Q&A with Assemblywoman Sadaf Jaffer of New Jersey’s 16th Legislative District

Dr. Sadaf Jaffer is a transformative leader with 20 years of public engagement, higher education, and government expertise. She is the former Mayor of Montgomery Township and currently teaches at Princeton University. She is dedicated to public service with a focus on mobilizing diverse stakeholders to address the needs of women, minorities, and economically under-resourced communities.

Q: How do you plan to engage the youth in politics and civic engagement?

A: Make it accessible and meet people where they are. I work with the NJ High School Democrats and NJ Young Democrats because I absolutely think the youth are the future and they ought to have more of voice

Q: What are the biggest issues facing South Asian communities that you seek to challenge?

A: We can address economic disparity through equitable investments in education and mental health resources. I’ve also been focusing on emergency funding for women’s health, translation services for documents and inclusive curriculums in K-12 education

Q: What is one piece of advice you would give to someone striving to pursue a future in politics?

A: The best thing you can do is get involved on a local level: work on a local campaign, run for office, or get involved with an advocacy organization that has values that matter to you