In Nov. 2021 after ten years of our evolving mission and impact, we changed our name to Gathering Ground. You may still find reference to our old name Creative New Jersey in posts created prior to Nov. 2021.

We’re Celebrating Land Rematriation

We’re Celebrating Land Rematriation

At Gathering Ground we envision an equitable and just society where people, organizations and communities take action that leverages and lifts up leadership, assets, and opportunities present in – and for – the benefit of communities. This is exactly what happened when the 63 Acres of land were rematriated to the Native American Advancement Corporation, managed by members of the Nanticoke Lenape people, this September after a long process of community activism and collective action.

When we read about this historical moment, we knew we had to share this with our community as a testimony of what collective action can do right here in New Jersey. We celebrate with those who have put in so much effort to make this rematriation possible, including partners such as NJ Green Acres, NJ Conservation Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and Open Space Institute.

Read more about this initiative in the NAAC newsletter and consider visiting the Cohansick Preserve!

As residents of New Jersey it is important that we understand the land that we live on and the people to whom this land originally belonged. Returning the land to its original owners is a significant step in the right direction, and one that resonates us and the vision we hold at Gathering Ground for moving toward a more just and equitable society

Flyer for exploring the Cohanzick Nature preserveConnect with the Cohanzick Nature Reserve and learn more:
Rematriation – Native American Advancement Corporation
(nativeadvancement.org)

To learn more about Rematriation:
Rematriation podcast with Joy Harjo

Don’t forget! We’re two weeks out from our last Communities in Conversation of 2023!

During the upcoming session on Wednesday, November 29th at 9:30am, we ask the following questions:

“What organizational equity issue are you trying to solve and where do you need a partner, or an alliance or access to certain kinds of resources (knowledge, capital, etc)? Where are you stuck?”

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“Last night I didn’t sleep because I was thinking about this [model of bringing people together]. With the New Jim Crow Project [focusing on mass incarceration] we have to plan events and programs all the time and suddenly I’m thinking that more people have to have conversations: I don’t have to have a keynote speaker, I have to create the kinds of programs that have people talking with each other and thinking about action steps. So it’s really changing the model for us about the way we’re going to do our communicating and programs and raising the level of self-awareness in education.”

– Barbara Flythe – Campaign to End Jim Crow (Trenton)