KIPP New Jersey, a network of free, open-enrollment public charter schools with campuses in Newark and Camden, just hosted its Alumni Summit, immediately followed by their annual fundraising gala on the Rutgers Newark Campus. During the packed afternoon at the Paul Robeson Campus Center, alumni were connected with a wide range of partners, attended workshops and panel discussions, and connected with potential employers from Prudential to the New Jersey Devils.

The next item for this event-filled day was the Be the Change dinner, hosted at the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall and packed with supporters of the school network in its 22nd year of providing high-quality and supportive educational settings for children in Newark and Camden. The first-ever combination of events brought together faculty, Board Members, students, supporters, community members and partners to celebrate and demonstrate their commitment not only to the education of young people in the Garden State, but also their career journeys ahead. 

“The combination of these two events not only showcases the remarkable achievements of our students but also serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative impact of a high-quality education,” said Ryan Hill, CEO and Founder of KIPP New Jersey. “We are grateful to our community of supporters and their unwavering belief in our mission.” 

Jabali Sawicki, Founder and Lead Coach of Jabali Sawicki Coaching, kicked off the Alumni Summit with an opening session to inspire youth to explore and pursue their purpose. Alumni participated in professional workshops, networking and heard from business sponsors, including Citadel, Goldman Sachs, M&T Bank, Prudential and other leaders in business, finance, education, tech, law and entertainment. Lauren Simmons, the youngest full-time female trader at the New York Stock Exchange, joined Shavar Jeffries, CEO of the KIPP Foundation and advocate for social justice and educational equity, for a fireside chat. Attendees enjoyed student performances, a beautiful cocktail hour prepared by David Ellis Events and raised over $530,000 for the well-regarded public charter network. 

“There were a few teachers that changed my life and these are people that I consistently have conversations with until this day. The level of support that they give my family was so meaningful,” said Lauren Simmons. “I remember being in college not having enough money for books and KIPP always asked ‘what do you need? We’ll get you stipend money for books’ and that was everything to me then. The support, checking in, and phone calls were all I needed to have the confidence that I could do this.”