution, or offering for sale of shark fins….
My Experience at a State Senate Meeting
Written by: Sabrina Ahmed, Lesniak Institute Intern, Fall 2019 On November 18th, I was given the opportunity to observe a State Senate meeting as a specialist intern for the Lesniak Institute. My superior, Sarah Mack, thoughtfully explained that the…
A Good News Story: Miracle Kitten
On her way to the funeral of Salena Lesniak, Senator Lesniak’s wife who died suddenly last Tuesday, Sue saw an injured cat alongside the roadway. Here’s her story … Driving up Route 9 at approximately 7:15 a.m., I saw…
GUEST BLOGGER: Alyssa Lego Advocates for Everyone to Share an Ice Cream Cone, Together
How must I begin to compile years of advocating for societal change in a short essay? How can I allow you a glimpse into my soul and my dreams through a screen? How can I leave you feeling inspired…
Guest Blogger, Emily Bank: Rutgers Law Student
The day I became an animal advocate is one I will never forget. It was a Sunday and the weather was less than perfect (a rarity in LA) so instead of my usual Sunday hike, I decided to scroll…
Jamie D., Humane State Contest Winner
In partnership with The Animal Welfare Fund of New Jersey and the NJCAR Foundation, the Lesniak Institute’s essay contest encouraged participation by New Jersey students in elementary, middle and high school. The goal of the contest was to inspire…
Adam C., Humane State Contest Winner
In partnership with The Animal Welfare Fund of New Jersey and the NJCAR Foundation, the Lesniak Institute’s essay contest encouraged participation by New Jersey students in elementary, middle and high school. The goal of the contest was to inspire…
Riley C., Humane State Contest Winner
In partnership with The Animal Welfare Fund of New Jersey and the NJCAR Foundation, the Lesniak Institute’s essay contest encouraged participation by New Jersey students in elementary, middle and high school. The goal of the contest was to inspire…
Annie Z., Humane State Contest Winner
In partnership with The Animal Welfare Fund of New Jersey and the NJCAR Foundation, the Lesniak Institute’s essay contest encouraged participation by New Jersey students in elementary, middle and high school. The goal of the contest was to inspire…
Farhan M., Humane State Contest Winner
In partnership with The Animal Welfare Fund of New Jersey and the NJCAR Foundation, the Lesniak Institute’s essay contest encouraged participation by New Jersey students in elementary, middle and high school. The goal of the contest was to inspire…
Sarah R., Humane State Contest Winner
In partnership with The Animal Welfare Fund of New Jersey and the NJCAR Foundation, the Lesniak Institute’s essay contest encouraged participation by New Jersey students in elementary, middle and high school. The goal of the contest was to inspire…
