News and Press

Transformative Power of Letting Go: Funding Journalism in New Jersey

June 6, 2023

woman speaking publicly in front of a group of people

IPMF President Molly de Aguiar co-wrote an essay with Josh Stearns, director of Democracy Fund's Public Square program, about the impact of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation's Informed and Engaged Communities program on New Jersey's news ecosystem. The essay is a testament to the power of trust and the ripple effects that occur when funders yield control to local local community leaders, giving them space to innovate and take action.

de Aguiar and Stearns, who previously worked together at Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, reflect on the program's legacy, highlighting the collaborative efforts and shared vision that led to significant changes in New Jersey's local journalism landscape.

Read the full essay.

Author

Enni Aigbomian

Enni uses storytelling and visual media to advocate for disenfranchised communities in the U.S. and abroad. Her work focuses on the African diaspora and Indigenous communities in the Americas, as well as the socio-economic rights of women and children. A communicator for social change, Enni has collaborated with international community media and nonprofits such as World Young Women’s Christian Association, Fundación CEDESOCIAL, Vokaribe Radio, and HOPE Worldwide, Bolivia.

Enni has worked with Philadelphia community media and nonprofits such as the American Friends Service Committee, FunTimes Magazine, and Philatinos Radio. She also served as the first head of communications at Read by 4th, Philadelphia’s grade-level reading campaign managed by the Free Library of Philadelphia. She sits on the board of Shelterforce Magazine, an independent publication that covers the worlds of community development, affordable housing, and neighborhood stabilization.

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