SPARK NJ at the Madison Community Arts Center

The nonprofit Madison Area AAUW Branch along with the Summit College Club (AAUW) and the League of Women Voters Morristown Area invite the public to this free program on Sept 16, 2024 at 7PM at the Madison Community Arts Center. 

Advance reservations are not needed. 

Come and learn about SparkNJ, a local nonprofit organization, awarding unrestricted funding to charitable, community, and civic organizations in northern NJ whose leadership identifies as black.

SparkNJ awards annual unrestricted grants through their fund at the Community Foundation of New Jersey. They provide financial support for Black-led charitable, community, and civic organizations in northern New Jersey. They support organizations that are already fulfilling their mission but are in need of additional operating funds to continue and grow their work. 

The Sept 16th meeting will feature Lisa Barksy Firkser, Ph.D. and a founding member of SparkNJ will moderate a panel discussion featuring the following participants:

1. Kareemah Harris Baker has worked as a Child Welfare Administrator for 17 years.  She is pursuing an MSW degree at Rutgers University School of Social Work. She served as a SparkNJ Nominator for 3 years.

2. Nadine Wright-Arbubakrr, the President and Founder of Nassan’s Place, is a mother and advocate for children with Autism. Nassan’s Place, helping to make a difference in the lives of children and families affected by autism in and around underserved communities, received a 2023 SparkNJ grant. After being a grant recipient in 2023, Nadine served as a SparkNJ Nominator in 2024.

3. A'Dorian Murray-Thomas is the Founder of the nonprofit SHE Wins, which was a SparkNJ grant recipient in 2023. This organization provides leadership, career readiness, and other types of training for middle- and high-school girls who have been the victims of violence in their community. A trauma-informed program, SHE Wins combines social and emotional learning with rigorous college and career readiness training.