Our Mission

The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice is a Newark-based urban research and advocacy organization dedicated to the advancement of New Jersey's urban areas and residents. 

It is our strong belief that urban areas of New Jersey hold remarkable potential to act as regionally competitive economic engines while providing resilient, vital and attractive communities to their residents.  It is our work to identify, analyze and address the underlying causes of social and economic disparities and to challenge the barriers that constrain cities and their residents from achieving their full potential.

The programs of the Institute are concentrated in four areas:

• Expanding access to economic opportunity for low-income and minority residents of Newark and other urban areas in the state;
• Promoting local, regional and state government that is effective, equitable and accountable to the concerns of urban residents and their communities
• Ensuring the civil rights and other basic entitlements of minorities and low-income individuals in the state; and
• Highlighting the interdependence between urban and suburban areas as a means to produce more effective and sustainable public policies.
   

The Institute advances this non-partisan agenda through policy-related research and analysis, development and implementation of model programs, advocacy efforts (including litigation when appropriate) and sustained public education.