This week on EJBTalks Stuart Shapiro talks to two amazing Bloustein alums, Leah Apgar and Joe Palazzolo, who work at New Jersey Community Capital (NJCC), a community development financial institution. Leah and Joe share the history and typical work of the organization, which was established in 1987 as an affordable housing lender and has grown into a financing institution involved in all types of community development and commercial lending projects. They talk about how the pandemic and economic shutdown required their institution to pivot its work to assist suffering small businesses. They began considering all small businesses and nonprofits in the state as underserved and started the Garden State Relief Fund (GSRF) as a remedy. They conclude with a discussion about where NJCCs work goes from here, and how the GSRF will remain in place to adapt to assist NJ small businesses as the economy continues to recover. 

Stuart Shapiro welcomes New Jersey Department of Labor Commissioner -- and Bloustein policy alumnus -- Robert Asaro-Angelo to EJBTalks this week. Commissioner Asaro-Angelo talks about his start with ESPN, and how he was inspired to change his path because he wanted to work helping people. He also discusses his time working with labor unions and his tenure in the Obama administration. They then move the discussion to NJDOL's response to the COVID pandemic -- how the agency had to quickly protect its employees, find the equipment to help them work remotely, and implement complicated federal DOL programs just as the need for federal assistance exploded. The Commissioner concludes by talking about how the pandemic crisis, which brought a sense of urgency in getting things done in government, has the potential to make a positive lasting change by increasing people's faith in a stronger, more competent government.

It's time again for a political check-in with Stuart Shapiro. Amy Cobb returns as host to talk to Stuart about the current state of the Republican party and what the power struggle in the GOP means for the country. Stuart discusses the ouster of Liz Cheney from House leadership and the purging of all anti-Trump voices. They also discuss whether there will be any accountability for the January 6 siege on the Capitol. Taking a look toward the future, they end their discussion on the mid-term elections and what those results could mean for power and the political divide in Congress after 2022.

On this insightful and timely episode of EJBTalks, Stuart sits down with Professor Ron Quincy, policy and planning educator and advocate for diversity and inclusion. The two discuss how higher education, like all society, is at a crossroads with the issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. Professor Quincy explains how academia philosophically is ahead of its time, but compared to the private sector, can fall behind in actually incorporating a richer diverse culture and accountability structures. The two discuss Professor Quincy's personal experience of social activism in the 1960s, how civil disobedience in the 60s triggered by inequity and despair and ignited by a police shootings unfortunately mirror the current national issues, including the murder of George Floyd. The two also discuss how we as a nation can move ourselves forward from police training and accountability to truly embracing a diverse society.

On this episode of EJBTalks Stuart Shapiro welcomes Professor Jylana Sheats, instructor for the course Culture and Health in Bloustein's undergraduate program. They discuss her early interest in connecting behaviors and culture to health issues that led to her career in academia studying the social determinants of health. Professor Sheats talks about the importance of recognizing and training the medical community early and often regarding cultural competency, not only to shed light on how cultural influences affect health but also to help eliminate health disparities.  The two also discuss the pandemic and some surprising, but not necessarily negative, effects it has had on health and cultural behaviors.

This week on EJBTalks Stuart Shapiro welcomes Karen Alexander, executive director of NJTIP@Rutgers, an initiative of the school's Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center. They talk about how became inspired to work in the field of transit accessibility, and Alexander discusses NJTIPs mission of teaching all people--particularly seniors and the disabled--how they can gain independence and empowerment through the use of the public transit system. She explains that NJTIP's hands-on training was challenged and had to change on the fly at the start of the pandemic. NJTIP expanded its programs, providing training not just in transit but also in the skills necessary to use the remote tools that have become so necessary over the past year. They conclude with how NJTIP became involved as an active partner in NJTRANSIT's VAXRIDE program.

On this episode of EJBTalks Stuart Shapiro welcomes Bloustein School colleague, Professor Radha Jagannathan and Professor Michael Camasso from Rutgers' School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) to discuss their shared interest in social welfare program evaluation and their program Nurture through Nature (NtN). They discuss the after-school and summer program NtN provides for students in the New Brunswick school district and how their rigorous program evaluation methods are in place to ensure NtN produces measurable positive progress in student development. They also touch on the positive impacts the program had on their first graduated cohort, the challenges the COVID19 pandemic has brought, and program expansion possibilities both locally and globally.

In this episode, Stuart Shapiro talks with Professor Robert Kopp, one of the nation’s leading experts on climate change about what shaped his research agenda. They delve into the social cost of carbon and how quantifying the costs affect policy decisions impacting the climate. Dr. Kopp also discusses the evolution of the climate community and its realization that success in combating climate change required a closer understanding of the intersection with broader political concerns. They also reflect on the early Biden Administration climate policy initiatives. Finally, they cover Professor Kopp’s role on the Rutgers Carbon Neutral Task Force and how the university is focused on making climate action happen more quickly.

We're kicking off our 4th season of EJBTalks with a discussion about where we stand just two months into a very busy and focused Biden Administration. Professor Stuart Shapiro and Amy Cobb discuss the quick successes like the vaccine rollout and the passing of the critical and comprehensive American Rescue Plan bill. He talks about the importance of the HR1 Voting Rights Act and how the termination of the filibuster in Congress will determine its fate.  They discuss the massive and much-needed infrastructure investment bill that the Biden administration is quickly pushing forward.  Finally and most excitingly (for him), Stuart gets to touch upon his favorite subject--regulation--and how this administration is made up of talented professionals that understand governance and know the obstacles they face in reversing the attempts by the Trump Administration to deregulate.

On this episode of EJBTalks, Stuart Shapiro welcomes Professor Anita Franzione and embarks on a frank discussion about aging, public health and policy. Franzione discusses public health issues facing older citizens from sexually transmitted diseases to COVID. She reflects on how the pandemic has exacerbated discrimination the elderly already face in health care settings. Currently they have to navigate well intended policies such as COVID vaccine distribution where despite being prioritized, the elderly face registration and other challenges. Anita also discusses her classroom focus and passion at Bloustein; educating the next generation of practitioners about the elderly, their incredible societal value, and their needs