The Essential Role of External Engagement for Plainfield's Progress

Dear Jazz,

This week's attendance at the 92nd US Conference of Mayors winter session was a pivotal step in recognizing the broader landscape of urban challenges and opportunities. Plainfield, while unique in its character, does not exist in isolation. The issues that touch our lives here – homelessness, gun violence, and the housing crisis, to name a few – are not unique to our city. They are, in fact, common threads in the tapestry of urban management across the nation.

In a world that is rapidly urbanizing, the role of a city's leader transcends the boundaries of their immediate jurisdiction. It is imperative for mayors, to actively engage with peers from different cities. This exchange is not just about sharing problems but, more importantly, about sharing solutions. At every conference, common themes emerge, underscoring the universality of these urban challenges. This intercity dialogue is a treasure trove of ideas, experiences, and strategies.

Plainfield's problems, while they may appear unique to us, are, in fact, part of a national, even global, conversation. Homelessness, for instance, is a multifaceted issue that requires a blend of policy innovation, resource allocation, and community engagement – a recipe that cities across the country are continuously trying to perfect. Similarly, gun violence and the housing crisis demand holistic and nuanced approaches, often benefiting from a broader perspective.

Moreover, it's not just about problem-sharing; it's also about being at the forefront of innovative solutions. The use of AI in urban management is a prime example. Cities are now employing AI to streamline processes, improve service delivery, and save time. Learning from these forward-thinking initiatives could position Plainfield as a leader in tech-driven governance, adapting cutting-edge solutions to our specific context. We are already pioneers in one such area by employing AI-driven technology to translate our Council meetings into other languages.

Plainfield's engagement in such forums is not a luxury; it is a necessity. We cannot afford to be an island in an interconnected world. The solutions we seek, the innovations we aspire to, and the progress we aim for are all out there, waiting to be discovered and adapted to our unique local needs. This external engagement is an investment in Plainfield's future, ensuring that we are not just keeping pace but are actively shaping a vibrant, equitable, and sustainable urban future.

Our participation in conferences like the US Conference of Mayors is more than a symbolic gesture. It is a critical component of effective leadership and city management. By stepping outside Plainfield, we are able to bring back invaluable insights and networks, which could be the key to unlocking the potential of our great city. Let's continue to look beyond our borders for inspiration, collaboration, and the shared pursuit of excellence.

#LovePlainfield #AmoPlainfield

Creating One Plainfield. One Future.

Sincerely,

Mayor Adrian O. Mapp

City of Plainfield

El papel esencial del compromiso externo para el progreso de Plainfield

Querido(a) Jazz,

La asistencia de esta semana a la sesión de invierno de la Conferencia de Alcaldes de Estados Unidos fue un paso fundamental para reconocer el panorama más amplio de los desafíos y oportunidades urbanos. Plainfield, si bien es único en su carácter, no existe de forma aislada. Los problemas que afectan nuestras vidas aquí (falta de vivienda, violencia armada y crisis de vivienda, por nombrar algunos) no son exclusivos de nuestra ciudad. De hecho, son elementos comunes en el tejido de la gestión urbana en todo el país.

En un mundo que se está urbanizando rápidamente, el papel del líder de una ciudad trasciende los límites de su jurisdicción inmediata. Es imperativo que los alcaldes interactúen activamente con sus pares de diferentes ciudades. Este intercambio no se trata sólo de compartir problemas sino, más importante aún, de compartir soluciones. En cada conferencia surgen temas comunes que subrayan la universalidad de estos desafíos urbanos. Este diálogo interurbano es un tesoro de ideas, experiencias y estrategias.

Los problemas de Plainfield, si bien pueden parecer únicos para nosotros, son, de hecho, parte de una conversación nacional, incluso global. La falta de vivienda, por ejemplo, es un problema multifacético que requiere una combinación de innovación política, asignación de recursos y participación comunitaria, una receta que las ciudades de todo el país intentan perfeccionar continuamente. De manera similar, la violencia armada y la crisis de la vivienda exigen enfoques holísticos y matizados, que a menudo se benefician de una perspectiva más amplia.

Además, no se trata sólo de compartir problemas; también se trata de estar a la vanguardia de soluciones innovadoras. El uso de la IA en la gestión urbana es un buen ejemplo. Las ciudades ahora están empleando la IA para agilizar los procesos, mejorar la prestación de servicios y ahorrar tiempo. Aprender de estas iniciativas con visión de futuro podría posicionar a Plainfield como líder en gobernanza impulsada por la tecnología, adaptando soluciones de vanguardia a nuestro contexto específico. Ya somos pioneros en una de esas áreas al emplear tecnología impulsada por inteligencia artificial para traducir las reuniones de nuestro Consejo a otros idiomas.

La participación de Plainfield en dichos foros no es un lujo; es una necesidad. No podemos permitirnos el lujo de ser una isla en un mundo interconectado. Las soluciones que buscamos, las innovaciones a las que aspiramos y el progreso que buscamos están ahí afuera, esperando ser descubiertos y adaptados a nuestras necesidades locales únicas. Este compromiso externo es una inversión en el futuro de Plainfield, que garantiza que no sólo mantengamos el ritmo sino que estemos dando forma activamente a un futuro urbano vibrante, equitativo y sostenible.

Nuestra participación en conferencias como la Conferencia de Alcaldes de Estados Unidos es más que un gesto simbólico. Es un componente crítico del liderazgo y la gestión urbana eficaces. Al salir de Plainfield, podemos recuperar conocimientos y redes invaluables, que podrían ser la clave para liberar el potencial de nuestra gran ciudad. Sigamos mirando más allá de nuestras fronteras en busca de inspiración, colaboración y búsqueda compartida de la excelencia.

#LovePlainfield #AmoPlainfield

Creando Un Plainfield. Un Futuro.

Alcalde Adrian O. Mapp

Ciudad de Plainfield

Scenes from the 92nd US Conference of Mayors

Mayors share innovative ideas for utilizing AI at the US Conference of Mayors

winter session in Washington DC.

Mayor Mapp with the British Ambassador to the US, Dame Karen Pierce. At the US Conference of Mayors.

Mayor Adrian O. Mapp and Mayor of DC, Muriel Bowser share a moment at the US Conference of Mayors.

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For more information about the Financial Opportunity Center, please call 908-558-8000 or visit www.ucnj.org/ajc.

Union County Parks Seek Trail Steward Volunteers

Do you like to hike? Are you interested in spending more time outdoors? Looking for a way to give back through volunteering? Think about becoming a Trail Steward!

The Union County Board of County Commissioners and the Union County Department of Parks & Recreation are looking for volunteers to bolster the ranks of its Adopt-A-Trail Program. Each Trail Steward adopts a section of trail in the Watchung Reservation or any other Union County park.

“Walking or hiking on trails in the Union County Park System has been the most popular activity in our parks since they were built over a hundred years ago,” said Commissioner Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. “Changes in lifestyle since the pandemic have resulted in a dramatic increase in trail use and trail users of every kind – including hikers, joggers, dog walkers, and nature enthusiasts – visit our parks by the thousands every day. Though our park and trail maintenance staff work hard to keep trails and paths in good condition, it is an overwhelming task. The Watchung Reservation alone has over sixty miles of trails. Volunteer Trail Stewards help the County keep the trails safe and clean for use by others.”

Trail Stewards walk their adopted trail at least four times each year, picking up litter and fallen branches, clearing leaves from storm culverts, and cutting back vegetation. They report larger problems, such as erosion or downed trees, to be dealt with by County staff or the volunteer Chain Saw Crew.

Anyone 18 or older who is interested in becoming or continuing as a Trail Steward is invited to an orientation meeting on Saturday, January 27, from 9:00 am to noon, at Trailside Nature & Science Center, 452 New Providence Road, Mountainside. A simple online registration for the meeting is available at the Trail Stewards tab at: https://secure.rec1.com/NJ/union-county-nj/catalog.

The Adopt-A-Trail Program is administered by the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. For additional information, contact the Division of Park Environmental Services at 908-789-3683 or email park.env.services@ucnj.org.

Quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities, such as the Adopt-a-Trail and Adopt-a-Park programs and the popular Peregrine Falcon Cam, are available at The Green Connection, www.ucnj.org/green-connection/.

Governor Murphy Signs Legislation Requiring High School Students to Complete Financial Aid Applications

01/16/2024

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy today signed A1181/S2054 to make the completion of a financial aid application form a prerequisite to graduation for public high school and charter school students in New Jersey. Beginning with the 2023-2024 11th grade class, and for two school years thereafter, students and their guardians will be required to complete and submit either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application, as guided by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), to receive their high school diploma. The information on a student’s financial aid application is used to notify them of any financial aid they are eligible to receive if they pursue a postsecondary education.

The Executive Director of HESAA, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, will be responsible for providing school districts, charter schools, parents, and students with instructions on how to complete the financial aid applications. This may include webinars, presentations, guidance documents, and a list of available state and federal resources.

School districts will annually notify students and their parents or guardians of this requirement. Students and their families may submit a waiver requesting an exemption from this requirement.

“There are many state and federal resources available to graduating high school students to help make a college education more affordable,” said Governor Murphy. “Without filling out important applications, students could unknowingly be leaving money on the table that could have enabled them to pursue higher education. Ensuring high school students understand their options is paramount to our goal of making a college degree more attainable for New Jersey residents.”

“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, our state has taken significant steps to make postsecondary education more affordable for New Jersey students,” said HESAA Executive Director David J. Socolow. “HESAA is dedicated to helping students access valuable state, federal, and institutional grants and scholarships. Only by completing a financial aid application can students and their families understand the true net costs of options to further their education and achieve upward social and economic mobility. As New Jersey joins the growing list of states that require high school seniors to apply for financial aid before graduation, our students will be better able to make well-informed decisions.”

“The introduction of legislation mandating the completion and submission of a financial aid application is a commendable move towards fostering equal opportunities in education,” said Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, Acting Commissioner of Education. “Recognizing the pivotal role financial aid plays in unlocking the doors to higher education for students, this requirement ensures a streamlined process through the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. This legislation continues to reinforce our commitment to providing comprehensive support for students and their families. I believe this legislation will contribute significantly to bridging the gap in access to higher education and empowering students on their academic journeys."

The primary sponsors of this legislation are Senator Shirley Turner and former Assemblywoman Mila Jasey. Additional sponsors include Senator Robert Singer, then-Assemblywoman, now-Senator Britnee Timberlake, and Assemblyman Bill Moen.

“Many high schoolers are quick to dismiss college as out of reach based on the price tag alone, without considering the financial assistance that may be available,” said Senator Shirley Turner. “By requiring students to complete financial aid applications, our goal is not only to help reduce overall student loan debt but to also open up pathways for college or trade school that will allow students to earn a higher income in the future to better support themselves. I look forward to seeing the impact this legislation has, especially on our low- and middle-income students.”

“The student financial aid crisis is growing by the minute and students applying to colleges need all the assistance they can get,” said Senator Robert Singer. “When students receive more money through grants and scholarships, it helps them avoid taking on excessive loans that can take decades to repay. This requirement will help make applying to college less strenuous and ensure that students are more knowledgeable about the financial aid that is available to them.”

“College costs can be daunting, but financial aid is available. Yet studies have shown that students across the country miss out on receiving that money because they have failed to fill out financial aid applications,” said former Assemblywoman Mila Jasey. “With this bill, we’ll make sure students have the support they need to understand and properly fill out those applications.”

“A lack of education as it relates to financial literacy can often create a big hurdle in navigating financial aid forms and platforms for students. This can make the difference and stand in the way of them going to college,” said Senator and former Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake. “Low and moderate-income students can’t receive Pell Grants and other need-based aid without submitting financial aid applications. Getting those forms properly filled out could prove to be the difference for a student who wants and deserves to continue their education but is unable to pay all of the college expenses.”

“As someone who personally knows the benefit of completing a FAFSA application to advance one’s education, I believe that we need to give students as many tools as possible to help them further their education,” said Assemblyman Bill Moen. “Requiring them to fill out financial aid forms in school, and providing resources to them and their parents, could be a game changer for students who want to continue their education but need financial aid to do that.”

HESAA currently assists many students and families in completing the application process and will be expanding the support available to families and school communities upon the implementation of this new requirement. High schools are encouraged to enter into a data-sharing agreement with HESAA to receive information about the completion status of each 12th-grade student’s financial aid application to more effectively provide individualized reminders and support to those who have not yet filled it out. For more information about the upcoming FAFSA and NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application for NJ Dreamers, visit https://www.hesaa.org/Pages/financialaidhub.aspx.

FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces Improving Student Achievement Agenda in 2024

01/17/2024

Washington, D.C - The Biden-Harris Administration is announcing today its Improving Student Achievement Agenda for 2024, which is focused on proven strategies that will accelerate academic performance for every child in school. There is nothing more important to our future than ensuring children are equipped to compete in the 21st century. That’s why the Administration is laying out an agenda for academic achievement for every school in the country, using all of its tools—including accountability, reporting, grants, and technical assistance—to intensify its drive for adoption of three evidence-based strategies that improve student learning: (1) increasing student attendance; (2) providing high-dosage tutoring; and (3) increasing summer learning and extended or afterschool learning time.

School closures launched during the previous administration set students back. President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, the largest one-time education investment in our history, helped schools reopen and regain ground faster. From the start, this Administration has been laser-focused on working with school districts to invest these funds to help students recover from the effects of the pandemic through proven strategies like high-dosage tutoring and expanded summer learning. Through the new announcements today, the Department is using every tool in its toolbox so that States and districts achieve greater adoption of these three proven strategies and accelerate academic progress nationwide. These strategies complement the Administration’s continued focus on improving mental health in schools, supporting America’s teachers and other school staff, and strengthening core instruction through the Raise the Bar: Lead the World initiative.

The Strategies and the Evidence [1]:

The Administration is urging States, districts, and schools to adopt three strategies that work to increase effective time on task, based on the evidence:

Increasing attendance: Following the school closures that began in 2020 during the previous administration, chronic absenteeism emerged as a serious challenge. Across the country, the rate of chronic absenteeism reached about 31% in 2021-2022 because of COVID-19. We cannot and will not accept that as a new normal. Students who are chronically absent are much less likely to read at grade level and to graduate high school. According to the Council of Economic Advisers, absenteeism can account for up to 27% and 45% of the test score declines in math and reading, respectively. Low-cost informational interventions, like sending texts to parents about their children’s missed school, can reduce absenteeism by up to 17%. Research also shows that targeted parent and family engagement—such as home visits, the adoption of early warning intervention systems, and the effective use of data and family engagement to identify why a student is absent and what tailored strategy will address the cause—can significantly increase student attendance. Reducing absenteeism can have a major impact on student performance.

Providing high-dosage tutoring: Well-designed and well-implemented tutoring programs can significantly accelerate student learning, including enabling a child to gain as much as 1.5 years of achievement in math. Research shows that to achieve these results, tutoring programs should: (1) provide at least three 30-minute sessions per week; (2) occur in small groups (e.g., 1-4 students); (3) occur during the school day, which helps support consistent participation; (4) use well-trained tutors (e.g., paraprofessionals, teaching candidates, retired teachers, AmeriCorps members, teachers, and others); and (5) aligned with an evidence-based, structured curriculum. School systems across the country, including in Chicago, Baltimore, and Greensboro, have leveraged American Rescue Plan funding to scale strategies with promising evidence of positive impact as the Department of Education has long promoted. When implemented well, high-dosage tutoring can reduce burdens on teachers and complement other school-based activities such as building educator capacity through the use of math and literacy coaches, which research shows can improve student achievement, and professional development to support data-driven instruction.

Increasing summer learning and extended or afterschool learning time: One study found that when students consistently participate in high-quality afterschool enrichment programs, it adds about four months of student learning to the academic year. Another analysis of 30 schools found that when the school day’s instructional time is extended from 6 ½ to 8 hours for students in low-income areas, test scores improve between 11 to 24%. Summer programs lasting five weeks with at least three hours of academic instruction per day add about two months of learning in math and one month of learning in reading, according to a meta-analysis. The use of data on student participation and program quality helps these programs succeed, and their success enables teachers to deliver instruction more effectively during the regular school day. Close to half of school districts have invested American Rescue Plan funds in expanded summer learning, which has been shown to improve students’ math scores.