American Planning Association New Jersey Chapter
2009 Annual Report

This event will be co-sponsored by the Newark-based Education Law Center and the Trenton-based PlanSmart NJ. We, the leaders of these two organizations, feel that this discussion is long overdue and encourage you to take time from your busy schedules to participate.

The agenda will include an introduction by Dianne Brake and a presentation by David Sciarra. David's focus will be to explain the difference between place-based initiatives, which seek to improve schools that exist in areas of concentrated poverty, and regional initiatives, which seek to reduce the concentration of poverty and increase access to high-performing schools within a region.

We recognize that as soon as a regional approach to education equity is suggested, the sensitive topics of race and class become the central focus, overshadowing even the significant controversy over planning regionally rather than locally. We feel that New Jersey needs this conversation, even if it is not ready or willing to do so.

In the discussion that will follow David's presentation, we hope that you will help us frame these issues for public discourse and effective reform. We also hope that you will explore with us the next steps we should take to collaborate on these reforms.

Please join us in this important discussion.

Yours sincerely,
Dianne Brake & David Sciarra

President's Corner (updated 10/14/09)

November 1st begins a new era for the APA-NJ Executive Committee. We welcome a new President-elect, as well as many new volunteers to fill expiring and new Executive Committee positions. Before summarizing the changes to the Executive Committee, I would like to recognize those officers that will not be returning after October 31.

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The Redevelopment Handbook - A Guide to Rebuilding New Jersey's Communities

by Stan Slachetka and David G. Roberts © 2003. This Handbook has been jointly published by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association.

This book "is an easy-to-understand, practical guide that will help municipalities that are considering redevelopment "

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The NJRA Redevelopment Training Institute (NJRA RTI) offers intensive intermediate-level training courses that focus on the redevelopment of New Jersey’s communities. Because the State of New Jersey’s redevelopment law is unique, NJRA RTI has been designed to provide non-profit and for-profit developers, professional consultants, entrepreneurs and city/county staff with a body of knowledge of the redevelopment and real estate development process. The goal of NJRA RTI is to provide classroom instruction outlining the nuances of the redevelopment planning process in New Jersey, to focus on the real estate development process and to unlock the key to understanding project finance.

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A SHA Bulletin
The Supportive Housing Association of NJ

Healing Homes for Children and Youth

Healing Homes is a public education campaign aimed at expanding understanding of and bolstering support for homes that house and help children with mental health and other needs. The campaign encourages local/state partnerships to support New Jersey's children and youth and debunks myths about these homes. Acting Child Advocate Ron Chen urges groups and organizations to circulate these materials, post them on your website, link to our page or email them to others who may benefit from the information presented here. Free hard copies of the publications can be ordered by e-mailing info@childadvocate.state.nj.us

Learn More About Healing Homes

WWW.childadvocate.nj.gov

Learn More About the Legal Protections of Youth Homes

A Letter to Municipal Officials From Acting Child Advocate Ronald Chen

NEWS: Child Advocate Campaign Debunks Myths About Youth Homes

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Transit-Friendly Development Newsletter

Volume 5, Issue 1 View Newsletter