Category: Press Release

TRENTON, NJ (July 24, 2019) – Today, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) announced Marcia Marley as the new Chair of the NJPP Board of Trustees. Marley succeeds Jun Choi, former mayor of Edison, who served as Chair since 2016. Jon Shure, NJPP’s founder and inaugural President, is the new Vice-Chair of the Board. 

“I am honored to chair the Board of NJPP, the state’s most influential and successful progressive ‘think-and-do tank,’” said NJPP Board Chair Marcia Marley. “I look forward to working with our outstanding new President, Brandon McKoy, and Board Vice-Chair Jon Shure to achieve the organization’s mission of economic prosperity and justice for all. In this period of unprecedented inequality, NJPP’s research and leadership have never been more relevant or necessary.”

Marcia Marley, who most recently served as the Secretary of NJPP’s Board of Trustees, brings a breadth of experience in grassroots organizing and economic research to her new role. Marcia is the founder and President of BlueWaveNJ, a Montclair-based grassroots organization that advocates for progressive public policy. Following graduate school in economics at the University of California – Berkeley, Marley taught macroeconomics at New York University and wrote research papers on the growing inequality of wealth and income with Professor Edward Wolff.  She later worked as a senior emerging markets economist in the financial sector both in New York and London. She has served on NJPP’s board since 2013.

“NJPP is incredibly fortunate to have Marcia Marley leading the Board,” said NJPP President Brandon McKoy. “Marcia is one of the sharpest minds in New Jersey politics and has a proven record of success in nonprofit leadership. I look forward to working with Marcia and Jon in our shared pursuit of a state government that puts the needs of the many before those of a chosen few.” 

Jon Shure founded NJPP in 1997 and served as the think-tank’s President until 2009. He then became the Director of State Communications for the DC-based Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

A graduate of Cornell University and the University of Missouri, Jon started his career as a reporter and transitioned to government, serving as Communications Director to Governor Jim Florio. He returned to NJPP’s Board in 2018 and currently works as a Senior Director at Taft Communications in Lawrenceville.  

“I’m proud of all that NJPP has accomplished through 22 years of promoting economic justice,” said NJPP Board Vice-Chair Jon Shure. “I’m prouder still to reconnect under the leadership of Brandon and Marcia at a time when so many hardworking people in New Jersey still struggle to build a future.”

Founded in 1997, NJPP is a non-profit, nonpartisan research organization that promotes policy solutions to advance economic, social, and racial justice.

To read a PDF version of this release, click here.

New Jersey lawmakers, advocates, and policy leaders react to the news that Brandon McKoy will serve as President of New Jersey Policy Perspective.

Governor Phil Murphy:
“I commend NJPP’s Board of Trustees for selecting Brandon McKoy as the next president of one of New Jersey’s premier policy organizations. Brandon always brings sound evidence and facts to guide the policymaking process and has been a trusted resource for lawmakers and my administration as we build a stronger and fairer New Jersey.

“I was fortunate to have Brandon serve on my transition team and have a deep appreciation for his commitment to furthering economic justice and showing us the possibilities of what can be achieved through sound public policy. I hold Brandon in the highest regard and am excited to see what he accomplishes in his new role at NJPP.”

Senate President Steve Sweeney:
“Brandon is an influential voice on public policy who is well respected in Trenton and around the State.  Brandon was instrumental in the development and enactment of our landmark $15 minimum wage law.  I extend to him my heartfelt congratulations on being named President, and I look forward to continuing to work with him and NJPP.”

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin:
“Brandon McKoy holds a wealth of knowledge and experience in public policy and economic affairs. His appointment as President of NJPP will only help to ensure middle and working class residents of our state achieve economic prosperity and I look forward to continuing our work together for all New Jerseyans.”

Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman:
“Brandon represents the next generation of progressive leaders in New Jersey, and I am thrilled to see him lead an organization that was first established to promote the kinds of policies that will move every community forward together. He is smart, talented, capable and will continue NJPP’s legacy of fighting for working people in New Jersey.

“Brandon is a role model for young people of color, at the helm of a statewide organization, and his seat at the table will ensure that the voices of minorities and underserved communities are well-represented. I look forward to continuing to work on implementing our shared values through progressive policy in New Jersey and beyond.”

Gordon MacInnes, Former President of NJPP:
“Brandon brings what’s required to lead NJPP: he’s respected by our allies, the press, legislative and executive branch leaders, our donors and his colleagues and trustees. His judgment, knowledge and clarity of expression makes him a particularly wise choice.”

Jon Shure, Trustee and Founding President of NJPP:
“We’ve placed NJPP’s reputation for common-sense solutions that help New Jerseyans thrive in the most capable hands. The need for new ideas and powerful collaboration is stronger than ever. Brandon’s passion for justice, devotion to facts, and proven leadership make him the right choice at a crucial moment for our state’s future.”

Nicholas Johnson, Senior Vice President for State Fiscal Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:
“Brandon’s work at New Jersey Policy Perspective has already garnered national attention for its thoughtful analysis and for the positive changes it has brought about. He loves New Jersey so deeply, and he has such a powerful passion for making New Jersey a place where everyone can thrive. As NJPP’s leader, he will be inspiring and impactful.”

Analilia Mejia, Executive Director, New Jersey Working Families Alliance:
“Activists and elected leaders alike should welcome the news that Brandon McKoy has been selected as the new president of NJPP with relish. Brandon is a meticulous thought leader whose understanding of critical issues and complex systems is only superseded by his ability to make the complicated accessible to all. Without a doubt, NJPP will enter a dynamic and even more impactful phase under his leadership.<”

Ryan P. Haygood, President and CEO of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice:
“We commend NJPP’s wise decision to select Brandon as the next leader of the organization. This is a critical time in New Jersey, a state in which incredible wealth exists alongside punishing poverty. The median net worth of New Jersey’s white families is $303,396—the highest in America. But by contrast, the median net worth for New Jersey’s Latino and Black families was $7,200 and $5,900, respectively, during the last year that comparable data was available.

“We need strong leadership in the fight for economic justice—the kind that Brandon displayed in the recent successful passage of a $15 minimum wage in New Jersey. We are excited to continue to partner with NJPP, now under Brandon’s leadership, to build systems that connect marginalized people in New Jersey to the prosperity in the state.”

Sara Culliane, Executive Director of Make the Road – New Jersey:
“On behalf of the members of Make the Road New Jersey, we congratulate Brandon McKoy on being named President of the New Jersey Policy Perspective. Brandon already has an impressive track record in New Jersey, having played a leading role in in the campaign to raise the minimum wage to $15, fighting against corporate giveaways and for tax fairness. His vision for a more fair and equitable New Jersey, and his uncanny ability to make complex economic ideas accessible to the rest of us make him a fierce advocate for working people in New Jersey and invaluable to our progressive movement.”

Johanna Calle, Executive Director, New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice:
“New Jersey Policy Perspective has been a strong partner of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice in our fight for pro-immigrant policies that benefit the whole state. As someone who represents the diversity of our New Jersey, Brandon’s leadership and vision will be key to ensuring that advocacy in our state is reflective of our communities. We look forward to this continued partnership in the fight for justice for all New Jerseyans.”

Katie Brennan, Chapter Director, New Leaders Council – New Jersey:
“New Leaders Council is proud to see one of our own, a young man of color, running a statewide policy organization. In his time as Deputy Director of NLC-NJ, Brandon brought our organization to new frontiers and we’re eager to see him do the same for NJPP and the state of New Jersey.”

Rev. Dr. Charles Boyer, Executive Director of Salvation and Social Justice
“Brandon McKoy is a trusted source of in-depth policy knowledge and strategy for New Jersey’s social and racial justice advocates. I am extremely encouraged that Brandon has been selected to be NJPP’s new president. His ascension marks a bright future for progressive and moral leaders across the state.”

Amol Sinha, Executive Director, Americans for Civil Liberties of New Jersey:
“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made working in collaboration with New Jersey Policy Perspective over the years. Brandon has already established himself as one of the sharpest policy minds in our state, and we’re excited to continue working with NJPP under his forward-looking leadership.”

Renee Koubiadis, Executive Director, Anti-Poverty Network of NJ:
“The Anti-Poverty Network (APN) of New Jersey is excited to welcome Brandon McKoy as the next President of New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP). We have worked closely with NJPP and Brandon as members of our network to make sure that low-income New Jerseysans gain access to basic needs and can thrive as part of a growing state economy. APN looks forward to great work ahead with NJPP under Brandon’s leadership to improve the lives of our state’s most vulnerable.”

Kiki Jamieson, President, Fund for New Jersey:
“Having worked with Brandon I can attest to his deep commitment to building an economy that works for all New Jerseyans.”

Rev. Eric Dobson, Outreach Director, Fair Share Housing Center:
“Brandon is one of the leading policy experts in New Jersey. NJPP will be in good hands with Brandon providing direction, insight and expertise for an organization that has had some of New Jersey’s brightest minds at its helm. Brandon has already been a tremendous asset to NJPP, and the state as a whole, and I have no doubt that will continue as he takes on this leadership role.”

Phyllis Salowe-Kaye, Executive Director, New Jersey Citizen Action:
“New Jersey Citizen Action has been working in partnership with NJPP since its inception. We are thrilled that Brandon McCoy has been selected to serve as president and look forward to continuing our very productive relationship with such an important “think-and-do-tank.” Since 1997 we have collaborated on many important campaigns with NJPP and look forward to working with Brandon as he guides the organization to bring progressive policy changes to better the lives of all New Jerseyans.”

To read a PDF version of this release, click here.

To read reactions from policy leaders, click here. 

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Louis Di Paolo, (201) 417-5049 (cell) or dipaolo@njpp.org

TRENTON, NJ (February 28, 2019) – The Board of Trustees of New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP), a Trenton-based public policy think tank, announced today that Brandon McKoy will serve as its next president. Founded in 1997, NJPP drives policy change to advance economic and social justice through evidence-based independent research, analysis, and advocacy. McKoy will become the fourth and youngest ever president of the organization.

“I am proud to announce that NJPP’s Executive Search Committee unanimously and enthusiastically endorsed Brandon McKoy as our next president,” said Marcia Marley, NJPP Trustee and chair of the board’s Executive Search Committee. “No other candidate matched his policy knowledge and deep passion for creating a stronger and more-inclusive economy. Brandon has the leadership capability and strategic vision necessary to guide NJPP’s work in shifting critical policy debates and analyzing the most pressing issues facing New Jersey’s lawmakers. The search committee is confident that the organization will flourish under Brandon’s leadership and we are thrilled to work with him.”

Brandon McKoy is currently NJPP’s Director of Government and Public Affairs, where he develops and implements the strategic direction of the organization’s policy agenda and outreach to legislative and administrative officials. Since joining NJPP in 2014, he has spearheaded analysis and research on labor and economic policy and expanded NJPP’s reach and influence in the halls of the State House, with the administration, and in the media.

“I could not be more excited to take control of NJPP and build on the organization’s successes in shaping public policy,” said incoming NJPP President Brandon McKoy. “This is a critical time for New Jersey, as we turn the page on almost a decade of trickle-down policies that prioritized the wealthy and well-connected. As President of NJPP, we will continue to speak truth to power, insert data and analysis into every debate, and promote policy solutions for the many — not a chosen few. I am honored to have this responsibility and look forward to working with our partners, board members, dedicated staff, and elected leaders in building a better New Jersey for all.”

Over the last five years, Brandon McKoy has been a leading voice for policies that boost the economic security of New Jersey’s working families. His original research, analysis, and advocacy were critical in the fight for a $15 minimum wage, which passed the legislature and was signed by Governor Phil Murphy earlier this year, and the campaign for paid sick days, which was signed into law in 2018. McKoy has also researched and testified on issues related to state tax policy, higher-education funding, poverty alleviation programs, and marijuana legalization, including a landmark 2016 report on the potential tax revenue from a legal cannabis market.

“Brandon McKoy is a rising star in a rising generation of policy leaders,” said Jun Choi, chair of NJPP’s Board of Trustees. “His accomplishments speak for themselves: he was a central figure in the fight for a $15 minimum wage, one of the most impactful pieces of legislation in recent years for New Jersey’s working families; his reports on earned sick days provided the foundation for legislation signed into law by Governor Murphy; and his advocacy for a fairer tax code has resulted in critical relief for the state’s lowest paid workers. Brandon also brings important perspectives to the policy making process as a millennial and person of color in a state where decision makers are often older and whiter than the communities they represent. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am thrilled to announce Brandon McKoy as the next president of NJPP and am so excited to see what the future has in store with him at the helm.”

Brandon McKoy began his tenure with NJPP in 2014 as a Policy Analyst through the State Policy Fellowship program coordinated by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, one of the nation’s premier policy organizations. Prior to joining NJPP, he was a program associate at The Fund for New Jersey and began his career as an AmeriCorps VISTA member, working on housing and community development in Orange, NJ.

Beyond his policy work, McKoy is active in his local community, serving on the board of the I Am Trenton Community Foundation. He is also active in training and mentoring young progressive professionals, having served as the Deputy Director of New Leaders Council – New Jersey, where he is currently a member of the organization’s advisory board. McKoy is also a board member of Shelterforce, a community development and affordable housing publication.

Brandon McKoy is a lifelong New Jersey resident and proud product of the state’s public schools. After growing up in South Orange, he studied social psychology at The College of New Jersey and graduated with a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. McKoy currently lives in Trenton with his wife, Liz Mahn, and their dog, Scout.

Brandon McKoy will begin his tenure as president of NJPP on March 1, 2019.

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