BRIDGEWATER – Raaida Naser of Somerset, a sophomore in Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School’s Academy for Health and Medical Sciences, recently placed third in The Council for Social Justice NJ’s Black History Month Essay Contest 2023.  The essay contest was open to all high school students and required each student to write 600 words or fewer essays on one of six topics centered on areas of racial injustice.

As part of the contest, Naser’s essay, “Why Our Communities Will Never Be Equal,” focused on how racism can negatively affect the well-being of a community.  Naser explained her essay highlighted three major themes including the correlation between poverty and racism, how racism affects a neighborhood’s structure, and the impact of racism on education and healthcare within a community.

Naser stated, “I am very grateful.  I didn’t think I would win, but I’m very happy to have placed third.”

The Council for Social Justice, a project of The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), is a social justice/human rights organization that strives to systematically facilitate the human struggle for the rights of the poor and oppressed in the United States. ICNA is a leading American Muslim organization, dedicated to the betterment of society through the promotion of Islamic values. Since 1968, ICNA has worked to build relations between communities by devoting itself to education, outreach, social services and relief efforts.

For more information contact James Strickhart at (908) 526 – 8900 x7169 or jstrickhart@scvts.net.