Through this project I was able to learn more about grassroots organizing in Newark, New Jersey as well as learn more about the educational system that is currently in place in Newark. At the beginning of the project, I was not very aware of the current situation in Newark. Despite living in the same state, I was not aware that Newark did not have local control of its public schools, instead the state has had control since 1995. While researching the history of Newark and the events that led to its current day form, I developed several thoughts on why and how the situation in Newark got to be where it is.

One thought is that people may have good intentions, but if they do not know what they are doing than it can be just as disastrous as having bad intentions. For example, Mark Zuckerberg, creator of Facebook, wanted to help improve Newark public schools. Although he donated $100 million to the cause, Zuckerberg’s lack of expertise in the education field led him to instill his trust, and money, in other people. Those people have not done a good job of putting that money to good use. Zuckerberg is just one of many examples of how outsiders have blindly tried to help “fix” Newark. Outsiders have tried to fix Newark without consoling the people who actually live in Newark, the people who would know more than any outsider what the problems with Newark actually are and how to effectively resolve those problems. Furthermore, the actions taken by these outsiders have actually caused more harm, than good, to the people that are supposed to benefit from these actions.

The people of Newark feel as though they have very little to no say in the decision making process that will affect their public schools. This feeling of inadequate representation is at the root of the dispute between the people of Newark and superintendent Cami Anderson. Anderson is another outsider that is trying to improve Newark’s public schools, but she is making big changes without consulting the people that will be affected by her actions, actions such as closing schools, sending students to far away schools, and opening more charter schools. After her plan, One Newark began to take effect in the fall of 2014 and many families were dissatisfied with the school placement they received, while other students were left without a school at all, parents, students, and grassroots organizations have begun to fight back.

Grassroots organizations have been instrumental in giving the local community a voice. Together with parents, students, and teachers, the grassroots organizations have organized rallies, protests, walkouts, and have increased the participation of community members at the Newark Public Schools (NPS) Advisory board meetings. Many of the grassroots organizations have similar goals, so they are working together because when large number of constituents speak with one voice they have a greater influence. The students, teachers, parents, and grassroots have been successful in applying pressure to Cami Anderson, calling for an end to her One Newark plan as well as her resignation and the return of local control of the Newark public schools. They are receiving support from the mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, who shares their desire for local control of Newark public schools. The grassroots have been successful in spreading knowledge about the situation they find problematic, in doing so they have gained many supporters, particularly, supporters that may not have previously known about the issues at hand. The spread of knowledge is vital to grassroots organizing, because people will not take action if they do not know there is currently a problem. Grassroots also empower students and parents, this is shown by movements initiated by the students at Barringer High School and Bragaw Avenue High School. Two schools that might already be closed were it not for their students taking action against superintendent Anderson and fighting back. The grassroots have motivated the students and community members into fighting for the proper education they deserve. This motivation is shown through their perseverance, since the superintendent has also shown resiliency to leave her position. In conclusion, although it is unfortunate that the educational situation in Newark has gotten so chaotic, this has given rise to a wave of student activism that has spread to parents and teachers of the community. This activist mentality may be just what Newark needs to finally make proper changes to fix its problems regarding education.