Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs

Yesterday marked the official launch of SJ Connects, a new regional shuttle service expanding access to jobs, education, healthcare, and transit hubs across South Jersey counties.

This new initiative directly addresses long-standing transportation gaps and reflects what communities have been calling for. Our has consistently shown that limited transit access can be a barrier to employment, healthcare, and essential services across the region.

Solutions like expanded routes, better connectivity, and community-informed transit options are exactly the types of strategies identified by community members in our work.

👉 Learn more about SJ Connects below and more about 's transportation work here: https://rand.camden.rutgers.edu/category/reports-papers-briefs/transportation/

Our team was in Anchorage, AK last week for the annual conference! 🫎

It was an exciting few days filled with networking with other public service organization professionals and fascinating lightning talks and breakout sessions. Our very own Kiersten Westley Henson presented a lightning talk on our latest research around colorectal cancer screenings and our partnership with Inspira Health, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, and Rutgers School of Nursing- Camden.

“Beyond Research to Building Trust: Focus Groups as Engagement” explored how focus groups could be reimagined to be bi-directional learning spaces for real-time education, trust building, and action.

➡️Want to learn more? Read more about this idea in our latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/eR2KfqQb

We’re still buzzing from our 24th Annual Walter & Leah Rand Awards and Scholarship Dinner! We honored our three South Jerseyans of the Year - , Dr. Anthony DiFabio of & Sen. John Burzichelli.

These are only a few of the many photos taken, and we’re looking forward to sharing more in the future. For those unable to attend but still interested in supporting WRI’s student engagement initiatives, we welcome you to donate to our gift fund. https://rand.camden.rutgers.edu/donate/

Today we concluded the second iteration of our undergraduate student seminar: Translating Insights into Impact! We are so proud of all of our undergrads for successfully completing the seminar, especially as they concluded their own presentations on research case studies to broader audiences, including public officials and community leaders. Congratulations to all of our wonderful undergraduate students!

Our student seminar is flying by! We just concluded our SIXTH session that was all about how to translate research for a policymaker audience.

This session featured a panel with policy expert Alex Staropoli (Founder & Principal of Staropoli Strategies) and Silvia Catalan-Culnan, Mayor of Mt. Laurel Twnship & Legislative Director to Assemblyman William Spearman. They both brought such wonderful insight for our students and we thank them for taking time out of their busy schedules to join us!

The 24th Annual Walter and Leah Rand Awards and Scholarship Dinner is just a few weeks away!

We still have tickets, sponsorships and advertisement opportunities available! 👉 https://lnkd.in/ebemUARb

Each year, we honor three South Jerseyans whose work and leadership have made a lasting impact on our region. This year, we are proud to honor: Senator John Burzichelli - New Jersey Legislative District 3, Inspira Health, and Anthony DiFabio President & CEO, Acenda Integrated Health.

👩‍🎓 The event also celebrates the students that support the Institute’s work and raises funds to support undergraduate and graduate student fellowships, scholarships, and South Jersey community-based research, teaching, and training initiatives.

🎉 The 24th Annual Walter and Leah Rand Awards and Scholarship Dinner will be held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at Tavistock Country Club.

We greatly appreciate the support of all those who have already committed to attending and sponsoring the event. We look forward to celebrating with you all!

Part of our friends at the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services are hosting two events around Colorectal Cancer!

Skill sharpening for community health workers
April 6, 2026, at 12:00 PM EST
A virtual training session offering key updates on colorectal cancer risks, screening guidelines, and effective community outreach strategies for CHWS.
Register 👉 https://lnkd.in/e8BMxTPm

Camden County Health Fair: The Colon Experience
Tuesday, April 7, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
RU-C Campus Center, Multi-Purpose Room
This year, our goal is to raise awareness about colorectal and prostate cancers among African American and Hispanic communities. The event will feature the “Colon Experience,” an inflatable walk through exhibit that provides a visual and educational look at colon health and cancer prevention. We will also offer resources, information, and screenings to support early detection and promote good health for everyone.

Learn more about our recent findings around Colorectal Cancer screening for communities of color in our latest releases below! 👇

In honor of the final day of , learn more about insights from our recent project around colorectal cancer (CRC) screening awareness in rural Southern New Jersey counties. Plus - learn more about how to get free screenings in the brief!

NEW Research Brief: Examining the Factors Impacting Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates for Communities of Color in Rural Cumberland and Salem Counties. Read ➡️https://rand.camden.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2026/03/CRC-Brief_Final.pdf

NEW WRImpact Blog Post: Focus Groups as Bi-Directional Learning Spaces: Lessons from the WRI CRC Project. Read ➡️ https://sites.camden.rutgers.edu/wri/2026/03/25/focus-groups-as-bi-directional-learning-spaces-lessons-from-the-wri-colorectal-cancer-project/

Thank you to our funders South Jersey Institute of Population Health and our partners at Inspira Health, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, and Rutgers School of Nursing—Camden for your collaboration on this project.