SPAA Public Policy Course Partners with Essex County Office of LGBTQ Affairs to Address Critical Issues

This semester, the "Introduction to Public Policy" course at Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) is partnering with the Essex County Office of LGBTQ Affairs to develop policy briefs on critical LGBTQ+ issues facing the county, with the aim for what's produced to go beyond theoretical exercises and be real recommendations that will reach real decision-makers.

Recently, the class visited the Hall of Records in Newark, NJ to meet with LGBTQ Office Director Reggie Bledsoe, who walked them through the office's mission and Essex County's governance structure. During their tour, they ran into Commissioner President Carlos Pomares and Vice President A'Dorian Murray-Thomas, who graciously stayed after their meeting to teach the students about the county legislature's role in policymaking, and invited them into the commissioner president's office for an impromptu discussion.

"Watching undergraduates in our Minor in Public Policy program ask questions, take notes, and realize their work could influence actual policy decisions – that's the moment classroom theory becomes civic engagement," said Dr. Diego Galego, assistant professor at Rutgers SPAA, and the course instructor. "We are grateful to the Essex County Office of LGBTQ Affairs for making this partnership possible," Dr. Galego added. "This is what hands-on public policy education should look like."

"Often times as citizens we feel so far removed from the government that serves us, but after the extremely welcoming visit at the Essex County office, I've come to realize how public administrators are citizens with a passion to serve the public," said SPAA student Phinesse Scott. "I felt inspired and received so much needed knowledge during our visit. It's motivating in a way that makes me want to be impactful to the community in which I live in."

The experience was also inspiring to SPAA student Brenda Maldonado. "Visiting the Hall of Records helped me decide on the route I want to take in my career. It has also guided me to pursue a legal career and apply to the SEAL Pipeline Program," she said. I truly feel that if it weren't for the trip to the Hall of Records, my realization that I wanted to pursue government law would have come a lot later in the semester."