Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick Campus
EN-10: Community Partnerships

The New Jersey Climate Change Alliance is a network of diverse organizations that share the goal of advancing science-informed climate change strategies at the state and local levels in New Jersey, both with regard to adapting to changing climate conditions and addressing the emissions that cause climate change.

Alliance participants include representatives of public, private and non-governmental New Jersey organizations from sectors including transportation, emergency managements, business, energy, engineering, farming, insurance, environment, health, community planning, Environmental Justice, natural resource management, and others. The Alliance does not work to influence political outcomes or specific pieces of legislation; rather, the work of the Alliance serves to integrate science with evidence and diverse points of view through the voices of Alliance participants for the purpose of informing short and long-term climate change strategies and outlining policy options for New Jersey.

Alliance participants accept three underlying principles that include a commitment to: 1) Non-partisan, science and evidence-based climate strategies. 2)Climate change strategies that promote economic growth, equity, improved health outcomes, natural solutions, and sustainable communities; and 3)Thoughtful, respectful and meaningful dialogue among participants as demonstrated by the Alliance’s organizational communication practices.

Since its inception in 2011, the Alliance’s work has involved: a) Leading demonstration projects that can be replicated throughout New Jersey; b)Identifying evidence-based state and local policy options relevant for New Jersey; c) Conducting outreach and education to state and local officials, communities, leaders, and the general public; d) Linking natural and social scientists, engineers, and other experts to decision-makers, communities, and leaders to inform policy and practice e) Developing tools and guidance to inform planning and decision-making in the public, private, and non-governmental sectors; and f) Creating a forum that engages a diverse set of perspectives to advance evidence-based climate strategies and policy in New Jersey.

https://njadapt.rutgers.edu/

The SRRI hosts the Sustainable Raritan River Collaborative, a group of over 130 private, non-profit, regional and governmental organizations that work together for a more sustainable Raritan River and engage with the SRRI.

The Initiative, a joint program of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy (EJB) and the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS), partners with other Rutgers schools, centers and programs to ensure the best contributions from the sciences, planning and policy. The Initiative conducts conferences and topical workshops, provides technical assistance, and develops anchor projects that raise the profile of the Raritan River. The Initiative also publishes a periodic e-newsletter and sponsors an informative website and Facebook Page. The SRRI also runs the Sustainable Raritan River Collaborative, a group of over 130 private, non-profit, regional and governmental organizations that work together for a more sustainable Raritan River.

Conferences, seminars and workshops focused on the Raritan provide exciting opportunities to learn about best management practices and research in complementary fields, to network with professionals in the field, and for students, researchers and practitioners to solicit interest and feedback when they showcase their own work.

Rutgers’ scientific, technical, planning and other resources help advance sustainable projects of Raritan region elected officials, businesses and non-profit groups. Technical assistance takes the form of faculty research, professional and student assistance, and graduate studio courses. The graduate studio courses teach students about best management practices and the role of skilled planners in addressing local issues in a way that is best for the environment and the economy. Follow this link to more information about the Bloustein and Raritan Studios.

The Initiative partners with local organizations, businesses and agencies to assist with tangible projects that promote river restoration and protection. These projects arise from discussions with local leaders as well as in response to research opportunities at the regional, state and federal level. Some of our projects were designed to bring awareness and attention to the region — such as a beautiful coffee-table book, The Raritan River; Our Landscape, Our Legacy, and the video, Reimagining Our Watershed; A Renaissance on the Raritan. Other projects are designed to inform regional watershed planning efforts — such as the State of the Raritan Reports, Volumes 1 and 2.

Rutgers hosts the Initiative’s website and the Collaborative’s Facebook page, and produces a periodic e-newsletter with updates on key issues and notices about events and actions from across the Raritan River, basin and bay.

http://raritan.rutgers.edu/the-initiative/

The Elijah’s Promise community soup kitchen in New Brunswick partnered with the Rutgers medical school (Robert Wood Johnson Medical School) to form the Promise Clinic in 2005. Recognizing that the guests of the soup kitchen are often uninsured and have many health concerns and challenges, the Clinic offers them free primary care services to help them lead healthier lives. The Clinic is hosted at the Eric B Chandler Health Center and Rutgers medical students volunteer to provide care.

Every year, the Promise Clinic provides over 1000 primary care sessions and over 4000 health screenings and tests for guests of the Elijah’s Promise soup kitchen, as well as the greater New Brunswick community. This partnership gives emerging doctors and medical professionals real-life medical experience while also providing critical health services to those who are homeless or simply cannot afford qualified medical care. Over the last 10 years the Clinic has demonstrated lasting results amongst soup kitchen guests, decreasing their preventable usage of emergency room services dramatically.

https://elijahspromise.org/promise-programs/promise-clinic/

Rutgers New Brunswick hosts many community partnerships distributed across our many schools, centers, and other initiatives. While it is not exhaustive, the Office of Strategic Events and Programs maintains a program directory that includes many of these partnerships. The Office of Climate Action also plans to work on a webpage dedicated to climate and sustainability focused programs and partnerships.