Dear NJACAC members,

As I close out my time and reflect on my time as your President, my hope is that we worked to create a sense of community and worked to get back to some semblance of normalcy.  I’m hoping to see many of you at the conference in a couple of weeks.

 Just some quick things to wrap up my time as your President.  As we look forward to next year, we have many in-person events that will need a location. If your institution (this can include high schools, community colleges and four year colleges/universities)  is interested in hosting one of our many events, click here to complete a Google form to let us know what event(s) your institution may be interested in hosting.

 Also, if you would like to present a professional development opportunity next year, click here to complete the Google form.  If you have more than one idea, you are able to submit multiple forms.  If you have any questions, feel free to email professionaldevelopment@njacac.org 

 After next year, I will be transitioning off the presidential trio and am really passionate about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and am looking forward to launching NJACAC’s DEI committee.  Previously, we’ve had book discussions at our conference with “Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria?” Then the following summer, we had a book club with “Stamped From the Beginning.”  As NJACAC gets ready to launch our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, we’d like to invite you to our next summer reading book pick.

 “Caste” was an Oprah’s Book Club pick and examines how race has shaped America.  It also explains how our system of social stratification by race is actually a caste system, as seen in comparisons with the two other major caste systems — Indian caste system and the one seen in Nazi Germany. Only by understanding these origins and the systemic implications of our caste system can we set a course to move this country forward.

This is a BIG book, so this is how the read along will be broken down, so the plan is we will read the book in the parts already separated in the book.

 Parts 1 & 2 – Friday, June 30th

Part 3 – Monday, July 31st

Part 4 – Thursday, August 31st

Part 5 – Thursday, September 28th

Parts 6 & 7 – Monday, October 30th

 The discussion of the parts will take place via Zoom and will be recorded and sent to those of you who sign up to be part of this book club in case you can’t make it to one of the meetings.  Meetings will start in June and will end in October.  

 I will make the time of our meetings in the early afternoon/evenings (since we will continue once the school year starts) and I want to ensure that it’s a time that will allow for the most people to be able to log on.

 Please click here to complete a Google Form to sign up to be a part of our book club! 

 I encourage you, if possible, to try to purchase this book from an independent bookstore or a black owned business, here are just a few:

• La Unique African American Book Store – Camden, NJ
• Source of Knowledge Bookstore – Newark, NJ
• Ida’s Bookshop – Collingswood, NJ
• The Little Boho Bookshop (Black and Women owned!) – Bayonne, NJ
• The Beautiful American – Jersey City, NJ
• Cranbury Book Worm – Cranbury, NJ
• Hidden Gems Literary Emporium – New Brunswick, NJ
• ANT Bookstore and Cafe – Clifton, NJ
• Words Matter Bookstore – Pitman, NJ (my personal independent bookstore)

 It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your President this past year. I hope to see many of you at the Conference later this month, but if not, then please have a nice summer, make sure to take time for yourself and re-energize yourself for the 23-24 school year.

 Signing off for the last time as NJACAC President,

Sarah Smith