Norcross Announces Grant for Fellowship Program at Rutgers-Camden

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) announced $60,000 in grant funding for Rutgers University-Camden from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for a project titled “Latinos, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Making of Multiracial America After the 1960s.” The grant is one of five grants New Jersey received from NEH for a total of $990,000 in funding.

“The faculty at Rutgers University–Camden are some of the best and brightest in the country,” said Congressman Norcross. “These competitive grants support cultural institutions, projects and partnerships that represent the highest level of quality and public engagement in the humanities – and Dr. Thomas’ research into America’s Latino communities and the important role they’ve played in our nation’s history will be used by students for years to come. I look forward to seeing the results of this grant.”

“Research innovation happens every day at Rutgers University–Camden, where our faculty and students generate original thinking and new ideas that advance our state and our nation,” said Phoebe A. Haddon, chancellor, Rutgers University–Camden. “This grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities will allow Dr. Thomas to advance the type of cutting-edge work that is critical to our society. We thank and applaud Congressman Norcross for his commitment to growing South Jersey as a hub for innovation and for his support of Rutgers–Camden.”

The grant will support Rutgers University–Camden’s Dr. Lorrin Thomas’ research into a new book, Minority: Latinos and the Making of Multiracial America after the 1960s, which looks into how Latino activism and leadership contributed substantially to the outcome and continuing debate over major domestic civil rights challenges such as battles over school desegregation and busing, political redistricting, affirmative action in employment and access to higher education.

“I am very honored to be the recipient of this fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities, which will allow me to advance the research and writing of this book,” said Lorrin Thomas, associate professor of history, Rutgers University–Camden. “Teaching Rutgers–Camden students about the history of Latinos and civil rights in the U.S. has helped refine my understanding of the issues I will be writing about, and I look forward to being able to share the results of this work in the classroom after completing the fellowship.”

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