Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey Partners with PSEG Foundation to Engage 160 Girl Scouts in 12-Week Social Justice Initiative

$10,000 PSEG Foundation Grant Marks Beginning of Renewed Partnership

Riverdale, N.J. – March 17, 2022 – Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey (GSNNJ), the preeminent leadership development organization for girls in Bergen, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and northern Warren counties, announces a partnership with the PSEG Foundation to create a meaningful social justice experience for Girl Scouts in northern New Jersey. As part of the partnership, GSNNJ has been awarded a $10,000 grant to execute a 12-week social justice initiative titled “What is Social Justice? A Pledge to Work for A Just Society for All,” that will engage 160 Girl Scout Juniors and Cadettes in Bergen and Passaic counties. In addition to the social justice program, the organizations will partner on several initiatives throughout the year focused on STEM, life skills, and healthy relationships.

Engaging Girl Scout Juniors and Cadettes across Englewood, Hackensack and other surrounding towns, the goal of the social justice initiative is to help provide Girl Scouts with the education and resources to stand against racism, pledge to work for a just society for all, and create positive change in their communities. Over the course of the program, Girl Scouts will read We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices, a collection of poetry, art and essays on the topic of social justice, and reflect on the book with group discussions and role-playing activities. Additionally, Girl Scouts will participate in a range of advocacy activities including public speaking, drafting speeches, meeting with and interviewing local officials, brainstorming a public awareness campaign, and participating in a peaceful march or rally.

“We are grateful to the PSEG Foundation and thrilled to once again be partnering with them to bring meaningful and educational experiences to Girl Scouts which will help them learn how to enact positive, tangible change in their communities,” said Sandra A. Kenoff, President/Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey. “We look forward to working together on this 12-week social justice initiative that will help educate and empower girls to stand against racism, pledge to work for a just society for all, and put their advocacy into action.”

The new social justice initiative marks the resurgence of a previously established partnership between the two organizations. In 2018 and 2019, the PSEG Foundation supported GSNNJ with grant funding for an Energy Patch Initiative which enabled girls to learn about energy efficiency and natural gas over the course of six weeks, including how to identify natural gas by smell to help detect a leak and what to do if they suspect a leak.

“The PSEG Foundation is honored to support Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey and their programs that provide education and resources to create positive change in their communities,” said Calvin Ledford, president of the PSEG Foundation. “Social justice is critical to our efforts and the PSEG Foundation is eager to support those organizations like GSNNJ that help equip young people to stand against racism and work for a just society for all – building a sustainable future where all people prosper.”

About Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey

Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them.

Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey serves girls ages 5-18 in Bergen, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and northern Warren counties, bringing the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to over to more than 17,200 girls and nearly 9,700 adult members. Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey is committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for every girl and her family.

To learn more about Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey or to volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.gsnnj.org and stay connected by following GSNNJ on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.