NJ STATEWIDE BLACK AGENDA

ABOUT US

The NJ Statewide Black Agenda is a comprehensive policy framework driven by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka in partnership with Salvation and Social Justice and the NJ Institute for Social Justice. It was developed through community forums, advocacy efforts, and collaboration among Black leaders across New Jersey. Its purpose is to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for Black communities by outlining actionable priorities for policymakers, government agencies, and community organizations.

LAME DUCK AFFIRMATIVE POLICIES

USE OF FORCE S2348 (Singleton, McKnight)/A4175 (Park, Reynolds-Jackson, Venezia)

SECOND LOOK S2338 (Mukherji, McKnight)/A4463 (Reynolds-Jackson, Ramirez, Sampson)

JOHN LEWIS NJ VOTER EMPOWERMENT ACT S3009 (Turner, Cryan)/A4083 (Reynolds-Jackson, Sumter)

JURY SELECTION BILL S292 (Mukherji, McKnight)/A834 (Reynolds-Jackson, Speight, Atkins)

LAME DUCK DEFENSIVE POLICIES

SENATE BILL 4613 (Beach, Testa, Bucco)---allowing NJ State Police to establish its own department no longer under the purview of the NJ Attorney General’s Office

YOUTH WAIVER BILLS---seeks to transfer youth from the juvenile system to adult court
- A5573 (Simmons)
- S4438 (Diegnan, Greenstein, Corrado, McKnight)/A5721 (Danielsen)
- S3500 (Bramnick)
- S4466 (Bramnick)
- S4053 (Steinhardt, Bucco)/A5369 (Flynn, Auth)
- S4837 (Testa and Bucco)

TRANSITIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

It is imperative that Black leaders, who have long been at the forefront of community mobilization and advocacy for this collective agenda, are given meaningful roles within the incoming Administration’s transition team and are actively considered for key State appointments. Their lived experiences and deep-rooted connections to the community equip them to ensure that policy decisions truly reflect and address the priorities of Black communities across the state. Including these voices at the table not only honors their leadership but strengthens the Administration’s commitment to equitable and inclusive governance.

FIRST 100 DAYS

We are calling on the Sherrill-Caldwell Administration to:

Convene a Bi-Annual Meeting with Black Leadership, Governor, Lt Governor, and Cabinet: During these bi-annual meetings, policy conversations will be structured to encourage open dialogue and collaborative problem-solving between Black leadership, the Governor, Lt Governor, and the cabinet. Participants will have the opportunity to present pressing community concerns, propose solutions, and engage directly with policymakers to shape the direction of key initiatives. This ongoing exchange will ensure that policies are continually informed by lived experiences and community expertise.

We are also advocating for a state budget that prioritizes the following:

Restorative Youth Employment Programs: prioritize these programs as a proactive step to disrupt cycles of poverty and criminalization, and offer access to mentorship, financial literacy, and career-building expressions and attitudes

Housing first-time and first-generation homebuyers:: Expanding support and funding for Black first-time home buyers is critical because homeownership remains one of the most direct and sustainable pathways to building generational wealth. Given New Jersey’s staggering $600,000 racial wealth gap, targeted investments in homeownership can help close this divide and empower Black families to secure long-term financial stability and opportunity.

Freedom Schools: increased investments into the establishment and expansion of the amount of Freedom Schools in the state as a vital space of liberation and learning.

Prioritize Senator Singleton’s Faith and Housing Bill (S4736) in the first 100 days. It enables faith-based groups to turn unused properties into affordable housing—an urgent step toward addressing NJ’s housing crisis and building equity.

Additionally, we are calling for the convening of targeted workgroups dedicated to actionable steps as it relates to:

Economic Development (Promise Neighborhoods): a whole-of-government approach to economic and community development of promise cities such as Trenton and Newark, ensuring that every stage in the visioning, planning, and implementation policies centers community stakeholders and pillar institutions like the Black church.

Introduction of Black Maternal Health legislation: establishing a targeted midwifery workforce development program for Black midwives, and supporting significant investments into community-led Black maternal health programs and initiatives, such as doula, midwifery, advocacy training, lactation support, perinatal care, and other birthing supports.

New Jersey’s $600K Racial Wealth Gap: This body would build directly upon the foundation established by the Wealth Disparity Task Force and the insights from the NJ Institute for Social Justice’s recently published reparations report: “For Such a Time as This: The Nowness of Reparations for Black People in New Jersey.” Leveraging those findings, it will immediately begin strategizing concrete action steps within the first 100 days to meaningfully address and close the state’s persistent racial wealth gap. This approach ensures continuit

NJ STATEWIDE BLACK AGENDA FIRST 100 DAYS

The Black vote was decisive in New Jersey’s 2025 gubernatorial race. Black voters made up 12% of the state’s population and delivered overwhelming support—94% for Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill—helping secure a 13.7-point victory margin in a race once predicted to be close. Turnout surged in urban counties like Essex and Hudson, underscoring the power of Black communities in shaping statewide outcomes.Why the first 100 days matter: This window sets the tone for trust and accountability. Immediate action on housing affordability, education equity, Black maternal health, and closing the $600,000 racial wealth gap is critical. Early investments and policy moves signal whether the Administration will build a genuine working relationship with Black communities and deliver on promises of equity and inclusion.

ADVANCING EQUITY, JUSTICE, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR BLACK COMMUNITIES IN NEW JERSEY

BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH

Pass the Midwifery Licensing Act (S4487/A5527) to expand access to culturally sensitive midwifery care.
Create a targeted workforce program for midwifery training to address maternal health and economic disparities.
Invest in Black and women-led birthing justice initiatives, including birthing centers, midwives, doulas, perinatal care, lactation support, and advocacy training.
Expand Medicaid reimbursement for doulas and midwives.

Education Equity

Expand and increase funding for Freedom Schools.
Reform state school funding to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Fully implement the Amistad Act and safeguard Black history in curricula.
Address school segregation by eliminating zip code barriers and expanding county magnet schools for diversity and opportunity.
End punitive policies and adopt restorative practices to reduce the criminalization of Black students.
Invest in vocational training to prepare for AI-driven job market changes and provide tax relief for seniors contributing to school funding.
Increase funding for Black arts programs.
End legacy and donor preferences in college admissions

Environmental

Invest in green infrastructure in Black urban communities (trees, green roofs, permeable pavement).
Require racial impact assessments for new facilities and fully enforce NJ’s Environmental Justice Law.
Increase funding for energy efficiency, solar, flood protection, and emergency preparedness in Black communities, with regular zip-code reporting on pollution and investments.

Civic Engagement

NJ John Lewis NJ Voter Empowerment Act
Deep Investments in Civic Engagement In Schools
Fund civic engagement training through institutions like Kean University to build community leadership capacity.
Lower voting age to 16 for school board and local elections
Enact same-day voter registration for all elections

Housing

Partner with Black churches to repurpose vacant properties for affordable housing.
Push for housing reforms: investigate administration practices, enact statewide rent control, and protect renters from predatory landlords.
Advocate for affordable housing and anti-discrimination protections for Black veterans.

Protection for Black LGBTQIA+ Community

Ensure meaningful protections for LGBTQIA+ individuals who face systemic marginalization.
Maintain NJ’s status as a sanctuary state for trans healthcare amid federal challenges.

MENTAL HEALTH & HOMELESSNESS

Addressing inadequate shelter options and the closing of mental health facilities in the state
Increased mental health support, particularly among returning citizen populations to reduce recidivism

Public Safety & Justice

Defend New Jersey’s Criminal Justice Reform Act and protect the progress made and success of our historic bail reform system
Pass Use of Force Legislation (S2348/A4175) to codify the Attorney General’s directive.
Enact Second Look Legislation (S2338/A4463), allowing incarcerated seniors (60+) with 20+ years served to seek resentencing.
Increase funding for community-led crisis response teams and violence interruption programs.
Adopt the Survivor’s Justice Bill to add mitigating factors for abuse survivors.
Pass the Technical Parole Violations reform.
Eliminate mandatory minimums for nonviolent drug offenses (A4464).
Expand and expedite funding for Seabrooks-Washington Community Crisis Response Act.
Create restorative youth employment programs for at-risk youth.
Reform the juvenile waiver system and block punitive legislation sending youth to adult prisons.

economic equity

Develop strategies to close the racial wealth gap.
Increase funding for Black first-time and first-generation home buyers
Drive economic development in urban “promise cities” like Newark and Trenton with community-led planning and Black church involvement.
Raise Project Labor Agreement threshold from $5M to $35M to expand contracting opportunities for Black businesses.
Reform auto insurance to ban discriminatory rate-setting based on credit, education, or occupation.
Implement Universal Basic Income.
Establish a New Jersey Baby Bonds program.
Provide targeted support for first-time businesses through public banks.
Promote community land banks and land trusts to fight gentrification, prevent displacement, and build generational wealth.
Use cannabis tax revenue to fund affordable homeownership and entrepreneurship in marginalized communities ($2.19B projected over 30 years).
Ensure transparency and accountability in state procurement with bi-annual reporting.
Increase the minimum wage.

Healthcare & Access

Expand community access to primary care and reduce racial disparities in hospital outcomes.
Stop hospital closures in Black and underserved communities.
Provide education, screening, and testing for cardiovascular disease risk for teens and adults.
Ensure transparent health data reporting to track disease and resource gaps by community.
Address environmental and commercial determinants of health.
Create funding pathways for grassroots organizations to access public funds for capacity building.
Launch incubator programs offering free or low-cost expert support for grassroots groups.
Hold monthly sessions with medical, community, and government leaders to tackle key health issues.
Increase education and prevention for heart disease risk factors (e.g., hypertension, alcohol use).
Expand outreach and monitoring for diabetes prevention and care.
Support advanced screening for breast cancer using digital tools or MRI as needed.
Diversify the clinical workforce to build trust with Black communities.

Tell the Truth about New Jersey’s Original Sin of Slavery. And to lay the foundation for all these investments, New Jersey must issue a formal apology for slavery and its enduring legacy—paired with accountability and action—and permanently fund the Amistad Curriculum so that New Jersey students—and all of us—learn the history too many in this state don’t know. More than half of our residents do not know that slavery took deep root here, in what has been called the “slave state of the North.”