The New Jersey State Bar Foundation’s Challenging Racism From Past to Present, a Special Issue of Respect, was recently recognized with a 2025 Grand Award from the APEX Awards for Publication Excellence in the Magazines, Journals and Tabloids category.
Selected from more than 1,000 entries, 100 grand awards were presented across 14 categories. APEX Grand Awards honor outstanding work in each main category and recognizes excellence in publishing by professional communicators. This year marks the thirty-seventh year of the awards program.
“The New Jersey State Bar Foundation’s publications play an important role in fulfilling our mission that informed citizens are better citizens, said Ralph J. Lamparello, NJSBF president. “Our publications help members of the public and students understand the critical role of civics and understanding the rule of law. We are humbled by this national recognition and will continue to share the highest quality publications on the key legal issues facing society.”
Challenging Racism From Past to Present, a 32-page issue, begins with an article on slavery and the U.S. Constitution, examining America’s founding documents through a racial lens. The remaining 11 articles and five sidebars examine other examples of institutional racism, including environmental racism, the racial wealth gap, racism in sports, and more.
Educators have shared that Respect makes civics and the law real for students by showing them the importance of our system of government and how it affects them. Every article touches on civics curriculum and ties into current events, focusing on issues that students are aware of and want to talk about. The information is presented in a way that helps students understand how the issues are relevant to them.
Respect, first published in 2001, examines social justice issues such as bias in the education system, legal protections for marginalized groups, police reform and more. Each publication, and the individual articles, are available to download from the Foundation’s website. Printed copies are distributed, free of charge, to schools in New Jersey on a subscription or request basis. More than 40,000 copies of Respect are sent to more than 1,100 middle and high schools in New Jersey three times per year.
The award-winning special issue can be viewed and downloaded here. Copies can be ordered at publications.njsbf.org.