Advocacy Through Social Media: Extending Beyond Your Platform
Back in November 2021, millions of Instagram feeds were flooded with stories of pet pictures with the sticker “We’ll plant 1 tree for every pet picture” attached. With over 4 million posts, Plant A Tree advocated for the environment…
My Visit To The State House in Trenton
Behind the Scenes On Tuesday, April 2nd I had the opportunity to take a trip to the New Jersey State House with the Lesniak Institute. This opportunity presented itself thanks to the Lesniak Institute and Kean University. There was…
Lost Childhoods: Exposing the Triad of Illegal Immigration, Child exploitation, and Abuse
What About the Children? Within the global discourse surrounding illegal immigration and amidst the political debates lies a heartbreaking reality obscured from the view of most individuals. The devastating and harrowing reality of child trafficking and abuse. It is…
The Realities of The Homeless Crisis
Within our communities in the United States, there is a homeless epidemic that has been severely overlooked. Over 600,000 Americans in 2023 were considered homeless. That is a 12 percent increase from 2022. Furthermore, 50,000 individuals of that percentage…
Safety Protocols in School Systems: Importance of Active Shooter Policies on College Campuses
BREAKING NEWS: NEW LAW PASSED ALLOWING POSSESSION OF GUNS ON COLLEGE GROUNDS! Imagine this becoming the new headline in a few years time. The horror! Unlike school systems with grades K-12, there are no public government databases that track…
Tiny Home Villages: A Rising Community to Reduce Homelessness in America
What are tiny home villages? Tiny homes are exactly what they sound like; small homes for people to live in. They’re adorable and we all secretly wish we could have one, I know I do! Villages are like your…
Period Poverty: The Injustice We Can No Longer Ignore
What is Period Poverty? Period poverty is a widespread and ignored public health crisis that continues to plague the lives of countless menstruating individuals. At its core, this complex crisis is rooted in gender inequality, deep stigma, socioeconomic disparities,…
Influencing Legislation: How to Make Your Voice Heard!
Constituents have more of a say over what bills pass than they may think they do. Knowing this, it is helpful to understand what you can do to influence legislation. Historically, the more involved people are in the legislative…
Workers are tired: The Strikes seen Across the Country
There have been several publicly known and documented strikes in the country as of late. There are strikes happening in all types of work including a writers strike, UPS strike, United Auto Workers Union (UAW) strike, Amazon drivers strike…
Unveiling the Danger: The Reality of Governor DeSantis’s Anti-Woke Bills
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been in the news almost every day for years since he has begun signing “anti-woke” legislation. What does “woke” mean? The term “woke” originates from Black culture, the phrase “stay woke,” being used to…
Upholding Intellectual Freedom: The Fight Against Book Bans
What is the book ban? Many parents are calling for schools to remove certain books from curriculums and school libraries as the themes make them uncomfortable and don’t align with their own personal views. Books in the classroom are…
Saving our Children: Unveiling the Segregation of New Jersey Schools
“While NJ is the most diverse state…when it comes to schools it’s also the most segregated place.” This quote comes from Javier Robles, president of the Latino Action Network of New Jersey (LAN). LAN, in collaboration with other organizations…
There are 300 Ukrainian Orphans & 200 American Families that need your help
The Lesniak Institute joined Ukrainecare300 at the Summit on Solutions for Ukrainian Orphans with American Families. Ukrainecare300 is a coalition of parents, volunteers, and advocates whose mission is to engage lawmakers and the media, ultimately to create a discussion…
Federal Supreme Court vs. State Supreme Court
Delving deeper into the roles of the supreme courts at the federal and state level. Understandably there is a cloud of confusion surrounding the difference between the Federal Supreme Court and the State Supreme Court. You might find yourself…
From Bars to Better Lives: Why New Jersey Needs Comprehensive Reentry Support
5,300 inmates were released from New Jersey prisons in 2020 following the threat of the pandemic. 5,300 individuals are now out in the world needing homes and jobs while learning how to be productive members of society. These individuals…
5 Inventors You Should Know About: Touching Base on Black Success
Throughout history, black individuals often lose the credit and recognition that comes with their amazing work. These roadblocks they face determine whether they see success or failure, due to the discrimination African Americans faced in the United States. It…
Breaking Barriers: How Brown v. Board of Education Revolutionized America’s Pursuit of Equality
On this day in history in 1954, the United States Supreme Court issued a groundbreaking ruling in the case of Brown v. Board of Education. In a unanimous decision, the court declared that racial segregation in public schools was…
Exploring the NJ State House: A Journey Through History, Architecture, and Civic Engagement
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to visit the place where all important decisions are made? The New Jersey State House can seem intimidating at first, but once you’re there, you’ll find it’s not as intimidating as it…
Increasing the Black Women’s Voice Through Advocacy
Black women have such a powerful and graceful force. They have led many political and social movements while leading their community. Centuries later they still worked to abolish numerous difficulties Black women were facing in their communities. Equal and…
Labor day: The fight for a day off
In the late nineteenth century, labor activists took to the streets to make their contributions to America’s strength known. These activists wanted the day to be a federal holiday for a day of rest. The true meaning of Labor…
The Other States Have Something to Learn From New Jersey Leadership in Terms of Gun Violence Prevention
Yesterday in New Jersey Governor Murphy signed 7 new bills making this his 3rd gun safety package since taking office in 2018. One of the most instrumental parts of the new package is required training for anyone who wants…
Social Work Month 2022: the Time is Right
By Brittany Macaluso According to the NASW( National Association of Social Workers), the theme for Social Work Month 2022 is The Time is Right for Social Work. The time is right for social work because of people like you and me. People who’s small…
Bill S783 Will Benefit New Jersey: Here’s Why We Support It
As New Jersey continues to face an opioid epidemic, Bill S783 aims to provide a piece of the solution. This bill, introduced in January, will establish the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund and the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund…
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…
NJ Needs Zero Emission Trucks
The following contains Senator Raymond J. Lesniak’s testimony at the DEP hearing on May 20, 2021 for Advanced Clean Trucks Program and Fleet Reporting Requirements. Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of Governor Murphy and…
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…
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,…
Patricia Perkins-Auguste, Creating New Models for Building Successful Neighborhoods
Patricia Perkins-Auguste, Councilwoman-At-Large, City of Elizabeth, is a career public servant who embodies the principles of biblical teachings and practical delivery of professional public services to her community, constituents and business interests in and around the City of Elizabeth,…
