Isles, Inc., the Trenton-based community development and environmental nonprofit, is hosting its second annual virtual Forum from Monday through Friday, June 6 through 10.
The free event includes webinars, panels, and workshops on urban community development topics including access to safe housing, building a green workforce, street-violence prevention, closing the education gap, eradicating food deserts, and other sessions.
Community members can learn about local initiatives such as:
• GoTrenton: an electric vehicle pilot service that will offer a carshare, rideshare, and shuttle service in the City of Trenton;
• Trenton Climate Corps: a supportive pathway for youth training and employment in climate resilience and green infrastructure careers;
• Trenton Community Street Teams: a violence-interruption initiative adapted from the successful Newark program;
• The new NJ Lead Safe Certificate law: Taking effect in July, it will require all apartments to be tested for lead paint before tenants move in.
“Over four decades, Isles has focused on building family self-reliance and healthy communities, by innovating, testing out new approaches, learning what works, and sharing our findings,” says Isles’ Chief Executive Officer Sean Jackson. “Through this forum we virtually connect a range of voices to tackle how best to achieve transformative change at the community level.”
The forum is free and open to the public. Last year several hundred attendees from around the state and across the country joined in the various seminars and discussions.
Over five themed days, 15 sessions will feature Isles staff, other nonprofit leaders, and topic experts. “One of Isles’ main goals is to build collaborative environments where nonprofits and social impact groups can work together and learn from each other regularly,” says Jackson.
“In line with this goal, Isles also officially opened our Social Profit Center in Hamilton last year, where another ten local nonprofits and social impact groups have co-located offices. This has brought to life our vision of creating both physical and virtual ways to partner together to better serve the community. During the pandemic, we already have seen the fruits of this collaboration.”
To view the complete forum schedule and to read descriptions of each individual session visit isles.org/forum.
