Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 10/10/2026Jah'saan Reid, 17, joined Trenton’s Junior Street Team expecting a summer job. He found mentors and a community that believed in him. His story raises a larger question: What must happen before violence erupts? tinyurl.com/ym799zsb 011
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Who is believed, who is protected and what makes an investigation fair? Josie Gonsalves, Patricia Campos-Medina and Julie Roginsky examine misconduct, political power, race and accountability in this week’s Mosaic. tinyurl.com/5yrpvtc8 #NJMosaic #WomenInPolitics #Accountability #NewJersey 021
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 04/10/2026An honest note: A duplicated headline and a few typos slipped into this week’s Mosaic. I own them. I’m also proud of its reporting on accountability, nuance and political power. Thank you for reading — and for your grace. link.nj.com/view/6512e37... #politics #DaleCaldwell #Spiritualhealing 010
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Who benefits from the transition to a more sustainable economy — and who is still being left out? This week’s Mosaic looks at equity, accountability and young people pressing businesses to move beyond promises. tinyurl.com/yc5crx73 #MosaicNJ #Sustainability 020
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Aliya Baker, 22, is raising a toddler and helping care for her father, who has cancer. She wanted health care training but couldn’t afford it. A free CNA program gave her a way forward. Read the story here: tinyurl.com/yc5crx73 #MosaicNJ #HealthCareCareers 010
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 21/09/2026“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” — Audre Lorde A necessary reminder that caring for ourselves helps us continue caring for others. tinyurl.com/2rchayj8 #MosaicNJ 010
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 19/09/2026Health shapes how we work, care for others and participate in our lives. This week’s Mosaic brings together reporting on health and a free CNA training program opening doors for N.J. students. tinyurl.com/2rchayj8 #MosaicNJ #health #selfcare 043
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Baraka, McIver and Caldwell face very different forms of scrutiny. Treating their cases as equivalent obscures what each demands. Black leadership doesn’t require protection from scrutiny. It requires consistent standards. tinyurl.com/mr2y2r75 #MosaicNJ 010
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Brick City Memorial Park gives Newark families a peaceful place to remember people lost to violence — and ensures their names aren’t reduced to statistics. Wanda Goodman told me: “We didn’t forget your loved one.” tinyurl.com/mr2y2r75 #NewarkNJ #MosaicNJ 000
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 13/09/2026“If they don’t give you a seat the table, bring a folding chair.” Shirley Chisholm 010
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Falling homicide numbers in Newark cannot tell us whether every program works, every neighborhood feels safer or how families carry loss. This week’s Mosaic looks beyond the statistics at prevention, remembrance and accountability. tinyurl.com/mr2y2r75 #MosaicNJ #NewarkNJ 012
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 06/09/2026“It’s like Summer Jam, but with a message.” Mayor Ras Baraka explains how 24 Hours of Peace fits Newark’s violence-prevention strategy — and where communication gaps can still leave room for deadly conflicts. My Q&A for Mosaic: tinyurl.com/mt8a5za5 #NewarkNJ #peace 010
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 04/09/2026This week, I’m looking back at the people and stories we’ve shared in Inside NJ.com’s Mosaic — and asking you to help shape what comes next. Which story stayed with you? What should I cover more? tinyurl.com/cvz292zt #communityvoices #njnews #mosaicnj 000
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 04/09/2026#GloriaSteinem’s death brings me back to 2018, when I interviewed her at Los Angeles City College alongside DACA recipient + immigrant rights activist Samantha Ramirez-Herrera. Two generations advocating for Dreamers. A moment I’m grateful to have documented for the Los Angeles Collegian. 000
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 29/08/2026Tamara Harris faced a choice: move to Charlotte with her employer or bet on her side business. She chose New Joy Farm. She now brings animals to children — while challenging assumptions about who can own a farm. Reare more - Inside NJ.com’s Mosaic. tinyurl.com/5c43zxrt 052
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 28/08/2026A $110 pony changed Richard Anderson’s life. He became a trucking entrepreneur, minister, social worker, realtor and farmer — then founded Crazy Faith Riders to preserve Black cowboy history. My latest Mosaic: tinyurl.com/5c43zxrt #MosaicNJ #BlackCowboys 031
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Cynthia Harris asked North Plainfield businesses to help local children start school prepared — they answered. Her book bag drive shows what can happen when one community connector brings people together. Read her story Inside NJ.com’s Mosaic: tinyurl.com/45t6y4wr #NorthPlainfield #MosaicNJ 032
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 23/08/2026A little Sunday light from this week’s Mosaic: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Mahatma Gandhi #SundayInspiration #QuoteOfTheWeek #MosaicNJ 011
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 21/08/2026“Nobody deserves to be alone.” That belief guides Jill Pitman — as a union organizer, advocate and mother raising her children to look out for others. Meet Jill: tinyurl.com/4fbh2phe #OrganizedLabor #MosaicNJ #Advocacy 121
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 20/08/2026This week in Inside NJ.com’s Mosaic, I focused on “do-gooders.” Meet union organizer and social justice warrior Jill Pitman; Dr. Edward Egan, who takes medicine to the streets; and N. Plainfield’s outreach arm, Cynthia Harris, whose book bag drive is uniting local businesses.tinyurl.com/45t6y4wr 021
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 18/08/2026@bsky.app Last week’s Mosaic poll tinyurl.com/bdhmt62v asked what N.J. civil rights groups should prioritize over the next 5 years 43.5% Truth, repair and racial wealth gap 28.3% Democracy and voting rights 26.1% Criminal justice reform 2.2% Educational and economic opportunity What's your take? 000
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 14/08/2026“We need to be fighting and building at the same time.” Henal Patel, the first woman and first Asian American to lead the N.J. Institute for Social Justice, spoke with me about leadership, racial justice and building something better during a time of backlash. Story on Mosaic: tinyurl.com/4fcnev8u 011
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 13/08/20266 people experiencing mental health crises have been killed during encounters with N.J. police since 2021. In every case, a grand jury declined to indict the officers involved. Check out my Q+A with NJISJ interim President Henal Patel Read more: Inside NJ.com’s Mosaiclink.nj.com/view/6512e37...06 043
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 10/08/2026Despite heavy rain, community members gathered in New Brunswick one year after police fatally shot Deborah Terrell, 68, during a mental health crisis. Terrell needed help. Instead, she was killed. More this week in Inside NJ.com’s Mosaic. #DeborahTerrell #PoliceAccountability 000
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 07/08/20263 words. I asked people to describe Ryan Haygood. Here's what I heard: • Courageous. Visionary. Leader. • Thoughtful. Inspiring. Generous. • Inclusive. Authentic. Balanced. • Genuine. Visionary. Builder. What 3 words would you hope someone uses to describe you? Read the story: tinyurl.com/5dwhuaj3 010
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 06/08/2026Ryan Haygood is leaving NJISJ for the @splcenter.org This week's Inside NJ.com's Mosaic features reflections about Ryan — and the impact of one teacher, one documentary and one unexpected turn in life. Read the profile on Mosaic: tinyurl.com/5dwhuaj3 #Journalism #SocialJustice #NJ 000
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 01/08/2026Young chefs at the Paterson Boys & Girls Club showed off their culinary skills in a “Top Chef”-inspired competition, complete with celebrity judges. And the local Stop&Shop donated $50,000! Read more in at Mosaic.nj.com. Subscribe to Inside NJ.com's Mosaic at link.nj.com/join/6fj/sig... 001
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 30/07/2026Does anyone remember Melba Moore? (If you are of a certain age, you certainly do!) The Tony Award winner and four-time Grammy nominee released a new song, “Love Wins Every Time,” this week which I’m liking more and more with each listen - More in Thursday’s Mosaic. #MelbaMoore #Music #NJcomMosaic 021
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 29/07/2026One of the best parts of this job is getting a front-row seat to moments like these. I spent part of last week at AileyCamp in Newark watching young people discover confidence, discipline and joy through dance. Here's a brief glimpse. 052
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 27/07/2026Happy summer folks! It's been a while. I've been heads down reporting and building Inside NJ.com's Mosaic, a weekly newsletter about the people and issues shaping NJ. I'm going to start sharing more — interviews, notebook moments, story ideas and the occasional surprise. Good to be back. 121
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 03/05/2026Newark: it’s time to vote for your next mayor. Join me for a Mayoral Candidates Conversation on Mon, May 4, 6–8 PM at Sport Club Portuguese. Hosted by Newark NAACP, ICC & NJEJA. Questions for Mayor Baraka or the six confirmed contenders? Send me a note. Read more here: tinyurl.com/5cs8txa6 000
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 07/04/20265 women led the fight against the NJ Radium Corp back in the 1910s + 20s. Poisoned by radium while painting glow-in-the-dark watch dials, their case helped change labor laws by establishing workers’ right to sue employers over unsafe conditions. Story on Mosaic - tinyurl.com/35nnyfn6 #RadiumGirls 000
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 31/03/2026I love the diversity in this photo—different faces, one purpose: reclaiming the promise of America and standing together against those who would unravel it. Read more here: tinyurl.com/3y33k6zv #NOKINGS #NEWARK #MAYORBARAKA #PROTESTS #PEOPLESORGANIZATIONFORPROGRESS 0144
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 29/03/2026From segregated housing to the world stage, #ArtCarrington’s journey is powerful. During apartheid, he was labeled an “honorary white” just to compete. Now, 79, this tennis legend has been honored with new courts named for him in his hometown of Elizabeth NJ. Read more: tinyurl.com/35ybun9j 022
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 25/02/2026Immigration enforcement and court procedures are shifting fast. Asylum can be cut off. Bond denied. Even approved cases aren’t safe. Verify your lawyer. Get copies. Don’t trust guarantees. Read more on Mosaic tinyurl.com/fshunc5c #KnowYourRights #ImmigrantVoices #LegalAdvice #ImmigrationLaw 044
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 23/02/2026Abdellatif, originally from Morocco, has lived in the U.S. for 38 years. A lawyer’s mistake led to his arrest by ICE. He spent 4 months detained and twice narrowly avoided deportation. He and his wife once self-proclaimed MAGA supporters shared their harrowing story. Read: tinyurl.com/546ru8yp 496
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 05/02/2026"Riot: From Rebellion to Redemption" narrated by the late Andre Braugher, features interviews with former mayors, activists, and residents, offering sharply different perspectives on the 1967 Newark Uprising. Read more here tinyurl.com/yc3ctzek Watch on #NJPBS at 8 p.m. #newark #PBS 032
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 01/02/2026Jorge Martinez and Carlos Rivas founded #NJWondersFoundation to turn their love of soccer into real opportunities for kids. And they're starting the first season of #NJWondersFC, a new semi-pro team representing Elizabeth! Read more here: tinyurl.com/y7jxc42s 000
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 15/01/2026When I visited Delaney Hall last November, I saw volunteers supporting families outside the detention center and immigrant rights groups protesting at the gates. It was a united show of solidarity with immigrant community members—and a powerful reflection of what NJ is about. #abolishICE 142
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 11/01/2026Bashir Akinyele is a Newark educator and anti-violence activist who has lost nearly 60 students to gun violence. Through the #AmistadLaw and teaching #BlackHistory, he believes truth and identity are his strongest tools for peace. Q+A tinyurl.com/4p9ekkyh 031
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 25/11/2025The Bloc Foundation is bringing certified construction training to incarcerated women so they have a leg up when reentering society. Read more here tinyurl.com/4fsubxun 010
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 24/10/202525 years ago, James Comer went to prison as a teenager. On 10/17 he walked out a free man — and a minister. His case reshaped NJ law for juveniles and inspired hope for others seeking redemption. read more here: tinyurl.com/bdu9x3aa @aclu.org #JuvenileJustice #JamesComer #ACLU 061
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 14/10/2025When asked about Hispanic Heritage Month, Teresa Vivar paused. “I don’t identify as Hispanic or Latino, I’m Indigenous. Oaxaca, where I’m from, has more than 84 Indigenous languages still spoken today. That’s the culture I carry.” Read more: tinyurl.com/2hv35357 #IndigenousPeoplesDay 050
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 13/10/2025Family. Culture. Music. Incredible performances. The UniverSoul Circus is more than a show — it's an experience that connects generations! Newark, “Rhythm of the World” is here October 2–19, with a special performance for #IndigenousPeoplesDay. #FamilyEntertainment 021
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 23/08/2025Jay T knew he was different at age four. His journey has been both challenging and life-affirming.“For me, this isn’t about sexual orientation; it’s about a difference in gender identity,” Thomas said. “This isn’t a lifestyle, it’s my life. That’s a huge difference.” tinyurl.com/3dy4uuef #LGBTQIA 010
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 27/07/2025Autism isn’t one path — it’s a spectrum of challenges and strengths here are 3 stories of resilient parents and thriving folks on the autism spectrum tinyurl.com/mt76n5d5 #DisabilityPride #AutismAwareness 000
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 27/06/2025Army veteran and Civil War re-enactor Fred Minus spoke to Hopewell Valley HS students about the Civil War on Juneteenth. He reminded them that the war wasn’t just about battles – it was about defining the country’s future and who was included in its promise. Read more here: tinyurl.com/53dbud83 172
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 16/06/2025Jazz House Kids, has nurtured thousands of kids for over 22 years. Led by Melissa Walker + 9x Grammy-winner Christian McBride (@NewportJazz artistic director), it’s a space to grow through jazz, community & storytelling. Read about it here: tinyurl.com/mrxcmeud #JazzEducation #ChristianMcBride 083
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 26/05/2025Pennington African Cemetery is the resting place of Black Civil War veterans and local residents once barred from white cemeteries by segregation laws. Today, caretakers will honor them with flags and guided tours. The cemetery is open to visitors year round - 413-417 South Main St. in Pennington. 193
Ande Richards @anderichards.bsky.social · 23/02/2025For more than 70 years, Dr. Cofield has fought for civil rights in North Carolina and New Jersey. Her activism led to legislative change and everything that she learned was used as leverage to uplift her community. Yesterday she spoke at her book signing for the "Nine O'Clock Whistle." 241