[00:00:05]
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER REPORTS? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ALONG.
[PRESENTATION]
FOOD INSECURITY PRESENTATION.REALLY, WE NEED TO DO MORE THAN SIMPLY GIVING OUT FOOD.
SO I'D LIKE TO CALL UP MARK AND ALSO CALL UP ZACH BERLINGER, WHO IS THEIR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES. GOOD EVENING.
GOOD EVENING. IT'S A SMALL ENOUGH ROOM AND MY VOICE IS BIG ENOUGH, SO OH, HELLO, TV LAND.
ZACH, DO WE HAVE THE SLIDE DECK UP? OH, THANK YOU, MA'AM.
I WILL TRY AND BE BRIEF, SINCE I KNOW THERE IS A THERE'S A BIGGER MEETING AHEAD.
YOU CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO IT'S A REAL PLEASURE TO BE WITH ALL OF YOU, COMMISSIONER.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
COMMISSIONERS THANK YOU FOR FOR HAVING ME.
MY BACKGROUND IS JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DIVERSITY WORK FROM THE CITY OF CHICAGO.
BUT I'M A JERSEY BOY, SO JERSEY BOYS ALWAYS COME HOME.
I CAME HOME IN 2017 AND I WAS RUNNING A FOOD BANK IN PASSAIC COUNTY, WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH MY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND WITH MY COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR TO BUILD WHAT I THOUGHT REALLY WE NEEDED IN CHICAGO, WHICH IS MORE WRAPAROUND SERVICES, MORE COLLECTIVE IMPACT WORK.
AND IN THAT TIME, SPEAKER COUGHLIN AND GOVERNOR MURPHY CREATED LEGISLATION TO CREATE MY OFFICE.
I AM THE ONLY FOOD SECURITY ADVOCATE IN THE COUNTRY THAT'S A CABINET LEVEL FOOD SECURITY ADVOCATE.
THROUGH THE FORESIGHT OF THE SPEAKER AND THE GOVERNOR.
I'VE ALSO BEEN GIVEN A FULL TEAM, MY OWN BUDGET, AND I HAVE AGILITY TO MOVE BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND REALLY ADVOCATE FOR THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING ON THE GROUND. ON SCREEN IS ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT I AM MANDATED TO DO THROUGH THIS LEGISLATION, WHICH IS CREATE THAT CREATED MY OFFICE, WHICH IS CREATE A FOOD SECURITY PLAN FOR NEW JERSEY.
WE JUST HAD OUR INAUGURAL FOOD SECURITY SUMMIT IN MOUNT LAUREL ON FRIDAY.
ZACH WAS THERE, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
WE HAD 350 PEOPLE THERE, 150 PEOPLE ONLINE, SO THERE'S REAL MOMENTUM FOR FOOD SECURITY WORK.
BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU FOR HOSTING ME TONIGHT.
I'VE SAID FOR FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER THAT ENDING HUNGER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GIVING PEOPLE FOOD, RIGHT? FEEDING PEOPLE IS ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE FOOD.
THIS IS THE ACTUAL DEFINITION OF FOOD SECURITY FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND THE UNITED NATIONS THAT WE ARE USING HERE IN NEW JERSEY TO BUILD OUT NEW JERSEY'S FOOD SECURITY PLAN.
AND, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF REALLY IMPORTANT POINTS THAT I'LL EMPHASIZE HERE.
AND THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL DEFINITION.
IT REQUIRES PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC ACCESS TO SAFE, SUFFICIENT AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR BOTH DIETARY AND CULTURAL PREFERENCES FOR BOTH AN ACTIVE AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE CANNED GOODS, RIGHT? IT'S ABOUT ARE WE RESPONDING TO FAMILIES THAT ARE LOOKING FOR HALAL FOODS? IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR IF WE HAVE FAMILIES THAT ARE DEALING WITH CHILDHOOD OBESITY, WHICH SKYROCKETED DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND THOSE NUMBERS STILL HAVEN'T COME DOWN.
CAN WE PROVIDE THESE KIND OF HEALTHY FOODS TO TO FAMILIES?
[00:05:03]
AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS, AND I WILL SAY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES ME SO EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH YOUR COUNTY, THE INTERNATIONAL DEFINITION AND UNDERSTANDING OF FOOD SECURITY REQUIRES THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH LOCAL AGRICULTURE, AND THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR FARMERS TO ACTUALLY BUILD COMMUNITY POWER AND CREATE TRUE FOOD SECURITY. IT INVOLVES WORKING WITH LOCAL AGRICULTURE, CREATING THAT AGRICULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR BLACK AND BROWN FARMERS, OUR LGBTQ FARMERS, OUR UNDERREPRESENTED FARMERS.BUT SINCE 2020, FOOD INSECURITY HAS GONE UP FROM 8.8% TO 10.7%.
AND OUR BLACK AND BROWN FARMERS, OUR NEW FARMERS, OUR EMERGING FARMERS DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE ENOUGH INFRASTRUCTURE TO STAY FARMERS NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER THAT THE YEAR AFTER THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT I'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON.
SO MY MY WORK IN PASSAIC COUNTY, I'M IN SOMERSET COUNTY NOW.
SO SORRY IF I SAY SORRY PASSAIC COUNTY.
WE HAD LAUNCHED A COLLECTIVE IMPACT EFFORT CHAMPIONED BY OUR COMMISSIONERS, WITH OUR HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR, TO REALLY TALK ABOUT HOW DO WE BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. AND I'M A NEW DAD SEMI-NEW DAD.
I HAVE A THREE YEAR OLD. AND THANK YOU.
I WOULD BRING MY KID TO CUMAC.
THAT'S THE THAT'S THE FOOD BANK I WAS RUNNING, BUT I HAD TO TAKE THE SHOT OF RUNNING THIS OFFICE.
DO YOU WANT TO RUN THE OFFICE? I FELT THAT I SHOULD TRY AND MOVE THE NEEDLE FROM THIS OFFICE FOR AS LONG AS TRENTON WILL KEEP ME ON SCREEN, IS WHAT I'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON THE LAST TWO YEARS. I TOOK OFFICE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE, IT'S PART OF THE AGILITY OF THIS OFFICE.
I REPORT, I REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR.
I DON'T REPORT TO A COMMISSIONER.
BUT WE HAVE SUCH AMAZING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE LEGISLATURE AS WELL.
THE FIRST THING I DID IS GROUNDED THE WORK IN RESEARCH AND EVALUATION AND PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA.
SO DR. JENNY SHRUM FROM MY TEAM RUNS THIS, AND THEN I MADE A PROMISE TO THE GOVERNOR THAT I WOULD STAY OUT IN COMMUNITY MEETING WITH OUR FISHERMEN, MEETING WITH OUR FARMERS, MEETING WITH OUR FOOD BANKS, MEETING WITH OUR COUNTY PARTNERS SO THAT WE COULD TALK ABOUT THIS WORK SO THAT I COULD ACCURATELY ADVOCATE FOR IT WHEN I'M IN MEETINGS WITH THE SPEAKER AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
THE FOUR THINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN REALLY FOCUSING ON IS I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT OUR STATE AGENCIES AND SAYING, WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IN HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES? HOW CAN I SUPPORT YOU? AND THEN I'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO ADVISE ON LEGISLATION BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'RE HEARING OUT ON IN THE PUBLIC AND ALSO WITH THE GATHERING OF DATA.
WE ARE BUILDING PARTNERS AND PARTNERSHIPS IN PHILANTHROPY.
AND I AM TRULY SUPPORTING COUNTY COALITION LEVEL WORK.
YOU ALL ARE THE FORCE MULTIPLIERS FOR THE FOOD SECURITY WORK.
OUT OF OUR 21 COUNTIES, THERE ARE 13 COUNTY LEVEL COALITIONS THAT HAVE FORMED.
MY OFFICE DOES NOT CONTROL THEM.
THEY JUST UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A MOMENT IN TIME WHERE WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER.
AND THE MOST SUCCESSFUL OF THESE COUNTY COALITIONS INVOLVE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, A COMMISSIONER, SEVERAL COMMISSIONERS, THE COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.
ON SCREEN IS WHAT I WILL BE FOCUSING ON THIS YEAR.
JUST VERY QUICKLY, I'M GOING TO SUMMARIZE IT.
I WON'T READ OFF OF EVERYTHING.
[00:10:03]
WE HAVE TO CREATE NEW MARKETS FOR OUR FARMERS, FOR OUR YOUNG FARMERS, FOR OUR EMERGING FARMERS.WE DO NOT HAVE A LINE OF SIGHT BETWEEN OUR FOOD PRODUCERS AND OUR ORGANIZATIONS.
THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION, THERE ARE MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS IN NEW JERSEY SPENDING MORE THAN $10,000 A MONTH TRYING TO SECURE FRESH, HEALTHY FOOD, TO GIVE THAT TO THE THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES THAT THEY'RE SERVING.
THEY DO NOT HAVE A LINE OF SIGHT TO OUR FARMERS AND OUR FOOD SUPPLY.
NUMBER TWO, WE LEAVE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF FEDERAL DOLLARS ON THE TABLE EVERY YEAR IN THIS STATE.
AND THESE ARE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT CAN COVER THE COST OF SCHOOL MEALS.
THERE ARE TWO FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS THAT CAN COVER THE COST OF SCHOOL MEALS, AND WE HAVE MORE THAN 150 SCHOOLS THAT DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE, OF THESE PROGRAMS. SO WE'RE REALLY GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON THAT.
I AM ALSO IN CHARGE OF OVERSIGHT OVER THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WE INVEST IN FOOD AND HUNGER, CREATING TRANSPARENCY AROUND THOSE DOLLARS, REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AROUND THOSE DOLLARS. MY TEAM IS FOCUSED ON THAT AND I WILL PRODUCE, THE GOAL IS TO PRODUCE A DRAFT OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN TO GIVE TO THE GOVERNOR BY NEXT SEPTEMBER.
OH SECOND TO THE LAST SLIDE I JUST WANTED YOU ALL TO SEE.
I CREATED THIS GRAPHIC BEFORE I EVEN TOOK OFFICE.
THIS IS WHEN I WAS STILL AT CUMAC.
WE ALL HAVE TO BE COMING TO THE TABLE TO WORK TOGETHER.
HERE'S SOMETHING THAT I JUST WANTED, THIS IS WHAT I REALLY, REALLY WANTED TO FOCUS ON, AND I'M HAPPY TO SHARE MY SLIDES WITH WITH ALL OF YOU COMMISSIONERS, TO YOUR COUNTY, TO YOUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, TO HER CHIEF OF STAFF, TO YOUR HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR, TO ALL OF YOU THAT ARE THAT ARE HERE.
WE ARE GOING TO BE MAKING DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS INFORMED BY WHAT YOU'RE SHOWING US AT THE COUNTY.
YOUR COUNTY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MERCER COUNTY AND MIDDLESEX COUNTY, HELPED US AT THE STATE CREATE A FOOD SECURITY INDEX THAT CAN SHOW US ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE CENSUS BLOCK LEVEL, WHAT FOOD INSECURITY LOOKS LIKE.
SO WHEN SOMEBODY WHEN THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION ASKS ME, WE HAVE A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND, $1 MILLION THAT WE WANT TO INVEST IN THIS, WHERE SHOULD IT GO AND WHAT SHOULD IT BE WORKING TOWARDS YOUR COUNTY, AND ZACH WAS A BIG PART OF THIS, AND MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN YOUR IN YOUR DEPARTMENT HELPED US TO CREATE THIS.
AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT FOR FREE TO ANY COUNTY THAT WANTS TO USE IT.
THOSE DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS YOU HELPED US TO TO CREATE THIS THIS TOOL, I FUNDED IT OUT OF MY BUDGET.
IT TOOK A LOT OF MANPOWER AND SKILL, AND IT'S NOT PUBLIC YET, BUT IT WILL BE SOON.
BENEFITS, ACCESS AND ENROLLMENT.
BUT I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE WERE WORKING TOWARDS IN PASSAIC COUNTY.
AND WE ACTUALLY IT ACTUALLY NOW CAME TO FRUITION.
I KNOW THIS PART THIS IS PART OF YOUR VISION.
IT'S INCREDIBLY EXCITING TO ME.
I GET TO GO TO TRENTON AND SAY, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT SOMERSET COUNTY IS DOING.
WE NEED TO BE SUPPORTING MORE OF THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU IN BUILDING A MULTISECTOR COALITION.
LIKE I SAID, 13 OF THE 21 COUNTIES ARE PUTTING TOGETHER SOME KIND OF A COALITION.
YOU'RE ONE OF THE COUNTIES THAT I KEEP MENTIONING IS IN THE LEAD, WHICH IS WHICH IS WHY IT WOULD BEHOOVE MY OFFICE IN THE STATE FOR ME TO KEEP COMING TO THESE MEETINGS TO SUPPORT YOU ALL. AND LIKE I SAID, YOU GUYS ARE THE FORCE MULTIPLIERS.
[00:15:03]
YOU COMMISSIONERS DOING THIS WORK, ONE OF THE STRONGEST FOOD SECURITY COALITIONS WE HAVE IS BERGEN COUNTY'S.IT'S OKAY YOU GUYS WILL CATCH UP.
OKAY. BUT IT WAS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER OVER THERE WHO REALLY PUSHED, RIGHT? IT IS. ESSEX COUNTY HAS A WONDERFUL COALITION FORMING RIGHT NOW.
THEY EVEN HAVE THEIR THE BIGGEST HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN ESSEX COUNTY AS PART OF THEIR COALITION.
A COUNTY COMMISSIONER OR A COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR SUPPORTING THAT COALITION.
THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF OPPORTUNITY HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY BETWEEN THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU ALL ALREADY HAVE WITH MY OFFICE, YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR FARMERS, YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR YOUR KEY ANCHOR, FOOD SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE IN THE COUNTY.
YOUR YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH HEALTHCARE.
IT'S VERY EXCITING TO BE SUPPORTING YOU ALL.
AND I'M EXCITED FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TO DO TOGETHER.
BUT WE'RE HERE TO DO IT WITH YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].
WE'RE PROUD TO BE A PARTNER WORKING WITH YOU ON IN THIS GREAT WORK.
KUDOS TO THE LIAISON COMMISSIONER SINGLETERRY, WHO TOOK THIS ON TO MAKE SURE AND TO STAFF COMMISSIONER, I MEAN, COMMISSIONER [INAUDIBLE] MISS MAHR AND MISS BELL AND MAKING SURE AND ZACH AND MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE DOING THE WORK THAT WE NEEDED TO DO.
SO THANK YOU FOR FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
OUR NEXT PRESENTATION IS CULTURAL AND HERITAGE DOCENT TRAINING PROGRAM.
I'M KAITLIN BUNDY. I'M MANAGER OF THE SOMERSET COUNTY CULTURAL AND HERITAGE COMMISSION.
TONIGHT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SOMERSET COUNTY DOCENT TRAINING PROGRAM.
WE RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL COMMISSION TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM.
THROUGH A FORMAL RFP PROCESS WE UTILIZE THESE GRANT FUNDS TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH AHALI CONSULTING, WHICH IS A SMALL, CERTIFIED, MINORITY, WOMEN OWNED CONSULTING COMPANY, TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR THE INITIAL TRAINING AND CONTINUED EDUCATION OF QUALITY HISTORY.
THE DOCENT TRAINING PROGRAM IS BEING PILOTED WITH THE FIVE GENERALS HOUSES.
SO IF YOU AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE FIVE GENERALS HOUSES, WE HAVE THEM LISTED UP THERE FOR YOU.
AND THIS PROGRAM REALLY INTENDS TO STRENGTHEN OUR THE COUNTY'S HISTORIC RESOURCES BY INCREASING THE HISTORIC SITES VISITOR READINESS FOR THE SEMI-QUINCENTENNIAL, IMPROVING THE HISTORIC SITES LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY, INTRODUCING NEW, DIVERSE VOLUNTEERS INTO OUR LOCAL HISTORIC ORGANIZATIONS, AND PROMOTING PUBLIC INTEREST IN SOMERSET COUNTY AND NEW JERSEY HISTORY.
FOR THIS PROGRAM, WE PUT TOGETHER A DOCENT TRAINING PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THIS WAS TO HELP GUIDE AND DESIGN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM.
IT PROVIDED FEEDBACK AND DIFFERENT VERY SITE SPECIFIC INSIGHT.
SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE AUTHENTICALLY ENGAGING THE FIVE GENERALS HOUSES IN THE PROCESS FROM START TO FINISH, WITH THE GOAL OF BUILDING TRUST WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS AND INCREASING THEIR SUPPORT AND BUY IN WITH THE PROGRAM.
SO THIS COMMITTEE CAN FEATURE THE CONSULTING FIRM, STAFF FROM SCC&HC, STAFF FROM OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE, FROM OUR VOLUNTEER SERVICES OFFICE, AND THEN 1 TO 2 REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH OF THE FIVE GENERALS HOUSES SO THAT THEY COULD BE THERE FROM START TO FINISH AND KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND BE PART OF
[00:20:01]
THAT PROCESS FROM START TO FINISH.SO AHALI CONSULTING HAS PRESENTED US WITH A FULLY DEVELOPED COLLABORATIVE TRAINING STRUCTURE AND A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR RECRUITING, INITIAL TRAINING AND THE CONTINUED EDUCATION OF QUALITY DOCENTS.
THIS PROGRAM WAS INFORMED BY A NUMBER OF SOURCES, INCLUDING BEST PRACTICES IN THE FIELD OF MUSEUM EDUCATION, A BENCHMARK STUDY OF OVER 30 VOLUNTEER DOCENT TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT THEY FOUND, LIKE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
SO IT WASN'T JUST SOMETHING THEY FOUND HERE OR THERE.
THEY LOOKED LIKE ACROSS THE NATION TO TRY TO SEE WHO HAS THE BEST PROGRAMS, WHAT PIECES WERE WORKING, WHO YOU KNOW, WHO THEY COULD REALLY PULL FROM AND TALK TO AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE BRING IT HERE? WE ALSO LOOKED AT EACH OF THE FIVE GENERALS THEMSELVES.
WE ACTUALLY DID SURVEY EACH OF THE SITES GOING, WHAT ARE YOUR NEEDS? WHERE ARE THINGS LACKING? WHERE CAN WHERE DO YOU NEED THE STRENGTH? SO THAT AGAIN, WE UNDERSTOOD WHAT THEIR NEEDS WERE AS WE CREATED THIS PROGRAM.
AND THEN AGAIN, THE REVOLUTION NJ, WHICH IS THE STATE'S INITIATIVE, LOOKING AT THEIR THEMES AND GUIDANCE AS WELL, BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS FIT IN WITH WHAT THE STATE IS LOOKING AT WITH THEIR INITIATIVES FOR THE PROGRAM.
SORRY. TRAINING PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
WE HAD TEN INSIGHT VISITS WITH EACH OF THE HOUSES.
AND AGAIN, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAD THIS COMMITTEE AND WE ONLY DID THREE MEETINGS.
SO WE WOULD GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION IN A DIGITAL CAPACITY SO THEY COULD READ IT.
THEY COULD SHARE IT WITH THEIR BOARDS, THEY COULD TALK TO EACH OTHER SO THAT THEY COULD COME BACK AND WHEN WE HAD OUR IN-PERSON MEETINGS THAT THEY WERE INFORMED AND REALLY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND THEY COULD EXPRESS THEIR COMFORT LEVELS, OR IF THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT THAT GAVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
NEXT. IN ADDITION TO THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK, WE DEVELOPED THREE COMPREHENSIVE TOOLKITS THAT PROVIDED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, TOOLS AND THE KNOWLEDGE TO SUCCESSFULLY RUN THIS PROGRAM. ONE BEING FOR THE TRAINING COORDINATOR SO THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAD, WHAT THE HOW THE PROGRAM WAS SUPPOSED TO LOOK, HOW TO PLAN, IMPLEMENT, EXECUTE RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE CONSULTANT TEAM PUT TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO RUN THE PROGRAM.
WE CREATED ANOTHER TOOLKIT THAT WAS FOCUSED ON THE TRAINERS GUIDE, WHICH GOES TO EACH OF THE HISTORIC SITES SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR EXPECTATIONS WITH THE PROGRAM AND WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING THEM TO DO AND HOW TO PREPARE AS THEY GET DOCENTS COMING IN, AND HOW TO HELP THEM TRAIN EVEN BEYOND THIS PROGRAM.
AND THEN ALSO A PARTICIPANT TOOLKIT FOR THOSE WHO ARE ACTUALLY PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM.
AND THIS WOULD FOCUS NOT ONLY ON JUST HOW TO BE A DOCENT ON SOME OF THE COMMUNITY SPEAKING, YOU KNOW, THE ENGAGEMENT OF HOW TO READ THE ROOM, HOW TO UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A GROUP OF, YOU KNOW, YOUNG FAMILIES COMING IN WITH YOUNG KIDS THERE.
THAT'S A DIFFERENT TOUR THAN IF YOU HAVE THE HISTORY AFICIONADOS WHO KNOW EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW HOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KIND OF JUDGE THE ROOM WHEN YOU'RE DOING THESE DIFFERENT TOURS, BUT ALSO GIVING THEM SOME OVERHEAD KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, NEW JERSEY'S HISTORY, AND THEN THE FIVE GENERAL HOUSES THEMSELVES.
SO PHASE TWO OF THIS PROJECT WE'LL ACTUALLY SEE THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION AND LAUNCH OF THE PROGRAM.
AND SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY.
WE'VE DONE ALL THIS PLANNING PRE-PLANNING WE'RE PUTTING ALL THESE TOUR GUIDES TOGETHER.
AND NOW WE'RE READY TO LAUNCH.
SO THIS PROGRAM LOOKS ESSENTIALLY LIKE THIS.
WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE DIFFERENT PHASES OF THE PROGRAM.
IT IS A SIX MONTH PROGRAM THAT INTEGRATES COLLABORATIVE RECRUITMENT, INITIAL TRAINING, CONTINUED EDUCATION AND HANDS ON LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND PRIORITIZES BOTH SKILL BASED AND CONTENT BASED TRAINING.
FOR MONTHS ONE THROUGH THREE, THIS IS WHAT WE CALL OUR COLLABORATIVE TRAINING WITH A TOTAL OF SIX SESSIONS, IT'S A MIX OF CLASSROOM STYLE LEARNING AND THEN FIELD BASED LEARNING. SO BASICALLY ONE SESSION MAY BE YOU'RE IN A CLASSROOM, MAYBE IT'S AT ONE OF THE HISTORIC SITES, MAYBE IT'S IN ONE OF OUR COUNTY CONFERENCE ROOMS. WE'RE, YOU KNOW, THAT WILL BE MORE CLASSROOM BASED.
SO OR ONE OF THE OTHER WONDERFUL PROGRAMS THAT OUR HISTORIC ORGANIZATIONS OFFER THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
SO THAT WAY THEY CAN KIND OF SEE THEY'RE NOT ONLY JUST LEARNING, BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY SEEING IT FIRSTHAND WITH WITH THE DIFFERENT SITES THAT ARE PARTICIPATING. NEXT SLIDE.
[00:25:04]
AFTER THEY GET THROUGH THAT FIRST PHASE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GRADUATION BECAUSE WHO DOESN'T LIKE CELEBRATING BEING PART OF SOMETHING.THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, GO, HEY, WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH.
YOU KNOW, GETS A CHANCE FOR YOU GUYS TO MEET THE DIFFERENT PARTICIPANTS OF THIS PROGRAM.
AND THEN THEN AFTER THAT, WE ACTUALLY START TO MATCH THEM TO A SPECIFIC SITE.
AND THAT'S SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS GIVES EVERYONE A RESET OF LIKE, HOW ARE WE FEELING? DO THEY FEEL CONFIDENT, YOU KNOW, AND ALLOWS US TO LOOK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL'S NEEDS, WHAT THEIR INTERESTS ARE, AND THEN MATCH THEM WITH WHAT WORKS BEST WITH EACH OF THE PARTICIPATING SITES.
AND ALSO KIND OF MAKE SURE IT EVENS OUT SO NOT EVERYONE GOES TO ONE SITE.
NEXT. AND THEN WE MOVE ON TO OUR SITE BASED LEARNING.
SO THIS IS MONTHS FOUR THROUGH SIX.
AND THIS IS WHERE THE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN MATCHED.
THEY ARE GOING TO THE SITES AND THIS IS WHERE THEY ARE LEARNING HOW TO BE A DOCENT AND KIND OF BUILDING THEIR CONFIDENCE AND ENGAGING WITH THE PUBLIC BY STARTING WITH WHAT WE CALL A GRADUAL RELEASE OF RESPONSIBILITY.
WE GO THROUGH THESE SESSIONS TILL WE GET TO, YOU DO, I WATCH.
SO BASICALLY THEY WILL START BY KIND OF WATCHING, LEARNING, MAYBE STEPPING IN TO DO A CERTAIN ROOM OR A CERTAIN EXHIBIT AND EVENTUALLY BE ABLE TO TAKE ON THE FULL TOUR AS THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE BECAUSE AGAIN, WE DON'T WANT TO JUST THROW THEM IN THERE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE FEELS, FEELS CONFIDENT, FEELS COMFORTABLE AND ALL THINGS LIKE THAT.
YEAH. AND THEN OUR HOPE IS AFTER THOSE SESSIONS THAT THEY STAY ON AND REMAIN A PERMANENT DOCENT WITH EACH OF OUR SITES AND BUT THEN THEY ARE ALSO TRAINED OVERALL SO THAT IF THEY WERE TO GO TO ANOTHER SITE, THEY ALREADY HAVE THE BASE SKILLS TO BE ABLE TO BE A DOCENT REALLY ANYWHERE, THEY WOULD JUST NEED TO LEARN MAYBE THE SPECIFIC FACTS OF THAT HOUSE.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S NICE THAT WE HAVE THIS OVERALL TRAINING AND WE GO INTO THAT.
THEY CAN MOVE THEM SAY WE HAVE SITES LIKE SAY LIKE JOURNEY THROUGH THE PAST.
WE'VE HAD INSTANCES WHERE THE SITES ARE OPEN AND THEY HAVE ISSUES WITH VOLUNTEERS THAT DAY, AND IT COULD AFFECT A SITE BEING LIKE THEY MAY HAVE TO CLOSE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND A VOLUNTEER.
SO THESE ARE OUR FUTURE STEPS.
SO WE ACTUALLY STARTED BY CREATING THE FLYER YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN HERE.
WE'VE ACTUALLY ALREADY HAD A COUPLE OF HITS ON OUR SURVEY, SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED THERE.
WE'VE GOT JOURNEY COMING UP THIS WEEKEND.
AND IT'S REALLY A GREAT TIME FOR ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED OR INTRIGUED BY THE IDEA OF PARTICIPATING IN THIS DOCENT PROGRAM, TO GET OUT THERE AND SEE WHAT OUR DIFFERENT HISTORIC SITES HAVE TO OFFER.
CAN I GET A GLIMPSE OF WHAT BEING A DOCENT REALLY MEANS? SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HOPING THAT ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE WHO WILL ALREADY BE OUT AT JOURNEY, THAT THEY TAKE INTEREST, THEY SIGN UP AND WE GET THEM IN BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME GREAT THINGS GOING ON AND BUILDING UP TO WITH THE SEMI-QUINCENTENNIAL.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, ABOUT BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF OUR HISTORIC SITES.
AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR JOURNEY, AS ALWAYS.
WE'LL BE OUT THERE. MY TEAM WILL BE OUT THERE RUNNING AROUND CHECKING ON EVERYBODY, AND THEN ALSO TRYING TO JUST TALK PEOPLE UP ABOUT ABOUT THE PROJECTS WE GOT GOING ON WITH THE SEMI-QUINCENTENNIAL, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR THAT.
WHAT IS WHAT IS THE AGE RANGE FOR THE DOCENT TRAINING PROGRAM? FOR THIS INITIAL PILOT, WE'RE TARGETING 18 AND OLDER.
WE DO WANT TO REALLY MAKE SURE WE BRING IN A WIDE RANGE OF AGE RANGES.
WE'RE REALLY GOING TO BE TRYING TO TARGET DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, POPULATIONS.
IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, WHILE YES, WE HAVE THE SEMI-QUINCENTENNIAL COMING UP.
[00:30:04]
OF THEM AS MUCH AS WE CAN.AND WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH VOLUNTEER SERVICES AND ALL THAT.
WE ALREADY HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES.
WE WORK WITH A LOT WITH A LOT OF THINGS WITH THEM.
ONCE YOU'RE DONE, IT REALLY DEPENDS AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE A VERY FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE.
YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS PROGRAM REALLY LOOKS AT.
WE'RE HOPING TO GET OUR SITES OPEN, ESPECIALLY ON WEEKENDS WITH THE SEMI-QUIN COMING UP.
BUT WE KNOW THAT NOT EVERYONE HAS EVERY WEEKEND AVAILABLE.
SOME SOME PEOPLE MAY BE AVAILABLE MORE ON A SATURDAY, MAYBE THEY HAVE A TUESDAY.
SO THIS WILL HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY TO KIND OF ONCE THEY ARE CONFIDENT AND CAN HANDLE A TOUR ON THEIR OWN THAT THEY CAN KIND OF FIT WITHIN THEIR SCHEDULE AND THEIR COMMITMENT WORKING WITHIN THE HISTORIC SITES.
THOSE ARE THE BEST DAYS TO GET PEOPLE IN.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS IS TO KIND OF HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY SO THAT IT WORKS.
I ATTENDED ONE OF THE SESSIONS BY AHALI, AND THEY DID A REALLY WONDERFUL JOB OF OF PARTNERING, NOT JUST TALKING AT YOU, BUT GIVING PRESENTATION MATERIALS AND THEN GROUP WORK.
AND HERE'S A REAL LIFE SITUATION.
HERE'S FOUR VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE COME UP AND HERE'S THEIR CERTAIN INTERESTS AND CONSTRAINTS.
TALK ABOUT IT. HOW WOULD YOU FIT THEM IN TO YOUR PARTICULAR STRUCTURE.
SO THEY REALLY WERE GEARING PEOPLE TO FIGURE THESE THINGS OUT.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT PHASE TWO OF THIS AND MY FEELING CALL ME, YOU KNOW, ETERNAL OPTIMIST.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE APPLYING.
I REALLY DO. THERE'S THERE'S TREMENDOUS ENTHUSIASM ABOUT THIS.
AND YOU HAD MENTIONED YOUTH IN WARREN TOWNSHIP.
AND THOSE ARE THE STUDENTS THAT ARE LEADING JOURNEY TO THE PAST ON CERTAIN EVENTS.
AND WARREN, I BELIEVE, WAS TALKING WITH ANOTHER TOWN ABOUT LAUNCHING IT.
AND THERE WAS IT WAS IT MONTGOMERY MAYBE, OR SO CULTURAL HERITAGE HAS HELPED FUND THAT PROGRAM.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IN WARREN IS THEIR HISTORY CLUB IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ARE TAUGHT TO BE DOCENTS AT THE LOCAL SITES, AND THEN THEY ACTUALLY BUST IN THE FOURTH GRADERS SO THAT THE FOURTH GRADERS LEARN FROM THE FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS.
SO NOT ONLY ARE WE EDUCATING AND KIND OF TEACHING OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS TO BE DOCENTS, BUT WE'RE ALSO TRAINING, YOU KNOW, GETTING PIQUING THE INTEREST OF OUR FOURTH GRADERS SO THAT HOPEFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME THE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS, THEY WANT TO BE THOSE, THEY WANT TO BE THOSE TRAINERS.
AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL WORK WITH THE STATE HISTORICAL COMMISSION, TOO, BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG FOCUS OF [INAUDIBLE] IS EDUCATION AND FOCUSING ON OUR YOUTH AND LETTING THEM KNOW ABOUT OUR HISTORY AS WELL.
SO THAT'S BEEN A GREAT PROGRAM THAT THEY HAD.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO BUILD ON.
AND AS USUAL, SOMERSET IS A LEADER.
AND I HAVE A FEELING IT WILL, IT'LL BECOME IT'LL GO TO OTHER PLACES AS WELL.
WE'LL WE'LL SEE THIS IN OTHER COUNTIES.
MAYBE PASSAIC WILL PICK UP FOOD SECURITY, BUT THEY'LL LEARN FROM US ON THIS.
THANK YOU. SO WE MOVE ON THROUGH OUR AGENDA.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ABOVE LISTED MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER 24TH?
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
SO MOVED. SECOND.ANY CHANGES? COMMENTS? ROLL CALL PLEASE.
COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SINGLETERRY.
[00:35:01]
YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO.[ORDINANCE]
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, BOROUGH OF ROCKY HILL, SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.IS THERE A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 24-1899? MOTION. SECOND.
THE MOTION IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR THIS ON THIS ORDINANCE ONLY.
SO IF ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ORDINANCE ONLY, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
NAME, ADDRESS, FIVE MINUTES, NO YIELDING OF TIME.
MIC] MONDAY, IT'LL BE IN THE PAPER.
SO 20 DAYS FROM THAT MR. RUSSO WILL GO OUT AND HIS CREW WILL CHANGE WHATEVER SIGNS HE NEEDS TO BE.
AND ONCE THE SIGNS ARE CHANGED, THEY'RE POLICE OFFICERS ARE FREE TO ENFORCE.
BUT AFTER THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THE SIGN, NOT YOUR PHONE, WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING.
DO WE HAVE TO CLOSE CLOSE THIS THE PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE GOING ON? OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 24-189? MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT.
NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 24-1899.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT? MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.
YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 24-1900 THROUGH 24-1908.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 24-1909 THROUGH 24-1915.
[AWARD OF CONTRACTS]
SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 24-1916 THROUGH 24-1940.
[FINANCE]
MOTION. SECOND.YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 24-1941 THROUGH 24-1944.
[ITEMS ADDED FROM THE OCTOBER 8, 2024 WORK SESSION TO BE ADOPTED TONIGHT]
MOTION. SECOND.YES. COME TO THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING.
FIVE MINUTES, NO YIELDING OF TIME.
IS THERE A MOTION TO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? MOTION. SECOND.
AYES HAVE IT. NO ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
HEARING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC MOTION? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT.
SO WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNTY COUNSEL.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
I NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING MATTERS WITHIN THE PROVISION OF CHAPTER 10:4-12, SPECIFICALLY POTENTIAL PENDING LITIGATION CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE 2024 PRESERVATION GRANTS, NORTH FARM AND PBA 307. WE WILL NOT TAKE ANY PUBLIC ACTION AND ADJOURN DIRECTLY THEREFROM.SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT.
GOOD NIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.