SJM's Examining Systemic Racism Series Continues
Social Justice Matters presents
Our Legacy of Segregated Communities
and What We Can Do About it
Tuesday, September 22, 7 - 8 pm
Featuring Laura Sullivan, Director of Economic Justice Program, NJISJ and Raphael Kasen, Homeownership Administrator - New Jersey Community Capital
Watch the video recording here Use this passcode: eT^@8^u6
What this program was about:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/our-legacy-of-segregated-communities-and-what-we-can-do-about-it-tickets-117042103081
Did you know that New Jersey currently has one of the largest racial wealth gaps in the country, with the median net worth of our state's White families leading the nation at $352,000, with Black/Latino families trailing at $6,100 and $7,300? That’s about two cents on the dollar. And the gap continues to widen because of disparities in home ownership.
In this, the second program in Social Justice Matters' series, Examining Systemic Racism, Laura Sullivan and Raphael Kasen will discuss the ways that government policy, and community biases have long determined where our families live, who are neighbors are and the quality of education offered our children. The legacies of slavery, racially restrictive covenants, exclusion from the GI Bill, redlining, and predatory lending practices, among other actions, have systematically denied to Black households the same opportunities for wealth building through home ownership afforded to White households.
After we examine how we have reached this juncture, we will look at several policy proposals that begin to address the housing situation in our state and local communities, and discuss how we, as ordinary citizens can advocate to create “a New Jersey that allows all to prosper.”
Laura Sullivan, the New Jersey Institute of Social Justice’s Director of Economic Justice, is an experienced policy researcher who specializes in analyzing the long-term financial well-being and vulnerabilities of households, with a particular focus on assets and racial wealth disparities.
She has co-authored and led the quantitative analysis of national survey data for a number of publications and policy briefs. Most recently, she was a Senior Research Associate at the Institute on Assets and Social Policy at Brandeis University. Her work exposing the trends and drivers of the racial wealth gap has been covered by major media outlets. Dr. Sullivan has also taught graduate-level quantitative methods and policy analysis courses at American University. Previously, she worked in policy advocacy for economic development in low-income communities and communities of color in California and served as an AmeriCorps member coordinating literacy programs in the Bay Area.
She holds a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and a PhD in Social Policy from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University.
Established in 1999 by Alan V. and Amy Lowenstein, the New Jersey Institute of Social Justice’s cutting-edge racial and social justice advocacy seeks to empower people of color by building reparative systems that create wealth, transform justice and harness democratic power—from the ground up—in New Jersey.
Known for its dynamic and independent advocacy aimed at toppling load-bearing walls of structural inequality to create just, vibrant and healthy communities, the Institute is committed to exposing and repairing the cracks of structural racism in our foundation that erupt into earthquakes in communities of color.
The Institute advocates for systemic reform that is at once transformative, achievable in the state and replicable in communities across the nation.
Raphael Kasen joined New Jersey Community Capital in January 2018 as Homeownership Administrator for the Address Yourself affordable homeownership program. In this role, he is responsible for management and outreach for the program, including outreach to Limited English Proficiency and ITIN borrowers. Prior to joining NJCC, Mr. Kasen worked as Community Building Specialist for the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, where he spearheaded local policy and advocacy work, as well as technical assistance and training around problem properties, foreclosure, and neighborhood revitalization issues. He has spoken at state, regional, and national conferences, and been featured as subject matter expert in both the Burlington County Times and the Star Ledger. He also serves as a board member for Homefirst Interfaith Housing & Family Services in Plainfield, New Jersey.
Mr. Kasen holds a master's degree in City and Regional Planning from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University.
REGISTER FOR THIS ZOOM EVENT STARTING SEPTEMBER 9.