University of Orange is a far-left nonprofit organization based in Orange, New Jersey, that advocates for the restoration of cities. It classifies its political views as “restoration urbanism” and states that it aims to “cultivate a just and equitable city.” ¹

The organization hosts classes, talks and events about socialism, socialist theoreticians like Karl Marx and Rosa Luxemburg, as well as the alleged racist policies that “continue to shape cities everywhere.” ²

Background

University of Orange was formed in 2007 during celebrations of the 50^th anniversary of the desegregation of schools in Orange, New Jersey. It took the name “University” from the claim that the city itself is a university. Regarding the founding of the organization, board president Mindy Fullilove stated, “We are finding a third path – avoiding disinvestment and gentrification – so that we can reimagine this wonderful city.” ³

Activities

University of Orange offers free courses on its digital campus. It also hosts reading group sessions on subjects such as Karl Marx and musical performances that have honored Rosa Luxemburg. ⁴ It claims to work to “cultivate a just and equitable city” and fight against the “racist and classicist policies” that “continue to shape cities everywhere.” ⁵

The organization hosts events regularly, such as concerts and panel discussions. ⁶ On May 17, 2023, it held a May Solidarity Potluck, mandating that all participants wear masks and test for COVID-19 before attending. ⁷

It also employs multiple researchers and academics and allows them to run research programs, often in collaboration with accredited colleges and government-run institutes. The Cities Research Group (CRG), founded in 1992 as a collaboration between the Community Research Group of New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, was absorbed by University of Orange in 2016. ⁸

People’s CDC

University of Orange hosts “People’s CDC,” an organization of public-health activists who affirm that COVID-19 mitigation measures proposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are insufficient. ⁹ As of late 2022, People’s CDC and activists associated with it were demanding a return to mask mandates, with one People’s CDC activist writing that “a lot of anti-mask sentiment is deeply embedded in white supremacy.” ¹⁰

Funding

In 2020, University of Orange had a total revenue of $653,445, total expenses of $454,065, and net assets of $353,080. ¹¹

University of Orange has received financial support directly by Community Initiatives, Daddario Foundation, Ford Foundation, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Marion E. Kenworthy-Sarah H. Swift Foundation, Morton K. and Jane Blaustein Foundation, New Jersey Council for the Humanities, and Third Sector New England. ¹² It received a $125,000 grant from Andrew W. Mellon Foundation on a collaborative project it was involved in. ¹³

In 2022, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provided a $150,000 grant to University of Orange to support its People’s CDC project. ¹⁴

Leadership

As of 2023, University of Orange was led by co-executive director Molly Rose Kaufman. ¹⁵ Kaufman previously worked for Cities Research Group, another restoration urbanism organization, and teaches in the Gural Social Justice Scholars Program at The New School and serves on the boards of the World Fellowship Center and the Jersey City Free Public Library. ¹⁶

In 2023, Mindy Thompson Fullilove was board president. She is a social psychiatrist and professor of urban policy and health at The New School. Prior to teaching, she worked as a research psychiatrist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. ¹⁷

1. “About UofO.” University of Orange. Accessed May 7, 2023. https://universityoforange.org/uofo-story.
2. “About UofO.” University of Orange. Accessed May 7, 2023. https://universityoforange.org/uofo-story.
3. “About UofO.” University of Orange. Accessed May 7, 2023. https://universityoforange.org/uofo-story
4. “All Videos.” University of Orange. Accessed May 7, 2023. https://universityoforange.org/all-videos.
5. “About UofO.” University of Orange. Accessed May 7, 2023. https://universityoforange.org/uofo-story.
6. “Events.” University of Orange. Accessed May 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230507222211/https://universityoforange.org/events.
7. “May Solidarity Potluck.” University of Orange. Accessed May 7, 2023. https://universityoforange.org/event/may-solidarity-potluck.
8. “Cities Research Group.” University of Orange. Accessed May 7, 2023. https://universityoforange.org/cities-research-group.
9. Watson, Michael. “Behind the Forever Mask: A Guide to pro-Lockdown Holdouts.” Capital Research Center, January 6, 2023. https://capitalresearch.org/article/behind-the-forever-mask-a-guide-to-pro-lockdown-holdouts/.
10. Green, Emma. “The Case for Wearing Masks Forever.” The New Yorker, December 28, 2022. https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-activism/the-case-for-wearing-masks-forever.
11. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (990). University of Orange. 2020. Part I, lines 12, 18, 22.
12. “Full-Text Search – University of Orange.” ProPublica. Accessed May 7, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=university+of+orange.
13. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (990). Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. 2019. Part XV – Grants and Contributions Paid During the Year.
14. “Supporting the People’s CDC as a Strong Voice for Equitable Access to Science-Based Public Health Information.” RWJF, September 15, 2022. https://www.rwjf.org/en/grants/awarded-grants.html?k=people%27s%2Bcdc.
15. “Our Teams.” University of Orange. Accessed May 7, 2023. https://universityoforange.org/our-team?mgc_172=168/collective-recovery-team.
16. “Molly Rose Kaufman.” University of Orange. Accessed May 7, 2023. https://universityoforange.org/our-team?mgi_172=3568/molly-rose-kaufman.
17. “Mindy Thompson Fullilove.” University of Orange. Accessed May 7, 2023. https://universityoforange.org/our-team?mgi_172=3573/mindy-thompson-fullilove.