14 Community Grantees get to work

The East Trenton Collaborative is thrilled to support 14 grassroots projects through the East Trenton Community Grants Program, in partnership with I Am Trenton Community Foundation. For the next three months, these grassroots efforts will teach cooking to kids, organize summer camps, build on music, reclaim a vacant lot, bring computers to the East Trenton Center, and so much more. Checks were presented to grantees at an event at Sonny Vereen Park -- where two of the projects will be held -- on June 9th at 6 pm. Read the NJ.com story here, and meet the grantees below!

Lifebridge Technology and Enrichment Centers: Jamell Creque and Leon Crawford are developing a center for residents whose access to computers and learning technology skills is limited.
Trenton Community Music School: Musicians in the Grant Elementary School's intensive after-school orchestra will participate in a two-week summer camp pilot program.
Space with a Purpose: Resident Kathy Bellamy, with the help of a group of neighborhood volunteers, is turning an abandoned lot into a place for kids to play and families to gather.
Block By Block: Paulette Dowling, under the guidance of A Better Way, will focus on beautifying the neighborhood, specifically Mechanics, St. Joes, Breunig, Klagg and Girard avenues and Cortland and Mulberry streets. Block captains will be assigned to coordinate beautification projects on their streets.
Know Thyself Young Ladies Mentoring: Jennifer Shaw leads a mentoring program for girls ages 11 to 16 that's focused on empowerment, removing barriers and self-worth.
Boujetta's Kitchen: Mia Sapp envisions helping residents ages 9 to 12 learn basic food preparation skills through a series of cooking classes to then prepare food for the homeless.
East Trenton Committee: Miko Green will host the 10th annual East Trenton Reunion in Hetzel Park on July 15. The festival has been instrumental in building pride in the neighborhood, growing community connections, celebrating East Trenton residents, and giving youth a sense of identity.
Freedom Tribal Wellness: Caitlin Fair's One Trenton Project will provide free weekly wellness activities including yoga, meditation, and reiki to residents as well as a monthly wellness workshop that introduces alternative health and wellness practices.
Dress for Success: The East Trenton pilot program will provide adult women in the neighborhood with extensive career services, support and interview attire to help give them the skills and confidence they need to pursue a career.
D&R Greenway's Capital City Farm: The urban farm grows healthy food, provides nutrition education and offers learning and employment opportunities to neighborhood residents.
The Garvey School: The grant will support a citywide co-ed summer youth basketball league and basketball training for children in grades 4 to 11 at Fillmore (Sonny Vereen) Park and sponsor five boys in East Trenton for a Man(up)hood training weekend activity at Princeton Blairstown Center in August.
Iron Horse Films: Reuben Rodriguez will teach children how to write, film, and edit a three-to-five minute film during a three-week class.
Team Total Trenton: The grant will support basketball clinics for East Trenton kids with Team Total Trenton's athletic league at Sonny Vereen Park, with the goal to provide a constructive outlet for the kids to cope with life's challenges by teaching them academic skills, life skills and anti-gang survival skills.
DIY Community Clean: Josue Lora will create a series of informational videos with residents that showcase how to beautify a community and make it last. Among the topics covered will be landscaping, recycling and keeping the neighborhood clean.