Sarah Fajardo Headshot

Sarah Fajardo

Policy Director

Policy Department

Bio

Sarah is the Policy Director at the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, where she develops and leads policy advocacy campaigns to advance the rights of New Jerseyans.

She comes to this position from FPWA in New York City, where she developed and launched a campaign called “Ending the Poverty to Prison Pipeline,” and helped publish a policy report with the same name. Previously, she served at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget as a senior analyst, where she managed the multi-billion dollar state education budget funding the NYC Department of Education. Prior to that position, she was the policy manager for the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families and led advocacy efforts in the fields of education and child welfare. Sarah holds a Master of Science degree in urban policy analysis from The Milano School, New School University, New York, NY, and a BA in anthropology from Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT. Sarah also serves as board member of CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities.

Featured Work

News & Commentary
A line of people waiting to testify at the OPRA hearing wraps around the State House.
  • Government Transparency|
  • +1 Issue

The Choice Facing NJ Lawmakers: Uphold Democracy, or Dismantle It

In the past month, New Jersey elected officials have made it a top priority to roll back OPRA by fast-tracking a bill that would severely limit the public’s ability to access information.
News & Commentary
Group of women with protest signs
  • Racial & Economic Justice|
  • +5 Issues

2023 in Review – And How We Can Achieve Even More in 2024

As we aim for greater progress in the new year, it’s important to take stock of this year’s accomplishments. Here’s our snapshot of the legislative wins, stalemates, and hopes for civil rights in New Jersey.