New Jersey has been called the “slave state of the North” for its deep involvement in and commitment to slavery. A direct line can be drawn from that history to today,when despite being one of the most racially diverse states in America, New Jersey is home to some of the nation’s worst racial disparities in the areas of wealth, health, education, and incarceration.

The New Jersey Reparations Council is the first-of-its-kind commission to finally confront and repair New Jersey’s deep and often overlooked involvement in slavery and its lasting impact on the contemporary life of Black people in the state. The Council completed this work in collaboration with the NJ Institute for Social Justice. The Institute also staffs the NJ Faith Allies for Reparations, of which UUCWC is an active member.

On June 19, 2025, Juneteenth, after two years of study and research by experts, the Council released its report,  “FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS, the Nowness of Reparations for Black People in NJ.”

Join Pam Shadzik and Regina Podhorin-Zilinski on Thursday, April 17 at 7:00pm (in-person or online) for an in-depth discussion of this critical report.

Use this link to access the report. Be prepared and open to hearing troubling facts and historical realities. Don’t be overwhelmed by the work ahead as listed in the recommendations. This is a long-term project – come discuss our potential contribution as individuals and as a faith community in the journey. PA residents
are encouraged to attend and learn how your state can also move forward on this work.

To register for the session, please email Pam Shadzik at pamelashadzik@gmail.com.