Dawkins Family Establishes Dawkins Institute for Equal Opportunity

MORRISTOWN — On Friday, September 11, 2020, the Dawkins Family announced the formation of their non-profit organization, the Marjorie A. Dawkins Institute for Equal Opportunity (“The Dawkins Institute” or “MADI”).

The Dawkins Institute aims to help young people across the state of New Jersey become stronger leaders in their communities by empowering them to create more equitable learning and professional environments. It will achieve these goals through the provision of carefully curated trainings, leadership programs and workshops, and initiatives developed to increase access to opportunities for the historically disadvantaged.

The Dawkins family believes that increasing access to opportunity will also require dismantling barriers to entry for New Jersey’s historically marginalized communities. Accordingly, the Dawkins Institute will work to implement positive policy change by empowering historically disenfranchised communities to take a more active role in their local government, and work to keep elected officials accountable to those they represent.

“In virtually every aspect of civic life, there are significant inequities across the state of New Jersey that make it difficult for the least among us to build brighter futures for themselves and increase the collective power of their communities,” stated Clifford Dawkins, Esq., the Institute’s Chairman. “Today, we’re forming the Dawkins Institute because we believe in a future that gives young people from all backgrounds, irrespective of socioeconomic status, race, sex, religion, national origin, or gender identity, a chance to lead.”

Marjorie A. Dawkins was the mother of three young children, including Dawkins Institute Board of Directors members Clifford and Maya Dawkins.  An immigrant from the island of Jamaica who settled in Morris County, Marjorie lived a life dedicated to serving others and worked at the Boonton Fireman’s Home in Boonton, NJ, until her untimely passing due to a motor vehicle accident in 1992.  The Dawkins Institute was established on what would have been the 58th Birthday of its namesake.