(Eastern Bergen County, New Jersey: — The Community Chest of Eastern Bergen County’s Racial Justice Project awarded mini-grants to local libraries in the area to create racial justice book displays. The Chest awarded the mini-grants to public libraries in Closter, Englewood, and Cresskill. The grants consisted of a bookcase to display a selection of books about racial justice and $100 to purchase additional books to add to the library’s existing collection, The Racial Justice Project is a collaboration between The Community Chest of Eastern Bergen County and the Coalition of Racial Unity and Equity (CRUE). Founded in 2020, this local group based in in Englewood, was created in response to concerns of increasing racial inequality, both nationally and locally.
“The Community Chest’s mini-grants provide an opportunity to work with a group of libraries that have an interest in racial justice programming. We anticipate each library’s awareness about this topic will be enhanced, and they will include displays and programs on this topic in their regular library programming. The Chest also invites them to participate in other programs on this topic with movies and lectures. Recently, they were invited to see a movie, ‘The Color of Fear’, and to participate in a discussion about the film at the Englewood Public Library,” said Dr. Shelly Wimpfheimer, Executive Director, The Community Chest of Eastern Bergen County.
During her senior year, intern Jing Li, a 2022 graduate of Northern Valley Demarest High School, worked on the project. Li, who received The Chest’s Student Community Service Award at its annual gala in June, served on the Library Display planning team providing social and racial justice literature for the public, creating marketing materials and undertaking other activities to launch the project.
Other libraries in The Chest’s service area are invited to apply for a mini-grant to receive a racial justice book display. For further information about the Racial Justice Project or to obtain an application, contact (201) 568-7474. To make a contribution to the project, send a check made out to The Community Chest, located at 122 South Van Brunt Street, 2nd Floor, Englewood, NJ 07631. Donations are tax-deductible, as permitted by law.
About The Community Chest
Founded in 1933, The Community Chest, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, has supported local not-for-profit agencies for 89 years. The Chest leads initiatives and supports nonprofits that make our communities stronger and benefit people in need in eastern Bergen County. Each year, The Chest raises funds and allocates them to agencies demonstrating the capacity to provide services to local citizens. The organization also provides coordinating and planning services in its communities, serving as a bridge between agencies and organizations and investing in the stability and quality of the service network.
The Community Chest’s Board of Managers is comprised of community leaders dedicated to improving the lives of neighbors in need. People interested in being considered for board membership may contact Executive Director Dr. Shelly Wimpfheimer at (201) 568-7474.
For further information about The Chest, visit www.thecommunitychestebc.org/ or contact (201) 568-7474. Stay updated about the organization’s activities on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
