Civicstory Podcast Library

(Published on Oct 16, 2012) Three professors describe the humanities and their value to citizenship and democracy. The goal? "To try to describe what it is to be human," says Kenneth Tomkins, Professor of Literature Emeritus. "It makes us whole as human beings," says choral director Beverly Vaughan. "Literature, history, philosophy, the arts, the languages... revolve around the idea of the human story," says Wendel White, Photographer, Professor of Fine Arts, and Chair of the NJ Council for the Humanities. Visit http://www.njch.org

(Published on Oct 26, 2012) Cadwalader Park, Trenton. 100-acres of urban landscape came alive with dance and music through a creative collaboration called DanceScapes NJ, presented by Passage Theatre, a Trenton based company. Key partners were DanceSpora dance troupe, and the D&R Greenway Land Trust. (Oct. 6, 2012) "I spent a lot of time as a child in this park," says Jay Watson, VP of D&R Greenway. "This park really shaped me and turned me into an environmentalist." The centerpiece of the multi-arts event was a dance piece, Rapture For a Season, choreographed by Heidi Cruz-Austin. The work featured eight dancers accompanied by the young jazz quintet, ReBop, lead by 16-year-old trumpeter Alonzo Ryan. Passage Theatre producer Kacy O'Brien called the event an opportunity to "get to know Cadwalader Park in a different way." 

(Published on Jan 10, 2013) Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ (40 minutes from Philadelphia) is home to two-hundred-and-seventy sculptures spread out across forty-two acres of parkland. With the recent opening of a new performance space called the East Gallery, the sculpture park offers a variety of performance events throughout the winter months. "The East Gallery is a fantastic acoustical venue, besides being gorgeous to look at," says Sandra Pucciatti, co-founder of Boheme Opera NJ. The Trenton-based opera troupe featured 7 singers in a variety program attended by 200 listeners. A whimsical nature-inspired installation called Canutopia, by artist Ming Fay, populates the gallery's walls and ceiling with seeds, branches and leaves, bringing sculpture indoors. Grounds for Sculpture's founder, Seward Johnson (grandson of Johnson & Johnson founder Robert Wood Johnson) wanted to make a place for contemporary sculpture that would engage the general public. Throughout the park, visitors encounter his life-

(Published on Jan 18, 2013) Students, Faculty share passion for languages, philosophy, civics at MSU. What are the humanities, why are they important, and how do they relate to a robust democracy? The above questions are being answered through a series of six short videos called "Humanities Hits," produced by New Jersey Arts News in partnership with Drew University, and filmed on three New Jersey university and college campuses. The video project is funded in part by a $3,000 mini-grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. 

(Published on Feb 28, 2013) What are the humanities and how do they relate to communication and diplomacy? Two faculty and six undergraduates from such diverse fields as Medicine, Modern Languages, International Relations, and Archaeology, respond to these questions following an Honors seminar on Conrad's Heart of Darkness at Seton Hall University. The mission of New Jersey Arts News is to produce lively, high-quality video segments that convey the transforming power of arts and humanities, engage general audiences and news broadcasters, and foster a creatively engaged citizenry.

(Published on Apr 8, 2013) A garden at the center of the Seton Hall University campus functions as a teaching tool, and a food source for the university's dining services. Julianne Aiello (Director of Marketing and Sustainable Development) describes sustainability as 'thinking about our actions and what we're doing in relation to the environment - every day.' Dr. Marian Glenn (Professor of Biology) and Dr. Judith Stark (Professor of Philosophy) explore the relationships between sustainability, ethics, humanities and science. (Filmed February 7, 2013.)

(Published on Apr 25, 2013) It's refreshing to hear a civic leader clarify the essential responsibilities of citizens. Former Governor Christine Todd Whitman made these pointed remarks at a Citizens' Forum on Environmental Literacy at the Newark Museum, April 25, 2011. "There is a cumulative impact of individual behavior. We've got to get citizens to recognize that individual actions add up to a lot over time. We have to remind them that protecting [our resources] is part of their responsibility." Christine Todd Whitman, 50th Governor of New Jersey.

(Published on Jun 5, 2013) Newark residents are taking advantage of a municipal urban gardening program. They can develop vacant lots for purposes of beautification, gardening, and recreation. Gardening materials and training are provided by the Greater Newark Conservancy. Newark residents interested in "adopting a lot" should contact the City of Newark at 973-733-3631.

(Published on Jun 11, 2013) Shannon Bradshaw, Professor of Computer Science, and Margaret Kuntz, Professor of Art History, share their love for the humanities at Drew University. This Drew University "Humanities Hit" is one of six produced by New Jersey Arts News in partnership with Drew University, and filmed on three New Jersey university and college campuses. The video project is funded in part by a mini-grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The mission of New Jersey Arts News is to produce lively, high-quality video segments that convey the transforming power of arts and humanities, engage general audiences and news broadcasters, and foster a creatively engaged citizenry.

(Published on Jun 26, 2013) Three students from Drew University discuss what they love about the humanities -- environmental writing, theatre, and philosophy. NJ Arts News "Humanities Hits" are funded in part by a mini-grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Drew University facilitated the mini-grant.

(Published on Jul 10, 2013) How do digital technologies affect Medieval scholarship? Medievalist Martin Foys and Computer Scientist Shannon Bradshaw discuss digital mapping, Chaucer as innovator, and humanities as key for developing a bigger picture of the world - beyond ourselves. NJ Arts News "Humanities Hits" are funded in part by a mini-grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Drew University facilitated the mini-grant.

(Published on Oct 3, 2013) Hillsborough, NJ, September 18, 2013. A standing-room-only forum presented by Sustainable Jersey, a nonprofit certification program, convenes 200 civic and environmental activists to redefine sustainability in the 21st century. Nearly 400 New Jersey municipalities participate in Sustainable Jersey's conservation strategies that foster energy efficiency and savings, waste reduction, water conservation, cost sharing, and other sustainable practices. These municipalities comprise 82% of the state's population. Keynote speaker Mathis Wackernagel, President of Global Footprint Network and an environmental engineer by training, suggests that living "within the means of nature is the most productive economic proposition." Margaret Waldock of the Geraldine R. Dodge foundation notes that despite community recycling, the amount of garbage that we're generating is still "higher than it's ever been." Other speakers included Randy Solomon and Donna Drewes, co-directors of Sustainable Jersey, and

(Published on Oct 9, 2013) September 18, 2013, Hillsborough, NJ - Educators call for action and 'thinking forward' during a Sustainability Summit at Duke Farms in central New Jersey. "Something needs to be addressed right now," says Dr. Nicky Sheats, Director of the Center for Urban Environment, Thomas Edison State College. Jaimie Cloud of the Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education defines sustainable living as when "a society is far-seeing enough, wise enough, and flexible enough to actually contribute to the health of the systems upon which we depend." Shana Weber, Sustainability Director at Princeton University, notes that today's students are better prepared to resolve environmental issues. Keynote speaker Mathis Wackernagel, President of the Global Footprint Network, acknowledges that "a 'true' sustainable future is possible, but we must choose it." The Summit was presented by Sustainable Jersey (sustainablejersey.org), at the 2700-acre Duke Farms in Hillsborough, NJ, and attended by more than 200

(Published on Oct 22, 2013) Newark, August 15, 2013 - For hundreds of Newark teens, Summer 2013 brought life-changing opportunities to develop confidence, discipline, and flexibility in the workplace. The Greater Newark Conservancy and GlassRoots are among the more than one hundred businesses and nonprofits that hired youth for 20 hours per week over 6 weeks, through the City of Newark's Summer Youth Work Experience program.

(Published on Nov 26, 2013) 'Super Bowl XLVIII (48) - to be played on February 2 in the NJ Meadowlands - is called the first 'Public Transportation' Super Bowl. It may also be the world's first 'Ecology' Super Bowl. MetLife Stadium's unique surroundings include 8,400 acres of environmentally significant waterways and wetlands - a vast natural home to diverse species of birds and amphibians that covers a larger area than Manhattan. Nine members of the Bergen Grass Roots Task Force on Flooding set out on a Hackensack Riverkeeper pontoon boat to discover how these marshes and wetlands impact their communities. The group includes Charles Powers, Professor of Engineering from Vanderbilt University, and the mayors of Little Ferry, New Milford, and Secaucus. 

(Published on Dec 18, 2013) Amanda Nesheiwat, a Bergen Community College graduate, is one of seven environmental coordinators working at the county or municipal levels in NJ. Sustainability managers are also employed by numerous NJ universities, colleges, businesses and schools.

(Published on Jan 8, 2014) "Dance in New Jersey is blossoming!" says Keith Thompson, Founder of danceTactics contemporary ensemble. Six Jersey dance groups perform in NJPAC's Jersey Moves! and reveal what dancers think about while onstage. What is dance? How do dancers convey emotion and narrative through movement and gesture? Jersey Moves! Festival of Dance at NJPAC explores a range of dance styles exemplified by: Timothy Kochka and the Davis Academy of Irish Dance (Fedelmia Mullan Davis, Academy Director), Indian dancer Bani Ray, the NJ Tap Ensemble, Nimbus Dance Works, danceTactics performance group, and the American Repertory Ballet.

(Published on Jan 21, 2014) The historic Roebling industrial building in Trenton pulses with art and music during a 24-hour extravaganza called Art All Night, run by the Trenton-based nonprofit, Artworks. The annual festival exemplifies the 'creative place' movement that is revitalizing communities across the US. Roebling Wire Works supplied cables for some of the largest suspension bridges in the United States, including the Brooklyn, George Washington, and Golden Gate Bridge. On January 23-24th, 2014, Trenton will be home to another convening called "Creative Trenton: Call to Collaboration," bringing together business, technology, arts, and education leaders.

(Published on Jan 30, 2014) Historic, turn-of-the-century buildings in downtown Newark are being restored and re-purposed into rental housing. "There's a billion dollars worth of development activity currently going on in Newark," says housing and real estate consultant Michael Meyer. Developers appreciate the building's unique architecture and aesthetics, and are helping to create a new residential neighborhood near Broad & Market. Josh Sternberg, VP of the Fidelco Realty Group, notes: "For investors, Newark is phenomenal. ...you have a lower cost to rent than you might in some of the comparable areas."

(Published on Mar 24, 2014) Green Building Technologies at NJIT: Architects and Chemical Engineers are developing smart building materials that harvest and store solar energy while limiting heat gain. Flexible building skins and batteries point to future efficiencies. Environmental chemist Som Mitra is focusing on batteries that are as thin and flexible as film - built from the carbon nanotube. "I think the future is flexible electronics." Architect Martina Decker focuses on flexible building materials, skins, and shades that respond to heat and light. "I think we have to realize where the energy that we consume every day is coming from. We have to be very aware of what we use it for," she says.