Community Connection ~ July 5, 2026: Be Nice (to New Jersey)

Published July 5, 2026
A colorful graphic for 'Be Nice (to New Jersey) Week' with a rainbow gradient background, an outline of the state, and sponsor logos.

On the heels of the USA’s 250th birthday, we find ourselves beginning a week dedicated to just one of the 50 nifty United States: New Jersey. That’s right, today is the start of “Be Nice to New Jersey Week.” And not only is it an observance with decades of (nearly unknown) history, it’s one that, while it sounds silly on the surface, actually has some deeper ideas to offer.

Founded in 1985 by Lauren Barnett, the editor of Lone Star Publications, Be Nice to New Jersey Week aims to counteract the state’s “unfavorable image,” which is evident in the existence of decades of New Jersey jokes told across this great nation. According to National Today, this week (also known as Be Nice to Jersey week) is a week to do things like:

  1. Appreciate New Jersey for its many positive attributes (the highest population density in the US! the most diners per capita!),

  2. Apologize to a New Jerseyan - or the state itself - for any unkindness you may have perpetrated against the Garden State, and

  3. Listen to some Bruce Springsteen (or other hometown artists like Bon Jovi! the Fugees!) - after all, music has a magical ability to bring people together.

What this week of appreciation really illuminates is that while it can be fun to make a New Jersey joke or two, it’s too easy. It reduces something that is certainly a mix of positive and negative attributes into nothing more than a punchline. So we’d like to offer you an alternative (or an addition) to this week’s extremely informal observance: challenge another assumption you have - about a state, or a food, or a person or group of people - in the same way Lauren Barnett encouraged people to challenge their preconceptions about New Jersey. Whatever the object of your negativity is, rather than defaulting to insults or jokes, try to see its positive attributes. If you’ve been mean or dismissive, apologize. And finally, try to find some common ground. If we take New Jersey out of it (sorry, New Jersey), this week can become something much bigger: a week to simply Be Nice.

What’s your personal “New Jersey”? We’d love to hear about your efforts to challenge your negative assumptions - share with us on Facebook or Instagram!