Many challenges face our Capital City. Violent crime is increasing; budgets to historical and cultural institutions are being cut; the education and protection of our children continues to prove challenging; unemployment plagues society; hopelessness and fear fester in the hearts and minds of our citizens. Trenton is in the middle of some very tough economic, cultural and political times. Yet, looking at what groups are doing at the grass roots level, I am convinced that our city is poised for a renaissance. The comeback will not be driven by government alone; it will be aided by Trenton’s residents. Beautiful things are happening in neighborhoods, schools and churches of this fine city.

The I Am Trenton Community Foundation awards grants to agencies and organizations that serve residents in Trenton. Our goal is to support organizations that improve our community and add to its quality of life through a competitive grant-making program that promotes equity and diversity in Trenton. We also encourage partnerships. The core program areas include: community and cultural connections, community development, youth development and education and training.

This month, the I Am Trenton Community Foundation supported 10 tremendous projects with our grants for 2011. We recently announced the awardees in a ceremony at the Old Barracks Museum. Especially during this time of austere budgets, we are proud to support the culturally significant programming that the Old Barracks provides.

A grant will help defray the cost of providing the “Meet the Past” program to students from Trenton schools. This innovative living history program incorporates personalized “first-person” historical interpretations that enhance classroom teaching about New Jersey’s role in the American Revolution, creates memorable educational experiences, and stimulates critical thinking on the causes of the American Revolution and its meaning for government and citizenship today.

The South District CPAC received a grant to increase civic engagement in the South Ward by working on two activities: a community newsletter in English and Spanish that will publish all the South Ward Civic Association meeting places, times and contact information, and a mulching program, in partnership with Trees for Trenton, that will support community cleanups and provide mulch for trees.

The Island Civic Association received a grant to support updating and reprinting the “Preparing for River Flooding: Flood Emergency Planning” brochure, which will help current and future Island residents better understand the risks of flooding from the Delaware River and include a set of strategies for evacuation preparation, reducing the effects of flooding on their properties and coping with the effects when they return home.

The Trenton Film Society received a grant to support the Youth Filmmakers Program, which will bring together a diverse group of Trenton youth and give them an opportunity to view exceptional films. Professionals will guide the participants in understanding filmmaking techniques and show them how to make their own films.

Dance Spora received a grant to support “The Dreamer,” a Black History Month dance theater performance whose theme is “cultivating our dreams through self-belief and determined action.” In addition to Dance Spora’s amazing dancers, it will feature some of our talented Trenton area students. Performances will take place at the Mill Hill Playhouse, Feb. 13-19, 2012.

Echo Inc. received support for Senior Sports Night, a collaborative effort by senior citizens from the Trenton area. Senior Sports Night will engage senior citizens across racial, ethnic, religious and economic lines to collaborate during May 2012, in celebration of Older Americans Month, and to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Trenton Central High School’s Chambers Street campus.

The below four grants were made from our Hope and Respect Fund, which is designated for organizations that provide educational resources, thought leadership, self-reliance and personal responsibility training for women and children — in particular, children raising their own children in Trenton.

Young Scholar’s Institute received a grant to support its college admissions, financial aid and career-planning workshops.

Living Hope Empowerment Center was awarded a grant to support Women’s Empowerment Day in Trenton, a one-day forum and celebration that encompasses workshops, group discussions, exhibits and service stations on matters dealing with finances, healthy eating and fitness.

Phi Delta Kappa received a grant to support a youth empowerment program for high school students. Through interactive activities, theatrical strategies and motivational speakers, the program will provide students with strategies to begin their personal and career decision-making process.

Our final grantee this year is Kids Against Bullying, Gangs and Violence, to support its Bullyproof: Healing, Comforting and Saving Our Youth program, which is designed to educate the community, specifically our school-aged population, about bullying and how to deal with its effects.

While times may be tough, the people and communities of Trenton are tougher. We learned firsthand how to make it through a hard season from George Washington and the patriots in 1776. The I Am Trenton Community Foundation’s 2011 grantees represent some of the best our city has to offer. We have learned that our community can work hard to solve problems together. I Am Trenton Community Foundation will be there to support these efforts at their infancy and beyond.

Ali Wilson is president of the I Am Trenton Community Foundation.

Click here for the original piece in The Times of Trenton.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 1, 2011

Please click here for the full press release about our 2011 funding announcement.

We continually hear about all the challenges facing our fine city. However, we hear less about the great strengths in Trenton and the ways in which they can be celebrated more often. Trenton has extraordinary citizens, organizations, civic associations and neighborhoods that are accomplishing wonderful things every day.

In recognition of these strengths, the I Am Trenton Community Foundation would like to recommit to our mission: Making Trenton even better through community engagement, building pride in our city and community-focused giving.

I Am Trenton Community Foundation was founded four years ago with the belief that its board and membership should represent Trenton’s diverse culture and community. Our billboard campaign and public service announcements have highlighted community, business and civic personalities of our Trenton community. We have also highlighted recipients of I Am Trenton community grants. Starting in December 2009, I Am Trenton Community Foundation began providing grants within Trenton. These grants helped to support projects and initiatives that were already operational and provided start-up money for others.

We have the power to become a new Trenton – one with neighbors who help one another, one that recognizes and promotes the beauty within our city, and perhaps most important, a Trenton that fights for our children to ensure their future success. We hope you will make a commitment to our shared vision.

Click here for the original piece in The Times of Trenton archive.

TRENTON — City and state leaders kicked off a two-month celebration yesterday with a news conference highlighting Trenton’s brief role as the capital of the United States in 1784.

The 225th anniversary commemoration will run through Dec. 24 and will include numerous activities coordinated by Trenton 1784—The Nation’s Capital committee.

“Most people know that Trenton played a pivotal role in the Revolutionary War. This event offers the city of Trenton another opportunity to celebrate our rich history,” Mayor Doug Palmer said.

“Trenton serving as the nation’s capital was one of many key moments for our city. While some U.S. towns embellish or even fabricate their roles in U.S. history, ours is authentic. We’re the real deal.”

Palmer joined city, county and state leaders at The Old Barracks in downtown Trenton.

Activities planned for the two-month celebration include a multicultural event to be hosted by the “I Am Trenton Community Foundation” on Nov. 7; a lecture by Diane Windham Shaw, archivist at Lafayette College, on “Lafayette The Abolitionist” on Dec. 10; a “Trenton Tavern Trek” celebrating the city’s rich tavern heritage on Dec. 18, along with Revolutionary-themed meals and menus at area restaurants, and an array of activities at area house museums and Revolutionary-era sites.

The press conference marked the official launch of the www.trenton1784.com Web site, which features information about Trenton 1784—The Nation’s Capital events and activities, as well as 54 people, places and things significant to Trenton at that time.

Representative Rush Holt, Gov. Jon Corzine, Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells, Assemblyman Reed Gusciora and Palmer are honorary co-chairs.

“For two months 225 years ago, Trenton was the center of the American political universe and the home to some of our nation’s greatest minds. It’s unfortunate that so few Americans, even New Jerseyans, know about this,” Holt said.

“I am delighted to join the Crossroads of the American Revolution and members of our community to celebrate this moment in the history of Trenton, our state, and our nation.”

The city of Trenton was the capital of the United States of America for 54 days in the year 1784, and city and state officials are kicking off a celebration of that event today at the Old Barracks on Barrack Street.

The I Am Trenton community foundation is sponsoring the 225th anniversary commemoration, which will include food, music, a lecture and a walking tour. The events are being coordinated by the “Trenton 1784 — The Nation’s Capital” committee, which is comprised of historians and community leaders.

The noon press conference will see the launch of www.trenton1784.com, a resource for information on Trenton’s brief tenure as the capital, as well as a listing of 54 important places, people and things in the city that year.

Mayor Douglas H. Palmer will host the press conference, and Gov. Jon Corzine, Rep. Rush Holt and Secretary of State Nina Wells are invited guests.

The commemoration runs through Dec. 24. This Saturday, I Am Trenton will hold a multicultural celebration, and on Dec. 10 Diane Windham Shaw, Lafayette College archivist, will speak.

A “tavern trek” on Dec. 18 will recognize the history of the city’s taverns, one of which housed the U.S. Congress during its stay in the city. Eighteenth-century-themed meals will be served, and activities will be held at historic places throughout the city.

Many (that is thousands) of us who live in Trenton love our community and wouldn’t want to raise our families any place else.  While we do have challenges, there is much that our city community offers and we commend The Times for highlighting some of the good things happening here.

In 2007, a group of people who care about our community formed an organization “for Trenton, by Trenton” that we chose to name I Am Trenton Community Foundation.  We chose our name as a statement of pride in our city.  The people who live in our city – particularly our young people – need to always remember that we are a community with strong civic pride, carried on from all of the wonderful people who have lived here before us.  And those who live outside the city need to understand that our community is more than negative images of crime or whatever negative views people may have of state government at any given time.  We are a diverse, urban community of people who include Ivy League graduates and professors, successful business people, artists and community leaders and, most importantly, people who have worked hard at what they do – whatever they do – all of their lives.

We emphasize the importance of the message of civic pride to Trenton’s young people.  Young people need to believe in their potential to succeed, they need to feel connected to their community (as anti-gang research indicates), they need opportunities and, yes, they do need hope.  The young people of Trenton need and deserve these just as young people throughout the suburbs, the rest of the country, and the rest of the world need and deserve these. Having worked with many Trenton Public School students, we at I Am Trenton can attest to their abilities, talent and potential.

About a year ago, I Am Trenton launched a billboard/ad campaign featuring ten successful Trentonians representative of our diverse community.  We have received wonderful responses to the campaign with people saying, “I’ve lived here all my life and love my city – what can I do to help?” and “I’ve just moved here and love this community’s energy — I want to get involved.”  We have also received dozens of nominations of Trentonians to feature in future billboards and ads.  Yes, Trenton has a great deal of civic engagement and pride.

In fact, we’re not sure that communities in other municipalities demonstrate as much civic engagement and pride as we’ve seen during our combined fifty-six years in Trenton.  Our city has incredibly strong neighborhood civic associations and community groups. We have cultural organizations that provide great arts and entertainment as well as nice shops and delicious restaurants.  We know that Trenton has a lot to offer.

The community’s busy social season is just starting.  Many of us are looking forward to the Berkeley Square Civic Association Porches and More Tour on September 12th, the Hispanic Parade on September 13th, the Cadwalader Heights House Tour on September 26th, and Passage Theatre’s production of Ethel Waters: His Eye is on the Sparrow playing September 17th to 27th.  In November, we will also have special activities celebrating the 225th anniversary of the 54 days that Trenton served as the nation’s capital, in 1784.  We also enjoy regular activities like Trenton2Nite, held by Trenton Downtown Association on the second Friday of each month, playing Scrabble at Classics Bookstore every Friday, and visiting the many exhibits/activities at Ellarslie: The Trenton City Museum, The New Jersey State Museum and Old Barracks Museum.

I Am Trenton has a goal of 1,000 donors by December 31.  While we primarily seek donations from people who live and/or work in Trenton, gifts from anyone, anywhere are welcome. Giving to I Am Trenton, or any of Trenton’s wonderful non-profits, is a positive response to a capital city that may need help addressing its challenges.  Participation in some of our city’s wonderful events – as an opportunity to get to know what our community has to offer – is also most welcome.

Debby D’Arcangelo and Darlene McKnight, Trenton
Trustees, I Am Trenton Community Foundation

“It’s so exciting to see that a program that was created here in Mercer County is so successful that 320 other organizations throughout New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut are now reproducing it in their communities,” Jose A. Hernandez, CEO of the YWCA of Trenton, said.

Some listened to speeches and songs at Trenton City Hall. Others pledged in writing to fight racism and discrimination of any kind at a booth staffed by the United Way of Greater Mercer County at the Quaker Bridge Mall.

Still more converged on Gilmore’s Café on South Warren Street for an evening of readings on social justice sponsored by the I Am Trenton Community Foundation.

“Our core values align with the Stand’s goals of breaking down barriers between people and developing ways to work cooperatively using shared perspectives,” said Debby D’Arcangelo, board president of the I Am Trenton Community Foundation.

At the Lawrenceville Neighborhood Service Center, the after-school program featured a showing and discussion of the film “Pride.”

The Terrence Howard film tells the true story of Jim Ellis, a man who used a rundown recreation center in Philadelphia to change tough street kids into competitive swimmers.

“We are going to keep things positive as we talk to the kids about their perceptions of racism, ” said Carlos Hendricks, director of the Neighborhood Service Center.

“It’s a different social climate, now, with the election of the first African-American president. It has affected other things, and now the kids are looking at what their possibilities are,” he said.

Also linking arms with the YWCAs were the Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce, the City of Trenton, Princeton Township, St. Francis Medical Center, Thomas Edison State College, Princeton University, Junior Achievement, Child Care Connection, Womanspace, NAACP, Planned Parenthood, Crisis Ministry, Rescue Mission and other hospitals, churches, universities, small businesses, and civic associations….

SEE MORE AT THE ARCHIVES OF NJ.COM

Ladies in elegant ball gowns, evening dress and elaborate costumes floated through the hallways and lit up the ballroom, which was decorated in black and gold: black for Obama, gold for “all the Americans who helped to make this day possible.”

Cecelia B. Hodges, retired English literature professor at Princeton and Rutgers, wearing a floor-length gown of black velvet and white satin, said Obama’s inauguration left her “ecstatic.”

Hodges recalled attending the 1963 march on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his immortal “I Have A Dream” speech in front of the Lincoln monument. “So today means the partial fulfillment of the dream, and there is hope for everybody,” she said.

Arlene Evans White, co-chair of the ball’s hostess committee, wore an elegant off-the-shoulder beige gown.

She described watching Obama’s swearing-in ceremony in a hospital with her sickly 80-year-old father.

“I kept waking him up, saying, ‘Look, daddy, a black president,’” she said. “He has dementia, but he looked at me and said ‘I know him.’”

“Obama is a president for all the people,” she said.

Edith Savage-Jennings, Trenton’s grande dame of civil rights activists and the inaugural ball chairman, said she started planning the inaugural ball immediately after Obama won the primary race.

“I met (Obama) when he was a senator in Illinois, and I was his guest at the Meadowlands,” she reminisced. “I just felt he was going to be our president, so right after the primary, I immediately set down a date for the ball and started the planning.”

She noted that Gov. Jon S. Corzine sent a message that he was unable to attend because he, like many area politicians, was at the inaugural festivities in the nation’s capital.

The inaugural ball began at 6:30 p.m. with cash bar cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a program honoring deceased civil rights leaders, and dinner featuring cornish hens with wild rice.

Before the festivities ended around 11:30 p.m., the crowd danced to the music of the Rod Blackstone Band and watched a live television feed of the inaugural balls, past inaugural events, and long-gone civil rights leaders and activists piped in from Washington, D.C., on two big screens in the ballroom.

Tables were decorated with black and gold silk floral centerpieces and tea candles. Each place setting included a souvenir white ceramic mug featuring Obama’s photo and the inscription Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States.

A framed photo of Obama hung behind the bandstand, flanked by flags of the United States and New Jersey.

The 7:30 program began with trooping of the colors by a Civil War re-enactment group, the 6th Regiment, U.S. Colored Troops, led by 1st Sgt. Fred Minus, with a fife and drum corps.

Next came a candlelight procession by 10 local boys and girls between 12 and 14 years of age, all members of the Trenton Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council. They stood in the front of the room, holding aloft their candles, while Jennifer Sutphin, a graduate student with the New York City-based Alvin Ailey Dance Company, danced in memory of all deceased civil rights leaders to the hymn, “How Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”

After the dance came the somber roll call by the youth advisory council for deceased civil rights leaders.

The solemn recitation began with the names of national leaders: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, Medger Evans, Rosa Parks, Ralph Abernathy, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Roy Wilkins, Whitney Young, C. Dolores Tucker, Fannie Lou Hamer, Dr. William DuBois, Rev. J. A. Delaney, Bayard Rustin, A. Phillip Randolph, Shirley Chisholm, three slain civil rights workers, Michael Schwerner, James Chaney and Andrew Goodman.

Then came New Jersey’s deceased civil rights activists: Gov. Robert B. Meyner and wife Helen Meyner, Fanny Lou Hamer, Gov. Richard P. Hughes and wife Betty Hughes, Trenton Mayor Arthur J. Holland, Stanley Van Ness, Esq., Rosa Lee Dietz, NAACP leader Catherine Graham, Annie M. Flowers, Dr. Leroy Morris, Dr. Morris and Molly Sorer, Paul Pintella Sr., Ruth Rabstein Pellettieri, Albert Bo Robinson, Mary G. Roebling, Jenny Stubblefield, Benny Taylor, Berline V. Williams, Gladys Hedgepeth, Rev. S. Howard Woodson Jr., Mr. and Mrs. William Dinkins (ex-New York Mayor David Dinkin’s parents).

Mercer County Freeholder Keith Hamilton served as master of ceremonies, Trenton Councilwoman Annette Lartigue gave the welcome, and Emily Mann, artistic director of the McCarter Theater in Princeton, offered the champagne toast for Barack Obama, The invocation was given by the Rev. Donald Medley, pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church in Trenton.

Mrs. Savage-Jennings and Jeffery Zeiger, the Marriott’s general manager, extended thanks to all who worked on the committee.

“Trenton is poised to be on the national map because of what’s happening in Washington, D.C.,” Zeiger said afterward. “We have the assets and passion to create an environment on a cold Tuesday night that attracts 340 people.”

Tickets for the ball cost $100, and proceeds will benefit three area nonprofit organizations: the Boys and Girls Club of Mercer County, New Jersey State Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs for the mentoring program, and the I Am Trenton Foundation.

What: I Am Trenton Kickoff Party

When: Saturday, November 15, 6 pm-11 pm

Where: Museum of Contemporary Science in the Roebling Market
675 So. Clinton Ave., Trenton, NJ

Tickets: Suggested donation is $10 each or $15 per couple. Tickets will be available at www.IAmTrenton.org, at the door, or by calling (609) 656-0222

For Information: Contact I Am Trenton at (609) 656-0222, or visit us online at
www.IAmTrenton.org

Scheduled entertainment includes Orquestra Rumba Con Son, live gospel and dance.
Trenton restaurants will offer signature dishes for purchase, and a cash bar will offer beer, wine and soft drinks. The Museum of Contemporary Science is located in the Roebling Market. Ample parking is available.

I Am Trenton is an independent community foundation that is for Trenton, by Trenton, and will build an endowment that will last forever. A community foundation, once established, is a lasting resource that not only supports the community in its own right, but that can attract additional resources to the community. I Am Trenton will be a pillar in the strong and growing “foundation” of this city for our families for generations. I Am Trenton values wealth in all its forms—time treasure and talent.