NJ Education Report

High Performing Newark Charter Network Educating Over 2,000 Students Makes Annual Commitment To Support Local Newark & Minority-Owned Businesses this Holiday Season

Great Oaks Legacy Charter School, a high performing Newark-based public charter school system that serves a student population that is over 90% Black and Brown, has launched its annual “Shop Newark Campaign.” The campaign will include a concentrated gift drive from local and minority owned businesses in Newark as well as providing gift cards to local Newark businesses. The network initiated the campaign as an essential way to give back to the community in Newark.

Great Oaks Legacy Charter School (GOLCS) has conducted this initiative for several years to support the local community it calls home. Every year, GOLCS purchases teacher appreciation gifts from the local community through Makerhoods, an organization bringing together local makers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and residents. Through an approximate $30,000 commitment to local Newark business, GOLCS is hoping to keep money in the community. This is especially important as money spent locally stays there. Research has shown that for every dollar spent at a local business, over 70 cents stays in the community versus only 40 cents for every dollar spent at national chains.

In addition to the gift drive, GOLCS also provides Newark Gift Cards to teachers, which are specifically designed to keep value in the local community. Newark Gift Cards allow recipients to experience the best shopping, dining and entertainment in Newark while supporting their local economy. These two initiatives are core to the mission at GOLCS to give back and support the community in Newark. GOLCS will also continue to host its annual end of year teacher appreciation event in Newark, helping to drive continued investment in the city while strengthening the bond between school and community.

“At Great Oaks Legacy Charter School, we believe that the school is only as strong as its community. That is why we have made an ongoing effort as a school to invest in Black-owned businesses,” shared Jared Taillefer, Executive Director at The Great Oaks Legacy Charter School. “As a Newark resident, I have a deep love for the community and believe that same love should be shown in both the mission and, most importantly, the actions of the school.”

GOLCS believes that supporting small businesses is especially important with the Holiday Season approaching, when businesses make 20% of their yearly revenue.

To learn more visit GOLCS at greatoakslegacy.org, Makerhoods at makerhoods.com and Newark Gift Card at thenewarkgiftcard.com.