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Artist Leon Rainbow working on the new Peace Mural. 

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New Peace Mural in Trenton's North Ward Unveiled

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“Isles, Inc. partnered with The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey (CHSofNJ) and commissioned Leon Rainbow, a well-known local artist and muralist to design and create a mural at the HNFSC as part of Isles, Inc. “Increase the Peace Initiative” in the City of Trenton.”

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TrentonDaily - Stories of Progress and Opportunity in Trenton: New Jersey's Capital City of Trenton

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This past week, the culmination of a years-long effort to bring public art that celebrates Trenton's diverse strengths and encourages peace took place when a mural was unveiled at The Children's Home Society Heritage North Family Success Center (HNFSC) at 1554 Princeton Avenue in the city. The unveiling was attended by Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora and community partners including Isles, Inc. and the Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development. Addressing the crowd gathered at the new mural, Mayor Gusciora said, "This is not just paint on a wall, instead, this mural demonstrates the commitment of our diverse communities to advancing peace."

Isles, Inc. partnered with The Children's Home Society of New Jersey (CHSofNJ) and commissioned Leon Rainbow, a well-known local artist and muralist to design and create a mural at the HNFSC as part of Isles, Inc. "Increase the Peace Initiative" in the City of Trenton. The mural features Leon Rainbow's signature vibrant colors and dynamic compositions. It is a visually stunning piece of art and conveys messages of diversity, inclusion, and community service by incorporating various symbols, figures, and motifs.

According to Maritza Raimundi-Petroski, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at CHSofNJ, "For two decades, the HNFSC has provided vital services in Trenton's North Ward. We value diversity and engage families from all walks of life in center-based activities, ensuring inclusivity. Our community collaborated on a meaningful mural representing what PEACE, equity, inclusion, belonging, and diversity mean to them. The mural highlights our cultural identity, raises awareness, and fosters a sense of togetherness. Partnerships, like the one we nurtured with Isles, the City of Trenton, and Capital Health throughout this process, reinforce my belief that a shared vision is the foundation for successful collaboration."

The vision for the project came to life under the leadership and coordination of Stacy Heading, Director of Community Engagement at Isles, Inc., Tonya V. Delgado-Gonzalez, a summer intern from the NJ Hispanic Governor's Fellowship Program under the Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development at the Department of State and Maritza I. Raimundi-Petroski, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the Children's Home Society of New Jersey with the feedback and design concept contributions of clients at the HNFSC and members of its Parent Advisory Committee. The 8-week project was executed through a partnership between Khadijah McQueen, Recreation Supervisor at the City of Trenton's Department of Recreation, Natural Resources & Culture; Nathalie Laurent, Program Coordinator at the Capital Health Institute for Urban Care's VICTORY (Violence Intervention for the Community Through Outreach Recovery) Initiative. Leon Rainbow and Jose BUSTA Bustamante worked hands-on with ten high school students who participated in the "Take it to the Streets" Summer Leadership Program with the City of Trenton to bring the concept to life.

"Our mural was intended to make everyone in the area feel welcomed, appreciated, and embraced, since that is what the Heritage North Family Success Center stands for," said Tonya Delgado Gonzalez, Community Engagement Intern and Artistic Fellow, NJ Governor's Hispanic Fellowship Program. She added, "The ethnic differences that exist in our neighborhoods serve to enhance its cultural vitality, energy, and beauty. Our mural was inspired by the community and created for the community, like a tree whose seeds give back to the ground it was planted in."

The mural, Sowing the Seeds of Peace through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, is a captivating focal point that ignites curiosity and sparks conversations among families, staff, and visitors. Its imagery and themes encourage people to contemplate and discuss the importance of diversity, inclusion, and service in our society. Adorning the external wall of the HNFSC building, the eye-catching mural enhances the aesthetics of the space. It promotes values of peace and unity in the community. It is a constant reminder of the significance of diversity, inclusion, and service, inspiring everyone who encounters it. Through activities that provide healthy outlets for youth, teach them leadership and team-building skills, and emphasize Trenton's arts and culture, Increase the Peace seeks to build a positive youth community ready to lead their peers and communities in pushing for peace.

For more information, contact Maritza Raimundi-Petroski, mraimundi@chsofnj.org.

About Author

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New Peace Mural in Trenton's North Ward Unveiled

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This past week, the culmination of a years-long effort to bring public art that celebrates Trenton's diverse strengths and encourages peace took place when a mural was unveiled at The Children's Home Society Heritage North Family Success Center (HNFSC) at 1554 Princeton Avenue in the city.

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This is the newest Increase the Peace mural in Trenton. This was created with the help of the Children's Home Society and the City of Trenton's very own "Take it to the Streets' initiative, with renowned resident and artist Leon Rainbow

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The Literacy Initiative is a time to read, share stories, and get students involved in the effort to keep our community peaceful.

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Increase the Peace Literacy Initiative: Parker Elementary School

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Increase the Peace Literacy Initiative: Parker Elementary School

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Trenton Daily

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Community members gathered on Wednesday, November 9th to celebrate the unveiling of the Peace In Our Streets mural. The project, a collaboration between Capital Health, Isles Inc., East Trenton Collaborative, and the Trenton Cycling Revolution, is a work of art dedicated to fostering peace and unity throughout the Capital City. The mural was created by Leon Rainbow, in collaboration with Dean "Ras" Innocenzi and Johnathan Conner. The mural, an installment of Rainbow's "Increase the Peace" mural series, features bicycles as it will be housed at the Trenton Cycling Revolution's Community Outreach Garage.

Per Stacy Heading, the Youth Services and Outreach Manager at Isles, "We want to put together something that is filled with peace for the murals for everything that's going on right now. So we said we were going to call it "Increase the Peace", but each one has a subtitle to it." Heading went on to explain that the The Peace In Our Streets mural comes as the concluding piece of a three-part series designed to promote harmony and community. The first mural, housed at 33 Tucker St. in Trenton, was entitled "Increase the Peace: It Starts With You". The second piece at the Ike Williams Center was named "It Starts With Love". The second piece was created in part by the Mayor's youth team and was designed to foster self-love and love for the community. The culminating mural, the "Peace In Our Streets" piece, was the final installment of the series.

The "Peace In Our Streets" wall was completed in part by the Isles' Evening Reporting Center. This opportunity gave youth in the city the opportunity to work with Leon directly to help bring this mural together. Anthony Richards, the coordinator for the ERC noted "when they finish, they take pride in it. It's something that they really enjoy doing."

In reflecting upon the mural, Mayor Reed Gusciora stated "about 2000 years ago in the Italian city of Pompeii, it was covered with ash from a volcano. When they first started uncovering it, they weren't looking for government meeting notes, they were looking for the art and beauty that represents the society that we live in. This is so representative of Trenton and how it brings us together at the same time. It's a life lesson for our youth to really think about ourselves, our community, our place in community, learn from our community, and keep the peace. So this is such a powerful message, and everyone in the city should be here to see it."

According to the artist, Leon Rainbow, "It's helpful to promote peace, there's so much negativity that goes own not just in our city but in the whole country. I really want to try to push that message out there as much as possible and really get the young people involved as much as possible."

Leon Rainbow is a Trenton-based artist whose unique blend of graffiti, street art, and other artistic mediums has become a staple in the Trenton community and beyond. From alleyways to museum galleries, Rainbow's work captivates artists and invites them to explore the deeper meaning behind many of his works. Rainbow incorporates aspects of social justice, current events, and community into his art as a means of spreading a message to a wide variety of people. Leon Rainbow's work connects and inspires, bridging the gaps between fine arts and graffiti along the way.

The mural was housed at Trenton Cycling Revolution's Community Outreach Garage (COG), hence why so many bicycle-themed elements were incorporated into the design. According to Wills Kinsley, the COO of Trenton Cycling Revolution (TCR), "I was bringing out all my tools and fixing bikes and I mentioned 'hey, we could do this all the time if we had a space, somewhere we could set up,' and [the East Trenton Collaborative] said 'we have a garage, I don't know what's going on with it.' So we worked it out, we got the keys this time last year, and with huge help from the TCR board and the community, we got this space completely cleaned out, painted, and started a community bike shop." Today, Trenton residents can visit the Community Outreach Garage to access the resources needed to access biking as a fun and affordable means of transportation.

The unveiling of the mural ended with a handprint ceremony, where attendees were invited to paint and stamp their hands on the mural, signifying the unity the artwork hopes to bring to the region. According to Stacy Heading, "Leon and I coined this, this is a handprint ceremony, which is the part that brings us all together as one." One by one, the ceremony attendees made their mark on the mural, signifying our connectivity as one community. These beautiful works of art across our city serve as a reminder everyone could use: we are all one.

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Peace In Our Streets Mural Paints a Vision for a Better Trenton

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Community members gathered on Wednesday, November 9th to celebrate the unveiling of the Peace In Our Streets mural. The project, a collaboration between Capital Health, Isles Inc., East Trenton Collaborative, and the Trenton Cycling Revolution, is a work of art dedicated to fostering peace and unity throughout the Capital City.

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The FINAL Mural Unveiling: Trenton Community Outreach Garage

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The FINAL Mural Unveiling: Trenton Community Outreach Garage

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Image is POWER: Public Speaking Workshop

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Image is POWER: Public Speaking Workshop

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The first seminar of the four-part Image Is Power series is set to kick off this Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Thomas Edison University. Each subsequent meeting will take place the following Wednesday from Nov. 2 - 16.

The program started by Stacy Heading, started about 12 years ago when he began bringing Dr. Alex Ellis to the Isles Youth Institute to help students with employment and career opportunities.

Image Is Power is meant to "build character on the inside and let it work on the outside," according to Heading. "You don't want to dress and still be a mess."

The first seminar will teach young men and women how to properly dress for job interviews, presentations, and first impressions. The boys will be taught how to tie a tie, while also being given positive affirmations. The girls will be given pearls, while their affirmations are given to them. This technique is used to associate the tie or pearls with a positive and memorable experience.

"It's a symbol of every time they see this tie, they will think about those affirmations or positive messages they received." Heading said.

The second seminar is a Public Speaking Workshop aimed at teaching young people how to express themselves and how to tell a story or presentation. Dr. Ellis will assist students in not only writing speeches, but how to deliver a speech effectively.

The following Wednesday will feature a Public Speaking contest where students are assigned with writing about something that is dear to their heart. Community leaders are brought in as judges for the contest, where first, second and third-place winners will receive a prize.

The final part of the four-part series will be a Dining Etiquette Workshop followed by a catered dinner. Students are taught how to properly eat, table settings, appropriate language at the table, and watching the tone of their voice.

"A lot of our young people don't know proper etiquette. But when they are going for a job, a banquet, or a gala event, they do not have to feel like they do not know how to carry themselves at a table because we are going to give them all the tools and proper dining etiquette," Heading said.

Students will have the ability to attend two field trips after completing the four-part series as well. The first will be a trip to New York City to attend the Broadway Play Piano Lesson with Samuel L. Jackson and dinner afterward to as a way to further practice their dining etiquette and dressing skills. The last trip will be box seats at a Temple University basketball or football game with Vice President and Athletic Director Arthur Johnson to learn about careers within sports outside of being athletes.

Heading credits Isles Youth Institute with allowing him to do what he needs to do "empower the youth" through their funding and love for the community.

"We all know young people are going to do whatever it is they want to do, but we have to give them the tools. I like doing events, seminars, workshops, and field trips like these that are going to give them exposure, so they can see a whole other side of life. If they want to do better, these are the tools that will give them the attitude to act better. It means giving our young people a chance, and I'm in a position through Isles to do that."

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Isles starting four-part series to help Trenton teens prepare for business world

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The first seminar of the four-part Image Is Power series is set to kick off this Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Thomas Edison University. Each subsequent meeting will take place the following Wednesday from Nov. 2 - 16.

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Dr. Alex Ellis (left) with IYI Graduate Douglass Moreland, and Isles Youth Services & Outreach Manager Stacy Heading (right).

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Empowering youth to present themselves to the world in a manner that depicts the morals and values they represent

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"It Starts with LOVE" Handprint Ceremony

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"It Starts with LOVE" Handprint Ceremony

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Stacy D.Heading (@sheading)

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Irvin J Productions

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Isles Youth Services West African Drum Circle

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WATCH: Babe Ruth Baseball Field Restoration 

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WATCH: Babe Ruth Baseball Field Restoration 

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This past April, Isles partnered with the Thunder and their F.I.E.L.D. Program to restore the Babe Ruth Baseball Field, in partnership with the Thunder, the City of Trenton, Mercer County Improvement Authority, and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey!

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2022 Trenton Thunder F.I.E.L.D. Renovation

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Watch Stacy Heading throw the first pitch HERE: 

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Watch Stacy Heading throw the first pitch HERE: 

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Watch footage from the Drum Circle HERE:

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Watch footage from the Drum Circle HERE:

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Featuring Dance Instructor Akosua Kemit

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featuring Drummer Baye Kemit

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With the help of community leaders Heading raised about $6,000 in scholarship funds to give to Trenton students.

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Stacy Heading, Program director of S.E.E.D. Male Mentoring Program and Founder of Heal the City, is making sure that Trenton High School Students have a way to succeed.

"First of all," Heading said, "without education, it's just hard. They will have a rough life. A lot of young people want to go to college, but don't really know how to go about going to school."

With the help of Bishop Jenkins from E.E. Jenkins Ministries, Heading leads the program to address the need in the Trenton community to help develop and empower youth known as S.E.E.D. (Servants Endeavoring to Empower and Develop) Male Mentorship program.

"So what we do is we put them in a position with college tours and life skill classes...teaching them humility, teaching them decision making, how to stay out of trouble, and then go to college so they can better themselves and have a better future," Heading said.

On Sunday, they did this by handing out scholarships. With the help of community leaders Heading raised about $6,000 to give to Trenton students.

"This is a great opportunity for hope, faithfulness, determination, the youth, and the S.E.E.D. Program. I wish them all the success, and we're here for them," Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson said. "Whether it be a community college, university, or tech school, life is about learning, and learning doesn't stop once you finish high school. I just want them to learn that learning is just a part of life and so it takes you everywhere."

The ceremony was held at the Lobby Club in downtown Trenton with a free meal provided by the club. Tara Burns, General Manager of the Lobby Club, explained that Heading had come in a couple of weeks ago to see if the Lobby club would be used as a possible venue to celebrate these students.

"It all kind of came together. Everybody was 100% on board because this was for a great cause. I mean, the students, today it was a special day for them. We were just happy to be a part of it," Burns said.

The 10 students who were celebrated included: Makenzie Ivey, a Lawrenceville High School graduate going to Seton Hall University; Joy Jones, a Lawrenceville High School going to Morgan State University; Jahkai Stokes a Steinert High School graduate going to Delaware State University; Jermaine Tillery a Trenton Central High School graduate going to Post University; Edson Garcia, a Trenton Central High School graduate going to Princeton University; Kynedy Williams, a Trenton Central High School graduate going to Rowan University; Keirah Tootle, a Trenton Central High School graduate going to Norfolk State University; Irimi Sharif, a Trenton Central High School graduate going to Rutgers University; Zanobia Shaw, a Stem Civics graduate going to Drexel University; and Jalissa Jones, a Trenton Central High School graduate going to Bowie State University.

Part of the program included an inspiring speech by Reggie Walker, Director of the Educational Opportunity Program at Rider University. Those there would say it was more of a sermon as Walker preached about his trials, tribulations, and battles throughout college and life. He kept the audience engaged for 25 minutes as he spoke to the soon-to-be freshmen. After the speech he had this to say.

"For me, I would hope that they would, you know, keep God first because that has helped me throughout my entire life. I would hope that they were encouraged to stay hopeful and have faith because of a lot that these students deal with on a day-to-day basis, they're going to face a lot of that in college. So they still have to remain committed to why they started this journey," Walker said.

He continues, "I hope that everybody got the message of the importance of encouraging and pouring into people, sometimes you just need somebody to offer you a word of encouragement, to tell you, you can do it," Walker said.

These scholarships hope to help bare the burden of colleges, to help students like Kynedy Wiliams, who is going to Rowan University. She is majoring in Law and Justice and minoring in American Sign Language and Theatre. She wants to become an interpreter in the courts to help people with disabilities understand the legal process.

"I feel like a lot of people in Trenton Central High School don't get a lot of recognition," Williams said. "Because of where we come from, like the city....they just think Trenton is a bad place...So when they see us getting attention and getting this award, they're like, oh, these students are actually great students. We want to learn, and we want to do better."

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Heal the City Scholarships Celebrate Parent and Student Success

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Stacy Heading, Program director of S.E.E.D. Male Mentoring Program and Founder of Heal the City, is making sure that Trenton High School Students have a way to succeed. "First of all," Heading said, "without education, it's just hard. They will have a rough life.

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TRENTON - Isles Youth Institute dedicated a new "Increase the Peace" mural on Tucker St. Thursday afternoon.

The community group worked with local artists Leon Rainbow and Dean Innocenzi to design the first of three murals to be installed around the city on the theme of ending violence in Trenton. They worked with teens from Isles to paint the murals.

Thursday's ceremony brought many youth from the various Isles programs along with city stakeholders to add handprints to finish off the mural.

Capital Health's Victory Program provided funding for the murals.

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Isles dedicates new mural in Trenton with handprinting ceremony

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TRENTON - Isles Youth Institute dedicated a new "Increase the Peace" mural on Tucker St. Thursday afternoon. The community group worked with local artists Leon Rainbow and Dean Innocenzi to design the first of three murals to be installed around the city on the theme of ending violence in Trenton.

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Watch the Handprint Ceremony at the 1st Peace Mural Unveiling

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Watch the Handprint Ceremony at the 1st Peace Mural Unveiling

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Videographer: Irvin J Productions

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IYI and Capital Health Peace Mural Dedication

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The fourth “Tell Your Trenton Story” piece 

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The fourth “Tell Your Trenton Story” piece 

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Osker Lalanne of Ninth Grade Academy discussing the importance of STEM opportunities in schools.

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Key life lessons high schooler, Will D. Smith, learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Key life lessons high schooler, Will D. Smith, learned from the Covid pandemic

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The second story of the "Tell Your Trenton Story" campaign

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The second story of the "Tell Your Trenton Story" campaign

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Christian Pierre overcomes pandemic depression to excel in personal and community outreach.

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This is the second in a series of stories created by Trenton high school students who participated in the "Telling Your Trenton Story" workshop created by the Trenton Journal and Isles Youth Services. Special thank you to Stacy Heading, After School and Outreach Manager for Isles Youth Institute and the Trenton Free Public Library.

The pandemic has been a very rough time for me. Much like everyone else, I found myself in a balancing act of school, work and family, which led to inevitable burn out. As a result of those factors, I have come to learn a lot about myself–good and bad. Due to the pandemic, I lost a lot of self-worth. Seeing my health and body decline while doing nothing about it brought a lot of insecurity. I began to question what and who I was doing everything for. Ultimately, there was a lot of feeling sorry for myself, and I really hated that. Being depressed and feeling as if there is nothing you can do to recover is a horrible sensation, and I knew I had to break out of that mentality as soon as possible.

My first step in overcoming depression was to find new opportunities to learn. Whether I’m learning more about myself, obtaining soft skills, or studying schoolwork, I constantly sought new experiences. I began by further practicing my speech as it had been something I struggled with my entire life. I often practiced having conversations with myself in the mirror, tutoring my friends and studying the syntax and dialect of my peers and philosophers alike. To test my growth, I applied for a job at Forever 21 since retail work demands extreme multi-tasking skills and customer service. Through constant adaptation, I was able to effortlessly engage with customers in a matter of months, overcoming my insecurities. My new skills in retail in addition to becoming a potent orator inspired me to get more involved in my community. I became attached to a series of local projects, such as initiating a public service campaign educating Trenton residents about the dangers of not taking pandemic precautions, following CDC guidelines and pushing residents to get vaccinated. I also assisted in the production of a video with Planned Parenthood to promote healthy decisions and behaviors that’s used throughout New Jersey, and I’m a part of the Trenton Mayor’s Youth Council.

Throughout these major experiences, I have learned a lot about my city, my people, and most importantly, myself. It’s very easy to fall into a hole that seems inescapable, but no matter what type of rut you’re in, you will always be able to find an outlet that you can express yourself through. For me, I have transformed from a shy student afraid of mockery and derision, to a careful study of language and diction, to a prize-winning orator, and a benefactor to my community. Whatever obstacles I may stumble across in the future, I know I will grow, adapt, and overcome.

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Christian Pierre overcomes pandemic depression to excel in personal and community outreach

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There is an old proverb that as long as someone's name is still spoken, they will never die. In Trenton, residents are doing precisely that for two local heroes: Darlene McKnight and Grace Crossland.

They were two community leaders who pushed for better resources for Trenton Students. On Wednesday, residents remember them with a march and a billboard. Stacy Heading, Director of Heal The City, put together a billboard to reflect on the two community leaders.

"We're celebrating the light of Darlene McKnight and Grace Crossland. Two mothers of the city, two icons of the city who always stood for us and now it is time for us to stand for them...because of their community work...making sure young people go to school, making sure that grassroots organizations got everything that they need. They were part of all kinds of organizations, and they worked hard into the day they passed away," Heading said.

Alongside Heal the City was Father and Men For A Better Trenton, a faith-based grassroots organization trying to stop city violence by promoting positive father figures for Trenton kids to look up to. He explained that both women helped build the cornerstone of the organization.

"They were the only two women members of our organization. They came in; they sat with us...They helped us go to the homes of people who were victims of violence, pray with the families, and help the families get the resources they needed... These two beautiful women were a great influence on us men and inspired us to step up," Rogers said.

McKnight is remembered as an activist of Trenton, doing community work across the city with different agencies and advocacy grounds.

Shelly McKnight, Daughter of Darlene McKnight, remembers her as generous. "She was very knowledgeable, unselfish. Just giving, if she didn't have an answer to the question. She will find the answer for you, so you didn't feel lost," McKnight said.

She explained that her mother was a school advocate and parent organizer pushing for improvements in Trenton's School District.

"It's great because it gave inner-city children a different view. They didn't have to be aware of what was going on eye level. But they were able to look higher and set higher goals as in terms of what type of jobs and professions they wanted. She has always stressed education was very important," McKnight said.

Community advocate Grace Crossland was a PTO volunteer, a Vice President of the Board of Trustees for Emily Fisher Charter School, and a former President of the School Leadership Council at Dunn Middle School.

She was a community volunteer working with children across the city, serving as a volunteer with Parents Anonymous, Pastoral Care for hospital patients, and Community Mentorship programs throughout the city.

Cynthia Crossland, Grace Crossland's Daughter, explained that her mother put over 55 years with the City of Trenton.

"She put in about 57 years with this city. She worked 30 years with the Board of Education and then about 27 years with the City of Trenton. She was really big in the community. As far as volunteerism and just as an advocate for students, whether it be after school program, whether it be a free lunch program, whether it be the recreation centers that you see across the street today, just making sure that kids were safe. They had activities to do that, kind of, will keep them out of trouble," Crossland said.

She remembers her mother as a caring and kind person who always helped anyone she could. "I remember her as, you know, honestly, the best mother there could be...she was so amazing how you know, this woman just loved all of us. Not only her family but also just the community itself...She was a mother to all," Crossland said.

She wasn't only a beloved mother but a beloved sister as well. Paul M. Jones, Grace Crossland's brother, explained that she raised him from a very young age. "She practically raised me at early age. She was stuck with me all through high school. She got me through rough times during college, and she was my strength," Jones said. "I still experience a severe void from her loss, so coming here was a huge deal."

The ceremony began in the Serenity Garden, located at Bellevue and Prospect St. The crowd held a brief celebration of their lives, including a Libation ceremony and Ceremonial drumming.

"The serenity garden is a place of peace, love and beauty.... If you ever felt pain when someone was killed by violence, the serenity garden belongs to you. You know, as young people have sacrificed their lives to affect change, Darlene McKnight and Grace Crossland poured into the community to affect change and we're very, very grateful for that," Amini Sababu, Trenton resident and founder of the Serenity Gardens, said.

The group then marched down to Stuyvesant Ave. and Prospect St., where two commemorative billboards will be displayed. The group listened to speeches as they celebrated the new billboard.

"It's an absolute amazing blessing to have all these folks come out and show support for my mother," Crossland said. "She passed in 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, and it's just great that you know, even to this day, two years later, Heal the City, and Fathers and Men, are still keeping her memory and her legacy alive."

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Community Groups Honor the Light of Darlene McKnight and Grace Crossland

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There is an old proverb that as long as someone's name is still spoken, they will never die. In Trenton, residents are doing precisely that for two local heroes: Darlene McKnight and Grace Crossland. They were two community leaders who pushed for better resources for Trenton Students.

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The first story of the "Tell Your Trenton Story" campaign

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The first story of the "Tell Your Trenton Story" campaign

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This is the first in a series of stories created by Trenton high school students who participated in the "Telling Your Trenton Story" workshop created by the Trenton Journal and Isles Youth Services. Read about how Edson Garcia navigates family obstacles while landing a full scholarship at Princeton University

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This is the first in a series of stories created by Trenton high school students who participated in the "Telling Your Trenton Story" workshop created by the Trenton Journal and Isles Youth Services. Special thank you to Stacy Heading, After School and Outreach Manager for Isles Youth Institute and the Trenton Free Public Library.

I was born and raised in Trenton in 2003. My parents have lived in the capital city since the 90s. They moved here around the same time as their friends, so my connections to community were nurtured over time. My uncle is a local barbershop owner and my parents are close friends with the neighborhood corner store owners. I was first introduced to people in my parents' inner circle at a young age, and my relationships with everyone have exponentially grown and the bonds are tighter than ever.

One person who has gotten me closer to know Trenton is my elementary school teacher neighbor, who I’ll call Mrs. L. She was involved in everything that was happening in Trenton, including parent-teacher events, and at one point I was invited to a community function where I could voice my concerns over the state of the city to Mayor Gusciora. I got to meet many teacher, community leaders, and even current and past Trenton Central High School (TCHS) students.

Currently, I am the President of the TCHS Interact Volunteer Club. I started becoming active in my junior year of high school, but I wanted to start earlier in my sophomore year, unfortunately, commitments and timing would not allow me to. As I reasoned with my parents during quarantine, they allowed me to leave my house and stay after school for extracurricular activities. My very first volunteer opportunity was serving food with the Salvation Army Canteen to different locations throughout Trenton. While doing so, I got to meet so many of the locals, and converse with them about food, their day-to-day lives, and future serving dates. The canteen has been an important part of my life as I have gotten to learn more about these members of my community, and I have been regularly participating in this ever since.

Another one of my old next-door neighbors, who I have known since I first learned how to walk, would always poke fun at my staggering height and size. He would constantly ask me why I never joined my school’s football team, but he had a son who was fascinated by STEM and so was I. Whenever I would see him on my way home from school, I would talk to him about math, computer science languages, his school's robotics club and the recent news on a popular tech-savvy forum.

Last March, my parents received a notice from our landlord that our lease had expired and that our house was unsuitable to live in, which ultimately resulted in our eviction. I had to set aside my academics and focus on helping my parents look for affordable housing during the peak of the Covid pandemic. Our family was in a tight financial situation, so I looked for an alternative way to help. I became a private tutor helping students with calculus and algebra to make extra money.

As of writing this, it’s been more than a year since we’ve moved into our new home. With only a few days of the school year left, I'm ready to begin my new journey at Princeton University where I’ll be majoring in computer engineering. I have learned so much from these recent experiences, such as gathering new insight from my community on how to multi-task, proper time management and personal wellness.

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Edson Garcia navigates family obstacles while landing a full scholarship at Princeton University

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A community anti-violence messaging campaign.

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Developing students stories for “Tell Your Trenton Story” featuring students from Trenton and Hamilton

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Trenton Public Library served as the place where students would work on their stories. Two stories are published each week...stay tuned!

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Watch the Increase the Peace campaign help in honoring and remembering two community members that worked tirelessly to create positive change in Trenton.

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Watch the official unveiling of the IYI Peace Mural

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Trenton Journal - Isles unveils its new IYI Peace Mural....| By Trenton Journal

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Isles unveils its new IYI Peace Mural. Let’s continue to uplift, inspire, and protect our youth. Thank you, Isles, Stacy Heading, and Leon Rainbow for...