Thanks to presenters Dean Dafis, Deputy Mayor in Maplewood and Gov Rep @NJ Dept of Community Affairs, Kate Cahill of the Food Pantry at Our Lady of Sorrows, and SOMSD Superintendent Dr. Ronald Taylor for giving informative presentations on the housing, food, and the digital divide in SOMA during the pandemic. Their presentations are post below.

The Coalition on Race held its first virtual Coffee House Discussion with 47 people on Zoom on May 21st. After developing and distributing booklets that provided information on finding access to food resources as well as information on rental and housing assistance, we saw a need for a Coffee House Discussion that focused on the ongoing issues faced by SOMA community members (and people throughout the state) during the pandemic. Food, housing, and education inequities have been exacerbated by the current crisis. In our Coffee House format, participants hear presentations from leaders and experts in their fields and are then invited to have small discussions to generate action steps to make more progress. Presenters Dean Dafis, Deputy Mayor in Maplewood and Gov Rep @NJ Dept of Community Affairs, Kate Cahill of the Food Pantry at Our Lady of Sorrows, and SOMSD Superintendent Dr. Ronald Taylor shared information and updates on state housing issues, local food pantries, and remote learning issues. Many thanks to them for giving these informative presentations on the housing, food, and the digital divide in SOMA during the pandemic.

Click on the links below to see the presentations:

SOMSD Digital Divide

Evictions and Foreclosures

OLS Food Pantry