Gathering Ground

We know that there is so much exhaustion, uncertainty, and anxiety about the future swirling right now. So, Gathering Ground is opening up a morning check-in space to our community for the next few days to ground in to your day, in community with others. This is an informal gathering, so BYO coffee, tea or morning smoothie to our Zoom room, and remember – community matters and you are not alone. We hope you join us. We welcome you to join us from 8:30am-9:15am on: 11/7 (tomorrow), 11/8, 11/11, and 11/13 Email Kacy O'Brien (kobrien@gatheringground.us) for the Zoom link - no registration necessary.

Today is Election Day! Polls are open until 8pm – as long as you are in line by 8pm, you have the right to cast your ballot! Find your polling place at https://buff.ly/2ZQzeiK and exercise your right to vote!

The Gathering Ground team was busy during the month of October! Kacy O'Brien, our Director of Programming, joined Nonprofit Professionals of Color Collective for their incredible inaugural C3 Convention, where she was not only able to see old friends but make new ones as well. Later in the month, Our Executive Director, Maria Carnemolla, and Board Chair, Natasha Dyer attended New Jersey Institute for Social Justice 25th Anniversary Gala, where they celebrated 25 years of inspiration, and heard from Michelle Alexander, author of "The New Jim Crow."

Happy Halloween! With the election right around the corner – and early voting already in progress – the scariest thing you can do this Halloween is not vote! Turn in your ballot or cast your vote at your polling place today!

As Election Day quickly approaches, Hennelly touches on the importance of local races – which are often overlooked during a presidential election – as he takes a deep dive into the racial disparities within America's class systems, specifically right here in New Jersey. Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/ekEy5gAB

Our Birth Equity Briefing, with special guest Cecile Edwards, Executive Director of New Jersey Birth Equity Funders Alliance is happening this Thursday, October 31st! Register now at bit.ly/BirthEquityBriefing to join us for this compelling conversation.

New Jersey residents – Early voting begins today! Find your polling place at https://buff.ly/2ZQzeiK and cast your ballot from now until November 5th!

Join New Jersey Institute for Social Justice next Monday for their Halloween Democracy Voting fest as they discuss voting rights, paint pumpkins and enjoy treats leading up to the November 5th election. Register at https://lnkd.in/djXhwHHH

Legislation supported by New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice , ACLU-NJ, and NAACP New Jersey State Conference could make New Jersey the first state to allow high schoolers (ages 16 & 17) to vote in school board elections. Learn more and read the full article at https://lnkd.in/g-5wW3Fg

Next Thursday, Gathering Ground will be hosting our Birth Equity Briefing, where we'll have the opportunity to hear from Cecile Edwards, Senior Manager at New Jersey Birth Equity Funders Alliance, as we expand on the conversations held during our Communities in Conversation. Register at bit.ly/BirthEquityBriefing. We can't wait to see you next week!