Jersey Gives a Damn - A Community Foundation of NJ Podcast

Hosted by The Community Foundation of New Jersey

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Aug 2026

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About the show

The 'Jersey Gives a Damn' podcast captures conversation with the innovators, leaders, and changemakers making New Jersey's communities stronger. It's hosted by Aaron Turner, Chief Philanthropic Officer at the Community Foundation of New Jersey where it’s our privilege to help hundreds of philanthropically minded New Jerseyans have the greatest impact on the causes and communities they care about.

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22 recent

August 20, 202634 min

Working Hard Yet Still Falling Behind: The Hidden Face of Financial Hardship in NJ

Imagine working full time — maybe more than full time — and still not being able to cover the basics. No luxuries, no savings. Just housing, food, childcare, healthcare, and transportation. For nearly 40% of New Jersey households, that's not a hypothetical. It's daily life.The problem, in part, is how we measure hardship. The Federal Poverty Level — the number that determines eligibility for food assistance, housing vouchers, and more — was created during the Johnson administration and has never been fundamentally updated. In New Jersey, it sits at roughly $29,000 for a family of four. But the actual cost of meeting basic needs in the Garden State? More than $111,000. That gap is where ALICE lives.ALICE — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — is a framework developed right here in New Jersey that gives a name and a measure to the millions of working households who earn above the poverty line but still can't make ends meet. More than 1.3 million Garden State families fall into this category. In this episode, host Aaron Turner sits down with Dr. Stephanie Hoopes, one of the architects of the ALICE framework, and Justin Kiczek of the Kirby Foundation to explore what the data reveals — and what it demands of employers, policymakers, funders, and all of us in response. Learn more: State of ALICE Report: https://unitedforalice.org/new-jersey United Way of Northern NJ: www.unitedwaynnj.org/alice FM Kirby Foundation: www.fmkirbyfoundation.org

July 9, 202636 min

Through the Gates: The Struggle to Rebuild After Incarceration in New Jersey

Every year, over 120,000 people are released from New Jersey's state prisons and local jails — into communities often unprepared to receive them and systems that too frequently set them up to fail. Nearly two-thirds will be rearrested within three years. But those numbers don't capture the full story: the near-impossibility of finding housing with a conviction on your record, the employer who won't call back, or the trauma a punishment-focused system was never built to address. In this episode of Jersey Gives a Damn, host Aaron Turner sits down with three people doing something about it. Chino Ortiz, who spent thirty years incarcerated before co-founding the Returning Citizens Support Group in Newark, talks about what that first day of freedom actually looks like. Aisha Babilonia of Habakkuk's Vision describes the wraparound support that meets people where they are — from inside prison walls to long after release. And Kevin Bott, Executive Director of Ritual4Return, shares how a 14-week theater-based program helps returning citizens heal through storytelling and public ceremony. This is what it actually takes to come home. Learn more about our guests' work: Habakkuk’s Vision: https://hbbkv.org/ Returning Citizens Support Group: www.returningcitizensnj.org Ritual 4 Return: www.ritual4return.org Related articles: But They All Come Back: Facing the Challenges of Prisonr Reentry by Jeremy Travis Performing Emancipatory Rites of Passage , co-edited by Kevin Bott and Jan Cohen-Cruz (30% discount code: H6CZF7T9D)

June 1, 202633 min

Building a NJ Workforce That Works

There's a quiet mismatch playing out across New Jersey's economy: thousands of good jobs sitting unfilled while thousands of capable people can't find their way into them. The four-year degree — long sold as the surest path to a stable career — has become unaffordable for many, and increasingly disconnected from what employers actually need. Trades are short on workers as a generation retires. Technology is reshaping every job description. And the people most often left out of the conversation are the ones with the most to gain from a different approach. Host Aaron Turner, Chief Philanthropic Officer at the Community Foundation of New Jersey, sits down with two leaders building different answers from opposite ends of the state — Dr. Corey Homer, President of Sussex County Community College, and Onna Jones of Camden-based Hope Works — to discuss employer-driven curriculum, paying participants from day one, AI as a competitive equalizer, the wraparound supports behind Hope Works' 93% job retention rate, and what it will take to close New Jersey's middle-skills gap. Learn more about the guests' organizations. Hopeworks: www.hopeworks.org Sussex County Community College Workforce Programs: www.sussex.edu/academics/career-technical-programs/

December 2, 202529 min

The Afterschool Programming Crisis in NJ - and What it Will Take to Fix It

New Jersey faces a critical afterschool programming crisis, with demand far exceeding availability. While 85% of parents recognize these programs build essential social skills and keep children safe, only a fraction of families who need them have access. This gap leaves working parents scrambling for childcare and kids without structured environments to learn and grow. Host Aaron Turner, Chief Philanthropic Officer at the Community Foundation of New Jersey, sits down with three leading advocates—Ebony Grace of the NJ School-Age Child Care Coalition, Rosie Grant from Paterson Education Fund, and Louise McCants of Capital Area YMCA—to explore solutions to this mounting challenge. Learn more about the guests' orginizations : NJSACC: https://www.njsacc.org Capital Area YMCA: https://capitalymca.org Paterson Education Fund: https://paterson-education.org And here are additional materials: Child care costs consume 19% of N.J. family budgets, survey finds- https://www.nj.com/mosaic/2025/11/child-care-costs-consume-19-of-nj-family-budgets-survey-finds.html America After 3 PM NJ survey data - https://afterschoolalliance.org/AA3PM/data/new-jersey/demand Wallace Foundation Report- https://wallacefoundation.org/report/responding-reimagining-realizing-out-school-time-coordination-new-era-out-school-time Mott Foundation Research- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MC5DhlG0XAP8Tmik-hTGt6SWI4CTjMf6/view?usp=sharing

July 31, 202523 min

Film & Television as Workforce Development in New Jersey

In this third and final installment of our "Art of New Jersey" series, we consider the impact of Netflix and Lionsgate's $1+ billion studio investments and their potential to transform New Jersey into the "Hollywood of the East." Guests Jen Becker from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, film producer and state film commissioner Carol Cuddy, and Tom Hall from Montclair Film discuss how these major entertainment industry developments could create thousands of jobs and generate billions in economic impact. The conversation explores the broader workforce development opportunities the studio investments present for communities across the Garden State. Related links: NJ Film & Digital Media Tax Credit Program: ttps://www.njeda.gov/film/ NJ Film Works Grant Program: https://www.njeda.gov/new-jersey-film-works-grant-program/ NJ Film Ready Program: https://www.nj.gov/njfilm/filmready-nj.shtml NJ Film Commission: https://www.nj.gov/njfilm/ NJ-411 Production Services Directory: h=ttps://www.nj.gov/njfilm/production-psd.shtml Montclair Film Education & Training programs: https://montclairfilm.org/education/

April 29, 202530 min

The Art of New Jersey (Part 2) - Can the arts actually improve our health?

We often talk about how the arts feel good, but what if they could benefit our health? In this episode, we sit down with Aly Maier Lokuta, Assistant Vice President of Arts & Well-Being at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), to explore how creative expression is being used to improve mental, physical, and social health across New Jersey. From launching New Jersey's first arts prescribing program to co-founding a groundbreaking research lab with Rutgers, NJPAC is helping shape the future of the arts in healthcare. Aly shares how New Jersey’s anchor art institution is connecting communities through restorative and innovative programs. You can learn more about NJPAC’s work at the intersection of art and well-being at njpac.org/well .

February 20, 202529 min

The Art of New Jersey - A conversation on New Jersey’s arts and arts organizations, and their value to community

This is the first installment in our Jersey Gives a Damn Podcast series on the Arts in New Jersey. With help from our guests, we better understand the arts landscape in the state: what makes our art scene special, what value it brings, and how arts, artistry, and arts organizations are faring in a state which has been in the shadow of its neighbors, New York and Philadelphia, but that has an identity and vibrant history all its own. And we learn that art's value is not just in the beauty and enjoyment of the art itself, but in how it plays a critical role in strengthening and holding up communities—including in surprising ways. You'll like this episode. Our host, Aaron Turner, is thrilled to be joined by Lynne Toye of the NJ Arts & Culture Renewal Fund; Adam Perle, President & CEO of ArtsPrideNJ; and Alysia Souder, Executive Director, the Institute of Music for Children. Learn more about their organizations here: https://njartsculture.org https://artpridenj.org https://www.instituteofmusic.org/

December 19, 202430 min

Understanding the Family Homelessness Crisis in NJ

In this episode, we shine a light on family homelessness, one of New Jersey’s more urgent but often overlooked social challenges. When most people think about homelessness, they might picture a single adult on the street. But the true face of homelessness is often much younger, much more vulnerable. It's children clutching worn backpacks, parents working multiple jobs but still unable to secure stable housing, a mother and her two children living in cars, shelters, or cycling between temporary spaces. We explore the complex web of economic challenges, systemic barriers, and personal struggles that push families to the margins. And we hear from two experts on the front lines working to create meaningful solutions: Taissa Kelly, CEO of Monarch Housing Associates, and Mike Callahan, Director of the New Jersey Office of Homelessness Prevention. This is a difficult issue, but there is some reason for hope. Learn more about our guests and their organizations here: https://monarchhousing.org https://nj.gov/dca/dhcr/offices/dhcrohp.shtml

November 11, 202422 min

How are our veterans doing?

In recognition of Veterans Day 2024, we're hosting a dedicated conversation examining the current state of our nation's veterans and the critical support they need. This episode shines a light on the significant challenges facing many veterans, including: 22 US veterans commit suicide every day More than 40% of female veterans report experiencing military sexual harassment or military sexual trauma 26% of the homeless US population are veterans, amounting to 37,000 homeless veterans More than 1-in-10 U.S. veterans have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder To dive deeper into these issues and discuss solutions, our host Aaron Turner, CFNJ's Chief Philanthropic Officer, sits down with Matthew Ellison from The Patriot Fund and Joe Brooks from the Veterans Multi-Service Center - two leading organizations providing vital support to veterans in New Jersey. This conversation serves as an important primer on the challenges veterans face and the organizations working to address them. We encourage you to learn more about the services offered by our guests' organizations: The Patriot Fund: https://patriotfundinc.org Veterans Multi-Service Center: https://www.vmcenter.org By shining a spotlight on veteran's issues, we hope to inspire more people to get involved and support those who have sacrificed so much for our country.

October 3, 202429 min

Why Are Pet-Friendly Domestic Violence Shelters Vital in NJ?

97% of domestic violence survivors say that concern about leaving a pet was a factor in their decision to leave an abusive situation. Yet, only 17% of domestic violence shelters accept pets. Emergency sheltering for victims of domestic violence is a critical need. Not everyone has access to the homes of family or friends as a means to find safety. Not enough shelters in New Jersey allow pets. And that needs to change. This is an issue the Community Foundation of New Jersey has leaned into thanks to a generous donor, Karen Lindemann, who left CFNJ a bequest that was designed to ensure that considerations around pets would not stop survivors from seeking help. In Karen’s memory, the Community Foundation has launched an ambitious goal to ensure that at least one domestic violence shelter in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties is outfitted to include survivors and their pets. Important Links: New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence https://njcedv.org/ 180 Turning Lives Around https://redrover.org/the-purple-leash-project/ Red Rover https://redrover.org/ Red Rover Purple Leash Project https://redrover.org/the-purple-leash-project/ 20 by 2025 - 25% of domestic violence shelters become pet friendly by 2025 https://25by2025.org/ NJ Statewide Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-572-SAFE (7233)