The Center for Environmental and Life Sciences provided a beautiful setting for the event, which featured a reception that included a special performance by the University Singers.

Among the invited guests were members of the President’s Club, which is the University’s leadership annual giving society; the Carpe Diem Society, those who have committed legacy gifts; and members of the 1908 Loyalty Society, donors who give consecutively, some of whom have been donating to Montclair every year for more than 30 years.

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“Montclair’s expansion since I joined the Foundation board some 15 years ago has been so impressive,” he points out. “Its transformation since I was a student here is nothing short of remarkable.”

To Carlino, the change extends to more than the University’s physical space, although the 250-acre campus would hardly be recognizable to anyone who hasn’t visited in the last two decades. “President Koppell has ushered in a new era at Montclair,” he says. “More than 23,500 students can choose from more than 300 majors, minors, concentrations and certificate programs. Importantly, Montclair’s advancement is shared with the communities we serve, through initiatives like the One Square Mile project in Paterson, partnerships that are building a pipeline of well-prepared teachers, and the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies.”

Carlino is equally certain that the future of Montclair holds as much promise as the past. “Montclair is at a new threshold,” he says, “but the Montclair story – our mission – remains. More than 50% of our students identify as underrepresented minorities and Montclair is New Jersey’s largest Hispanic-Serving Institution.”

“The typical Montclair student is, and has always been, a first-generation college student who is working one or more jobs to help pay for school and to contribute to their family,” Carlino continues. “Fortunately, I and my fellow Foundation board members appreciate their aspirations and are prepared to do what we can to support them.”

To keep up with the University’s fast-moving trajectory, Carlino and his fellow board members are committed to expanding their impact. “We are reaching across the globe to find individuals who share our vision, and who can help open even more doors for Montclair and its students,” he says.

“Students sit at the crux of our mission,” Carlino says of the Foundation board. “Scholarships will always be a priority, of course. In addition, we will be taking President Koppell’s lead, doing what we can to support his vision for Montclair.”

He anticipates that there will be great interest in joining the Foundation’s work. “The energy when you walk through campus is so inspiring,” Carlino adds. “Seeing young people connecting with their friends and professors, getting an education that will change the future for entire families, it is very exciting.”

Carlino recently retired from his 42-year career as a trial lawyer, and thanks to his new role as Foundation chair, he is busier than ever championing his alma mater.

“I want students to know that the Foundation is here for them,” he says. “Everything we do is with the students’ benefit at heart.”

Langian, along with her son, Tom, got their first look at a commemorative plaque that now adorns the EOF Office wall, recognizing Lanigan’s legacy gift commitment to support the University’s Future College Graduate Academy.

The recognition event included a reception in the Alexander Kasser Theater lobby, where many students involved in the EOF Summer Academy joined to personally meet and celebrate Lanigan.

With the intention of supporting the priorities of the University’s Future College Graduate Academy, Lanigan established the Julia Bartko Lanigan Fund and named the ����vlog Foundation as a of her trust to create the Julia Bartko Lanigan Endowed Fund. Her generosity will create life-changing opportunities for highly motivated, low-income scholars for generations to come.

“My own experience has given me a great appreciation for the importance of access and excellence in higher education, and how this opportunity, combined with hard work, provides a pathway to achieve success in America,” Lanigan stated in setting up the gift, a quote that appears on the plaque.

At 17, Lanigan fled with her family to the United States as a refugee from her birthplace of Hungary, finding work and settling in Passaic, New Jersey. She studied chemistry and worked as a chemist for American Cyanamid for more than 26 years. She later joined her husband at Humana Press, the scientific publishing company they co-founded, and worked there 15 years, selling the company after his death.

“Julia’s impact on our scholars has been immeasurable, so we have this plaque nestled near the entrance of where scholars’ lives are transformed,” said Associate Provost for Educational Opportunity and Success Programs Daniel Jean in welcoming attendees.

“Montclair is your second home,” Jean added, expressing a theme which resonated throughout the day.

From left, Julia Lanigan with ����vlog President Jonathan Koppell, Associate Provost for Educational Opportunity and Success Programs Daniel Jean, and Senior Director of EOF and Success Programs Rahjaun Gordon (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)

“This space is where the EOF and Future College Graduate Academy programs create a home for students, many of whom took a risk by coming to college and doing something that nobody in their family had done before… and in that respect there’s a strong connection between the journey our students are on and the journey that you took as an immigrant,” Koppell pointed out in thanking Lanigan.

“The investment you are making ensures that we are able to honor the spirit that our students bring to Montclair,” Koppell said. “You are empowering students to fulfill their potential.”

Ensuring that students can transform their lives through education is a priority for Lanigan. “I hope that my generosity helps your success,” she said to the students gathered.

From left, Julia Lanigan with Josephine Leonard ’25 and junior Ma’kayla James, students who credit Montclair’s EOF program for their personal and professional achievement (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)

“The Montclair EOF program has tremendously impacted my journey educationally in ways I never imagined,” said Josephine Leonard ’25, a first generation graduate now enrolled in the University’s master’s in Higher Education program. “It didn’t just provide financial support, but gave me a community of mentors, advisors and peers who believe in me.”

“EOF has helped me gain confidence and skills and taught me that my background is a strength and not a limitation,” Leonard said.

Junior Sociology major Ma’kayla James told guests, “I experience daily how this program is changing my life… my EOF family does not just want me to graduate, they also are preparing me to excel beyond college and break barriers in my family.”

Students engage with Julia Lanigan at the reception celebrating her gift and its impact
(Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)

Surrounded by a room full of gratitude, Lanigan was visibly moved and shared: “This school feels like my home, and I’m grateful that I can support the University. I feel very much loved here.”

View photos of the event .

In recognition of this extraordinary support, the program will be renamed the John Martinson Honors EDGE Program. With an emphasis on creativity, purposeful leadership development, meaningful community involvement, and interdisciplinary learning, the enhanced honors program aims to provide hands-on experiences that prepare students to become leaders, innovators and change-makers.

A New Era for Honors at Montclair

Reflecting on the significance of the gift, Montclair President Jonathan Koppell said:

“John Martinson’s generous philanthropic investment could not come at a more critical moment. By accelerating the growth and evolution of the honors program at Montclair, a university committed to accessibility and inclusivity, this gift underscores that opportunities to achieve at the highest level must be available to bright, passionate, ambitious students of all backgrounds.

“Achieving that goal is the only way for us to thrive as a state and nation. The John Martinson Honors EDGE Program emphasizes hands-on interdisciplinary learning that cultivates students’ leadership and creativity, thus preparing them to take on the biggest challenges in business and civic life.”

From left: Jeff Strickland, executive director of the John Martinson Honors EDGE Program, John Martinson, University President Jonathan Koppell, and Montclair honors student Jacob Roby, gather at ����vlog in recognition of Martinson’s transformative gift. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)

Expanding Access and Inclusion

The gift, Koppell added, “is the latest in an unbelievable series of investments in our shared future.”

John Martinson, chairman of Martinson Ventures, a technology venture capital firm based in Newtown, Pennsylvania, has donated millions to strengthen honors programs at leading universities nationwide, including Purdue, Georgia Tech, Northeastern, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the University of Pittsburgh. Montclair is the tenth institution to join this growing network of Martinson-supported honors programs.

Through this collaborative network, Montclair students and faculty will connect with peers at these institutions, sharing best practices to accelerate success and build a national honors community.

“This investment reflects my deep belief in Montclair’s mission, its accomplished and innovative faculty, strong university leadership, and my confidence that its students will become the next generation of leaders and innovators,” Martinson said. “Their creativity, energy and potential to improve the world inspire my philanthropy.”

Martinson added, “I am excited to help double the size of the Montclair program and expand opportunities for experiential and immersive learning, graduate school preparation, undergraduate research and leadership development.”

What Sets Montclair Apart

The John Martinson Honors EDGE Program (Engage, Discover, Grow, Experience) will feature a curriculum designed to foster imaginative thinking and problem-solving, with creativity embedded as a central pillar.

Students will be challenged to expand their minds, brainstorm and loosen the boundaries of their imaginations,” applying creative thinking to real-world problems and day-to-day settings. “They’ll come away with the most salient and indelible experiences in college.” — Provost Junius J. Gonzales.

This investment will make it possible for the University to recruit and retain more top-tier students to its honors program, including incoming transfers and freshmen as well as current students.

Short-term, high-impact travel experiences are emphasized, making transformative opportunities accessible to students who may not be able to commit to a full-semester program.

The mission is to provide opportunities for those who might not otherwise have access to such experiences, allowing them to “take leaps into places and situations they’ve never been,” says Jeff Strickland, executive director of the John Martinson Honors EDGE Program. Admissions will take a holistic approach, considering leadership, creativity and community engagement alongside academic achievement.

Program Enhancements

• Creative and Leadership Workshops: Expanded offerings, including the introduction of an Honors Leadership Certificate and interdisciplinary research clusters.
• Distinguished Visiting Faculty: Bringing in experts to enrich the curriculum and mentor students.
• Experiential Learning: More international and domestic travel, paid internships, mentorships, research opportunities and study-abroad programs.
• Every honors student will receive a $5,000 “Creative Learning” stipend to support these pursuits.
• Community Engagement: Courses like “Community Matters” connect students with local and global issues, ensuring learning goes beyond the classroom.
• National Advisors: External advisors from Yale, Rice and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville bring national perspectives and best practices to Montclair.

Jacob Roby, a senior double majoring in Policy Studies and Political Science, has earned prestigious fellowships and internships — exemplifying the caliber of students the John Martinson Honors EDGE Program is designed to support and elevate. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)

High-Impact Student Opportunities

Senior Jacob Roby, a double major in Policy Studies and Political Science with minors in Chinese and Global Security and Diplomacy, exemplifies the exceptional caliber of Montclair’s honors program that Martinson’s investment will elevate to even greater heights.

Roby credits Honors EDGE for enabling him to secure prestigious fellowships and internships — including roles as a Research Fellow at the Wilson Center and a Student Fellow at the USDA.

“����vlog, especially the honors program, is really what I would call an American Dream university,” Roby says. “It’s still one of those places left in our country where if you work really hard you can achieve a lot, have great experiences and find people who will help you succeed.”

Sara Flores, a sophomore majoring in Linguistics and a first-generation college student, credits the honors program for fostering both academic and civic engagement. As an aspiring ESL teacher, Flores has already presented at a regional honors conference in Pittsburgh and participated in a leadership retreat in Arizona — opportunities she says broadened her perspective on education and community.

The Honors Program has given me hands-on experiences and helped me rethink how I want to teach and learn. It’s not just about academics — it’s about building a community where students feel like they’re part of something bigger.” — Sara Flores

Flores’ commitment to service is central to her honors experience. She is active in the Bonner Leader Program and volunteers tutoring adult ESL learners in Paterson and on campus.

Building Community and Alumni Connections

As Montclair prepares to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its honors program and the establishment of the John Martinson Honors EDGE Program, there will be a renewed emphasis on engaging and strengthening the alumni network to provide mentoring, job shadowing and career-focused networking for current students.

With sustained success, Montclair envisions growing its program to 1,000 students within five years and positioning the University to evolve the John Martinson Honors EDGE Program into a stand-alone Honors College. The University welcomes investment from additional partners to advance the program and create more impact for students.

“This extraordinary gift elevates the student experience at Montclair,” says Strickland. “It is transformational for honors and for the entire institution, enabling students to benefit from what we hope will become a nationally recognized program.”

Ready to Start Your Montclair Journey?

• Prospective Students: It’s not too late to apply! ����vlog is and deposits for fall 2025.
• Looking Ahead? The application for fall 2026 opens August 1. Plan your visit and in applying to become a Red Hawk!
• Interested in the John Martinson Honors EDGE Program? Learn more from the Executive Director.

The project is the first initiative in Phase 2 of One Square Mile (OSM), the hyperlocal, place-based initiative supported by the designed to revitalize a designated area of Paterson that began in February 2023. Phase 2 will focus on creating housing solutions for Paterson residents in the first, fourth and fifth wards of the city over the next five years.

Through the partnership, will construct its 300th new home in the city of Paterson, a 3-bedroom, 2 bathroom home, which will be located at 45 Auburn Street. Other partners on the project include ADP and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

“Universities, when utilized properly, can help bring about lasting change that benefits all people,” says Montclair President Jonathan Koppell. “Our work with the City of Paterson through the One Square Mile initiative and beyond has been driven by our community partners and has already yielded positive results. Our collaboration with Passaic County Habitat for Humanity will only build on our ongoing efforts and respond directly to the demonstrated need for affordable housing within Paterson.”

Creating Opportunities to Serve

The project will further Montclair’s commitment to creating hands-on learning and service opportunities as part of the One Square Mile initiative.

Students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to participate in the construction during a series of building days in July, August, September, October and November 2025, and January and February 2026, directly impacting the community by helping create a new home for a qualified family.

Housing Statistics in Paterson, NJ

Within One Square Mile’s designated area:

• The population has increased by 11% in the last 10 years – more than four times the rate of the rest of Passaic County (2.4%) and nearly twice the rate of the city of Paterson (7.4%)
• Residents have the highest rate (5%) of people living in overcrowded housing
• 58% of OSM residents are “rent-burdened,” which means they are paying more than 30% of their monthly income towards housing costs
• 92% of OSM residents are renters, leaving only 8% as homeowners

“Housing has become a national crisis, and in Paterson’s One Square Mile, this crisis is most acute,” says Passaic County Habitat for Humanity CEO Scott Millard. “The house we will begin construction on today represents a step towards addressing that crisis, and this step would not be possible without all the partners who have come together to make this step possible.”

One Square Mile Phase Two Goals

The project is the first designed to address the initiative’s five housing goals outlined at a special event in November 2024 that will be pursued over the next five years.

• Expand Housing Affordability: The Community Advisory Committee will look to expand affordable housing opportunities and advocate to create policies to expand opportunities.
• Increase Supply and Stability: Working with the City of Paterson, the Committee will seek to turn abandoned buildings and underutilized space into affordable housing, as well as create an eviction protection program to increase stability.
• Improve Housing Quality: The Committee will work to increase energy efficiency for residents and create safe housing in the One Square Mile area.
• Create Housing and Safe Neighborhoods: Wraparound services will be expanded for residents to help ensure safe neighborhoods, and community leader programming will be developed to foster the next generation of community leaders to ensure the area’s continued growth.
• Build Assets and Wealth: The Committee will create programming to educate residents on the benefits of homeownership as opposed to renting, and how it can create generational wealth for the city.

“Montclair’s collaboration with Passaic County Habitat for Humanity on the build project stems from the discovery phase of the One Square Mile initiative, where local residents identified housing as the top priority for our collective impact project,” says Montclair Associate Vice President for Community Partnerships Bryan Murdock. “This project serves as both a symbolic and concrete expression of the University’s commitment, alongside its community and philanthropic partners, to addressing the urgent housing crisis affecting residents within the OSM.”

����vlog and the City of Paterson

The second phase of One Square Mile is the latest achievement in the expanding relationship between ����vlog and the City of Paterson.

The University opened The Charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium in April of 2024, which engages audiences in the history of the Negro Leagues and its famous players while creating learning opportunities for both Montclair students and the students of Paterson Public Schools.

The first phase of One Square Mile saw Paterson’s Eastside High School transform into a University-assisted community school through support from the Dodge Foundation and the work of community partners.

Ready to Start Your Montclair Journey?

Prospective Students: It’s not too late to apply! ����vlog is and deposits for fall 2025.

Looking Ahead? The application for fall 2026 opens August 1. Plan your visit and in applying to become a Red Hawk!

Together, the three Hispanic-Serving Institutions will leverage their proximity and unique strengths and differences to better understand barriers and facilitators of student success with a particular focus on minority males, enhance support structures for them and improve retention and completion rates.

The 12-month project, titled “Empowering Minority Men in STEM: A Tri-Campus Hispanic-Serving Initiative,” is led by Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Junius Gonzales and co-principal investigators including:

• Daniel Jean, EdD, associate provost educational opportunity & success programs (����vlog)
• John A. Pelesko, PhD, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs (NJIT)
• Sotirios Ziavras, DSc, vice provost for graduate studies and dean of graduate faculty (NJIT)
• Weidong Zhu, PhD, interim vice president, academic affairs (Saint Peter’s University)
• Christina Mortellaro, PhD, assistant vice president for academic affairs and assessment (Saint Peter’s University)

Addressing a Key Challenge for Minority Male Students

The collaborative initiative aims to address an emerging challenge in higher education that shows a drop in men pursuing post-secondary education and graduate programs. These numbers are particularly stark for Latino, Black, and Native American men.

At many institutions, including Montclair, degrees awarded to minority men are flat or declining in comparison to women, where overall enrollments and completed degrees are growing. Retention and graduation rate gaps for these men lag, and in some STEM areas trends are worse. Even at HBCUs, male enrollment is declining.

How the ‘Empowering Minority Men in STEM’ Project Will Function

The tri-campus effort will follow a series of key goals that can help all students succeed in STEM graduate education, including:

• Create an organizational structure with four interdisciplinary teams with members from the three HSIs and key community units.
• Gather existing and new information about Black and Latino males’ entry, retention and completion of STEM graduate education from each institution, and identify multi-level institutional barriers and facilitators.
• Identify how academic program, department and college level barriers can be reduced, and how facilitators can be enhanced into shared capacity building, joint academic support services, academic program improvements or new designs.
• Understand the nature and strength of contextual influences such as family, peers, and community organizations on Black and Latino males’ entry into and success in STEM graduate programs.
• Recommend shared partnership changes in practices, structures, processes and policies to enhance equitable pathways for graduate programs in biology and computer science/data science, with a concrete outcome of a seed project to present to the Sloan Foundation and other prospective funders, including internal prospects at each institution.

The collaboration will also allow for the potential to share resources and create new efficiencies among the participating institutions to further create life-changing opportunities for students.

“The challenges that minority males face in higher education has been an area of focus for the University, as we recognize the importance of improving outcomes for these students – outcomes that can extend to families and communities,” says Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Junius Gonzales. “Collaborating with our partners at NJIT and Saint Peter’s University, with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, will give us a unique advantage to help create equitable pathways for our future leaders in STEM.”

About the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation makes grants primarily to support original research and education related to science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and economics. The Foundation believes that these fields—and the scholars and practitioners who work in them—are chief drivers of the nation’s health and prosperity. The Foundation also believes that a reasoned, systematic understanding of the forces of nature and society, when applied inventively and wisely, can lead to a better world for all.

“Today marks a milestone – a decade of collaboration, innovation and student-driven sustainability solutions,” said Amy Tuininga, director of the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies, as she welcomed the new Green Teams cohort May 28 at the program’s 10th anniversary launch event.

Since its inception, Montclair’s Green Teams program has grown into a powerful model of experiential learning and real-world problem solving. Hundreds of impactful deliverables have supported sustainable solutions for municipalities, nonprofits and corporations across New Jersey and beyond.

10 Years of Purpose-Driven Progress

This year’s Green Teams cohort includes 50 interns from 33 universities, 36 degree programs and 16 states – a reflection of the program’s growing impact. United by purpose, these students are applying their knowledge and skills to 10 projects that address urgent environmental challenges, including:

• Soil health and regenerative agriculture with drone and robotic tools (Foodshed Alliance)
• Flood risk mapping and GIS-based tools in Paterson (The Nature Conservancy)
• Urban greening and microforest creation in Bloomfield, Montclair and Newark
• Climate-smart infrastructure development with NJ Natural Gas, Eisai and the Port Authority of NY & NJ
• Inclusive workforce technology, including XR job training for adults with autism (Green Do Good)
• Schoolyard restoration and food forest planning at Hazel Avenue School in West Orange

Celebrating Long-Term Partnerships and Impact

“Some of our partners are long-time collaborators, while others are new to the Green Team family. Each one plays a vital role in shaping a more sustainable, equitable future,” said Tuininga.

����vlog President Jonathan Koppell praised the Green Teams program as a shining example of innovation and hope. In a world full of challenges, the program reminds us that solutions are not only possible – they’re happening right now, he said.

Dominique Lueckenhoff, executive vice president for Corporate Affairs, Environment, Health and Sustainability at Hugo Neu Corporation and keynote speaker, drew on her experience in government and private sector to urge long-term thinking and purposeful action.

She called for a “resilience revolution” to transform markets, infrastructure and communities – reminding us that sustainability means reimagining the systems we rely on, not merely reacting to crises.

“We stand at a crossroads. Choices we make today about our securities, markets, infrastructure and communities will shape generations to come.”

2025 Green Team Projects at a Glance

• Sustainable Land & Agriculture
  • and its : Drone and soil data for regenerative agriculture
  • : Food forest planning and flood analysis
• Urban Greening & Resilience
  • , , : Microforests, tree mapping, green infrastructure
• Water & Emissions Management
  • : Water audits and drought strategies
  • : Scope 3 emissions tracking
  • : CO₂ reuse feasibility
• Climate Adaptation & Risk
  • (Paterson): Flood mitigation and GIS risk mapping
• Inclusive Tech & Workforce Innovation
  • : Virtual-reality modules for autism-inclusive training

The Green Teams program is funded through the generous support of the PSEG Foundation, the National Science Foundation, USDA and NASA.

Discover Where Science Meets Purpose

At ����vlog, the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies and the College of Science and Mathematics advance real-world environmental solutions through research, innovation and collaboration.

Learn more about the Green Teams program and how to get involved.

Journalists: Contact our Media Relations team to request assets or schedule an interview.

​The ����vlog Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Kyle Ritenauer, is composed of undergraduate and graduate students and performs repertoire from all periods by classical and modern composers. The concert included works by IMR composer Jake Runestad, Artist in Residence Daniel Bernard Roumain, student winners of the John J. Cali School of Music’s annual concerto competition for voice and piano, and Mussorgsky’s colorful masterpiece Pictures at an Exhibition. The concert also featured artist Helena Chywski painting in real time to the music.

Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement Rita Walters welcomed guests, sharing, “It is terrific to spend time together and be able to thank you personally for supporting Montclair and our amazing students.”

Among the invited guests were members of the President’s Club, which is the University’s leadership annual giving society; the Carpe Diem Society, those who have committed legacy gifts; and members of the 1908 Loyalty Society, donors who give consecutively, some of whom have been donating to Montclair every year for more than 30 years.

“Never has it been more important to underscore the role of philanthropy in building a great University and in supporting our fantastic students,” said Montclair President Jonathan Koppell in addressing guests.

“Making the highest level of education available to everyone is, was and always will be the purpose of this institution,” said Koppell. “Thank you for your philanthropic investment … and helping us give our students the quality education they deserve.”

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“We are excited for the expertise and commitment these highly regarded alumni bring to the Foundation as we support the University in creating life-changing student outcomes,” says Foundation Board Chair Gregory Collins ’79. “Both have distinguished themselves in their respective careers and we are fortunate for the dedication and passion they will bring to their new roles to serve Montclair.”

Frank R. Alvarez ’76

He currently serves as chairman of the College of Education and Engaged Learning advisory board at the University. Alvarez has shared his expertise as an adjunct instructor for the master’s program in Educational Leadership at Montclair and was on the Montclair Alumni Association board from 1997-2008, serving as president from 2006-2008. In 2008, ����vlog awarded Alvarez an honorary doctorate for his contributions to the field of education, and in 2022, he was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award for the former College of Education and Human Services (CEHS).
“����vlog played a major role in my professional growth. It is an honor to pay-it-forward by serving on the Foundation board,” says Alvarez. “My hopes are to increase financial support for scholarship opportunities as well as University-wide programs.”

Together with his wife, fellow Montclair graduate and classmate Nancy Myers-Alvarez ’76, ’02 MA, Alvarez endowed and continues to annually support the Frank Alvarez and Nancy Myers-Alvarez Endowed Scholarship Fund, awarded to support students during their student teaching semester.

Wamwari Waichungo ’90

In 2015, she established the Wamwari Waichungo Food Science Scholarship at Montclair and furthered her investment in 2022 including a planned gift commitment with additional endowment support for scholarships and student initiatives. Her generous and meaningful gift was recognized by the University with the naming of the Waichungo Family Courtyard in University Hall in April 2023.
“I believe in Montclair and the power of education to transform lives hence I am thrilled to deepen my commitment to this incredible institution by serving on the Foundation board,” says Wamwari. She previously served on the former CEHS advisory board and was honored with the CEHS Distinguished Alumni Award in 2020.

The ����vlog Foundation, Inc. was created in 1960 by alumni and friends to provide financially for the educational needs of ����vlog. The Foundation is a separate not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation established under the laws of the State of New Jersey.

For more information on the ����vlog Foundation Board, visit the Foundation webpage.

The five-year grant will enable the creation of the Collaborative Media Resource Hub to support 20 journalism collaboratives and provide substantial help to new and existing U.S.-based collaborative initiatives, with the goal of creating sustainable models for local news collaboration that directly benefit their communities. Journalism collaboratives are used to describe a group of journalism and non-journalism organizations that work together on a shared journalistic or storytelling initiative.

“This transformative investment from Knight Foundation will allow us to significantly scale our work in collaborative journalism at a critical time for local news in the United States,” said Stefanie Murray, director of the Center for Cooperative Media. “We’ve spent years studying and supporting collaborative journalism initiatives, and we know that when news organizations work together, they can better serve their communities while building stronger, more sustainable operations.”

The grant will continue the work started under a previous Knight-funded program, the , that was run by the Solutions Journalism Network and spearheaded by veteran journalist Liza Gross. Gross joins the Hub as senior adviser to help provide continuity to the project. Amy Maestas, who also worked previously on the initiative at Solutions Journalism Network, joins the Hub as director.

The grant will support positions to launch collaboratives, including financial support of up to $50,000 and coaching focused on revenue development and sustainability.

The Hub aims to support the creation of four new collaboratives each year over the five-year grant period, with a focus on creating sustainable models that can attract local support and investment. The initiative has set a goal of helping collaboratives raise an additional $2.5 million in local support over five years.

“The future of local news depends on innovation in both journalism and business models,” said Duc Luu, Director of Journalism at Knight Foundation. “The Center for Cooperative Media has proven that local newsrooms are increasingly willing to work collaboratively to serve their communities instead of competing for the latest scoop. Collaborative journalism can enhance news coverage while making their operations more efficient. This grant will help scale that approach across the country.”

The Hub will measure the success of these collaboratives not just by their financial sustainability, but by their impact on their communities. By the second year of operation, at least 50% of the collaboratives are expected to meet agreed-upon community impact metrics.

Since 2017, the Center for Cooperative Media has studied and advocated for collaboration in journalism. The Center publishes research related to journalism collaboration, hosts the annual Collaborative Journalism Summit, maintains , compiles a biweekly newsletter about partnership in journalism, runs a community of practice for journalism collaboration managers, and has built a database tracking more than 1,000 collaborations.

Organizations interested in learning more about launching or joining a collaborative can email Amy Maestas at maestasa@montclair.edu or Stefanie Murray at murrayst@montclair.edu.

About the Center for Cooperative Media

The is a grant-funded program of the School of Communication and Media at ����vlog. Its mission is to grow and strengthen local journalism and support an informed society in New Jersey and beyond.

About Knight Foundation

We are social investors who support a more effective democracy by funding free expression and journalism, arts and culture in community, research in areas of media and democracy, and the success of American cities and towns where the Knight brothers once published newspapers. Learn more at .