Eloquence Academy Receives $2,500 Grant from New Jersey Department of State

Jan 4

Eloquence Academy is excited to announce the recipient of a new $2,500 grant from the New Jersey Department of State through their groundbreaking Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Minigrants. The grant places Eloquence Academy amongst 21 organizations statewide committed to reflecting on and remembering Dr. King’s legacy of justice, service, and civic engagement.

An independent agency of the New Jersey Department of State, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission was established by the administration of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way. It is chaired by George V. Guy, Jr. and includes over 24 appointees representing state senators, assemblymembers, and volunteers. The commission raises public awareness of Dr. King’s ideals and philosophy while encouraging diverse communities across New Jersey to recommit themselves to realizing Dr. King’s dreams in the 21st century. Each year, around the third Sunday in January, the commission provides project grants to community organizations and coordinates its own programming around “Behold,” a ten-foot, bonded-bronze of Dr. King installed at Essex County College in Newark.

“We are honored by the commission’s trust in our work and the selection of our proposal as representing the spirit and intention of the grant opportunity,” said Spencer Chaisanguanthum, Chief Executive Officer of Eloquence Academy. “Dr. King’s life is a powerful reminder of how advocacy and public speaking can directly inspire change. We commit to teaching our students to find their own voices, communicate their ideas clearly, and speak out on issues that matter to them, just like Dr. King did half a century ago.”

Chief Executive Officer Spencer Chaisanguanthum will work to manage the grant funding. Planned activities include educational programming, including a social advocacy workshop and a roundtable discussion about Dr. King’s legacy, alongside an oral history series with survivors of the Civil Rights Movement to be posted on our YouTube. The programming is scheduled to take place around the holiday on January 19, 2026, with specific dates and event details to be announced in the coming weeks. For updates on the event schedule and opportunities to participate, please follow Eloquence Academy on social media (@eloquenceacademy).

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Eloquence Academy, Inc. is the world’s largest youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing equitable academic debate opportunities for rural and historically underserved students. The Academy has offered live debate programs for 3,600 students, partnerships with 122 schools and nonprofit organizations, and online debate resources for 16,084 students. It has prepared students across all 50 states and 102 countries for college readiness, career engagement, and community impact. Follow on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.