Release from CivicStory December 1, 2020
Sustainability & Civics News Site Announces First Executive Director Newark-Based Nonprofit Leader Josie Gonsalves to Head CivicStory
SOUTH ORANGE, New Jersey -- Josie Gonsalves, an executive leader with a strong background in fund development, nonprofit management, and advocacy, has been appointed the inaugural executive director of CivicStory, a civics and solutions-based news site, effective December 1. The leadership move comes as CivicStory concludes Phase 2 of the NJ Sustainability Reporting Hub project, a statewide effort to amplify sustainability news, information and action.
"We're thrilled that Josie Gonsalves will assume a leading role at this critical and challenging time," said Susan Haig, founder of CivicStory. "Her broad skills in fundraising, management, community building, and education will significantly increase our capacity and impact."
Founded in 2009 as NJ Arts News and renamed CivicStory in 2015, the entity is one of five independent nonprofit news sites in New Jersey. Its signature project - the NJ Sustainability Reporting Hub - supports 6-month journalism fellowships through diverse New Jersey area newsrooms, and aggregates sustainability news at www.SRHub.org.
"I'm honored to be selected as CivicStory's executive director," said Gonsalves. "The mission to strengthen the civic purposes of news is deeply compelling, and I'm excited to join the board in this urgent work and journey."
Gonsalves has served as development consultant for nonprofits including the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Center at Rutgers University-Newark. Her prior roles include development officer for Newark Public Radio; executive director, Making Dreams Happen Inc. of Newark; and director of communications, Jewish Board for Family and Children's Services, New York City. Previously she served as assistant vice president for housing and income programs with United Way of New York City.
Gonsalves is a member of the New York City Bar Association Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and chair of the association’s Committee on Racial Equity, as well as a public member of the Supreme Court of New Jersey’s District VA Fee Arbitration Committee. She has been a frequent public speaker and moderator on racial and social justice issues in the New York and New Jersey regions.
“I am delighted that Josie is stepping into this new leadership role with CivicStory,” said Daniel Day, president of the CivicStory board and co-chair of the search committee. “She brings deep and wide experience in advocating for the public good. We look forward to working with Josie to develop new partnerships across the state that amplify New Jersey's unique story of sustainability, ecological restoration, health and social justice."
About CivicStory: CivicStory is a nonprofit news site focused on civics and sustainability, dedicated to advancing solutions-based news about citizens transforming communities. Founded in 2009 as NJ Arts News, the organization was renamed CivicStory in 2015 to reflect its broader focus on sustainability and creative change in cities. CivicStory's video segments have aired on NJTV, My9 TV, WBGO , WHYY NewsWorks, WACP Channel 4 (Philadelphia-Atlantic City), and university stations. In April 2016, CivicStory received the Broader Vision Award for "film making dedicated to the greater good" from the Garden State Film Festival. 103
The NJ Sustainability Reporting Hub project launched in August 2019 and addresses a need for news and information that enables citizens to respond to urgent environmental crises. The goal is to generate a critical volume of sustainability reporting that engages news editors and the public. Stories amplify newsworthy action and initiatives to restore healthy ecosystems and to slow and reverse global atmospheric warming. The NJSR Hub project received the “2020 Excellence in Local News – Collaborate Local” award for outstanding collaborative local journalism from the NJ News Commons project of the Center for Cooperative Media (MSU).
Executive Director search committee:
Dan Day, Co-Chair and CivicStory board president (Director of Operations, Communications and Public Affairs, Princeton University)
Kelly Watson, Co-Chair (Senior Advisor, NJ Economic Development Authority)
Lauren Ferrari, CivicStory board member; (legal counsel, ethics and compliance)
Abimbola Lawrence; CivicStory board member (senior management, legal counsel)
Frank Robertazzi, CivicStory board member (wealth management advisor)
Press Contact: Daniel Day, CivicStory board president, dnlday@yahoo.com 609-658-2414