Celebrating the fellows from the South Jersey Information Equity Project

What a gift!

I am privileged to be one of the mentors for the fellows of the South Jersey Information Equity Project. 

And here’s a news flash: These fellows are whip smart and charming!

I worked with them on the capstone project for their semester-long work in journalism: “Where does your water come from ______?”

The blank would be filled in by each fellow, or team of fellows, to address specifically the water where they live, or where they report from.

Here are their stories, which appeared in Delaware Currents last month: 

Where does your drinking water come from Gloucester, Burlington and Camden Counties?

Where does your drinking water come from Camden, N.J.?

Where does your drinking water come from Evesham, N.J.?

The point of these stories is to educate readers in southwestern New Jersey about the source of their drinking water and its quality, which is often a source of concern for BIPOC communities.

The stories were produced as part of the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University’s South Jersey Information Equity Project fellowship and supported with funding from the Independence Public Media Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and the NJ Civic Information Consortium.

And a special tip of the hat to the Center for Cooperative Media, which has been carrying a torch for the wide array of news media in New Jersey, supporting them and encouraging collaboration.

I see the role of Delaware Currents as joining the center to support new up-and-coming journalists, especially BIPOC journalists, and to find ways to grow the news ecosystem in areas where there isn’t strong local media.

You can help me in that role by supporting Delaware Currents!

One way that could be really worthwhile is to investigate whether your company will match employees’ donations. Here is where to check it out, an outfit called Charity Navigator. 

You could also just ask your admin folks and they would guide you through the relatively simple process.

Here’s a peek at our celebration in June: https://photos.app.goo.gl/YvZYJKMeRmQS67hq8

Thanks for reading!