NJ MED (New Jersey Minority Educational Development), is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), formed in 1995, to help develop practical solutions to the problems of at-risk youth development in public education, foster higher education, and career pursuit aimed at enhancing positive growth within their communities.
History
From 1996 to 2006, NJ MED worked with the local school district, colleges, businesses, and community support services organizations to increase minority males high school graduation rates by 49 percent and college enrollment by 61 percent.
The program model: 100% Graduation Rate Program, is now in its final stage of becoming a national evidence-based model and forming a partnership with the new My Brother’s Keepers Initiative that targets the minority male population in the USA.
In 2012, NJ MED launched its first national project in support of its America First or Last Movement to help prepare the US workforce for the 21st Century. The project “The National High School Graduation Campaign” focuses on incoming high school freshmen, and asks them to pledge to graduate high school, not become a teen parent, live drug free, become computer literate, and promise to enroll in higher education at the completion of high school.
In 2013, NJ MED launched its World Top 20 Poll project. The project focuses on gathering data to show factors that prevent children from having access to quality education and a safe learning environment from all around the world. NJ MED also works with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and connects them with a network of communities that are participating in the project, to build schools, train teachers, provide health care, clean water, and school supplies.
As NJ MED moves forward in the 21st century, they plan to develop new programming, services, and partnerships that support nation’s economic and social equity for children and their families.
Current Partners
America’s Promise Alliance (2011)
US Global Partnership for Education (2012)
Google Grant Program
United Nations Non-Governmental Organizations Department of Economic and Social Council (2014)
Services and Programs Provided by NJ MED
BABY 2000
An annual toddler management forum for “high risk” teen parents. The purpose of the forum is to reach 30 to 50 new teen parents (both male and female) that are in the juvenile justice system and provide them with general knowledge and methodology required to establish effective co-parenting skills for their child. The program also focuses on providing referrals services contact.
The American Reinforces Knowledge (ARK) Project
An after-school academic and structured recreation program for youths between the ages of 5 to 14 years old. The mission of the ARK Project is to resolve the adjustment problems of todays urban youth in their academic and social development. Instead of using a standard education approach to accomplish this, ARK uses a psychographics analysis format.
Plataforma Para Exito
A national outreach and awareness campaign to ensure more Hispanic Americans will successfully enter the US Workforce with professional careers by the year 2040. This project has 5 core values: 1) preparing more Hispanic American males for the workforce; 2) establishing higher college enrollment, retention, and graduation rates for Hispanic American males; 3) increase the national high school graduation rate of Hispanic American males; 4) unite the Hispanic, Bi-Cultural Community via closing the academic achievement and attainment gaps in elementary and middle schools; and 5) developing more early-childhood programs towards preparing Hispanic American children for entrance into the United States educational system.
The Community Initiative Project
A program designed to provide youths with effective job-training skills and summer job placement.
Community Resource Forums
Quarterly and annual educational forums for local educators, businesses, and community-based service organizations to gain access to their target markets. Forums on higher education, economic development, early child care, minority male leadership, technology, and housing are the primary issues presented.