Trenton Civic Trust

Several years ago when I took a week long training for Community Organizing I had no idea what was going to happen.

I was always interested in the lives of others and found joy spending time with people of various backgrounds.

In Trenton NJ we have a group of citizens who are actively involved in the process of addressing areas of concern and seeking solutions through a no-blame approach.  The Trenton Civic Trust is part of the Citizens Campaign, a non-profit organization.

On August 5, 2017 we will have a statewide gathering called the Civic Summit

WE INVITE YOU TO

THE CIVIC SUMMIT

Empowering – Motivational – Educational

SATURDAY – AUGUST 5, 2017

LOCATION: Rutgers Department of Labor Studies and Employment Relations Building

50 Labor Center Way – New Brunswick, NJ 08901

[Parking available on-site]

SCHEDULE: 9:00 – 10:00 am Registration & Continental Breakfast

PROGRAM: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm -- - Lunch will be provided.

10:00 – 11:00 am

The Power of Citizens, School Board Members and the Superintendent

Panelists: Jonathan Busch, The Busch Law Group

Dale Caldwell, President, New Brunswick Board of Education

Nicole Okun, Former Superintendent, Old Bridge Public Schools

11:00 am - Noon

Navigating Through Political Obstacles: In depth guide to the 10 Step Problem-Solving Process

Panelists: Harry Pozycki, The Citizens Campaign

Rob Horowitz, Political Strategy Consultant

Noon – 1:00 pm

Lunch/Media Literacy: Depicting Fact from Fiction in the News

Keynote Speaker: Joe Amditis, Center for Cooperative Media

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Civic Trusts-- -Open Discussion: Collaborating on Solutions

Panelists: Harry Pozycki, The Citizens Campaign

Joel Rosa, The Citizens Campaign

RSVP: Seating is Limited! RSVP to Evelyn Torres at evelyn@thecitizenscampaign.org  

In the interim have a look at some images from past Trenton Civic Trust meetings.

Trenton Civic Trust August meeting

Trenton Civic Trust
August 2016 Meeting Notes / Highlights by Jacque Howard

Press - Media - General inquiries
Trenton Civic Trust Facilitator
Princess Hoagland
pghoagland@gmail.com


The Citizens Campaign

Civic Trustees are a new force for strengthening our cities’ ability to tackle tough issues.  They are committed to identifying evidence-based solutions to their city’s problems, and working together to implement them with a "no-blame" approach. They make a pledge to serve their city, with their fellow Trustees, by working together to make their city stronger than it is today.

Supported by The Citizens Campaign’s platform of civic power tools and training, and its pro bono government attorneys and policy experts in urban government, Civic Trustees are changing the game by:

• Engaging in bottom-up conversations about issues they care about
• Conducting evidence-based research on these issues to identify what is working in other cities
• Shaping the solution to make it more feasible to get results. This is called “doing the doable”.
• Working with The Citizens Campaign’s Legal Task Force to turn the solution into a “ready to adopt” legal form such as an ordinance, executive order, or resolution
• Approaching challenges with a “no blame” perspective in order to keep the focus on the solutions
• Partnering with local government to get results that are: (1) evidence-based, 2) cost effective, and 3) beneficial to the whole community
• Achieving success via adoption of their solutions by city council, school boards, planning boards and other government agencies
• Sharing the ongoing story of city government innovation through civic leadership written by City Storytellers 

Facilitator Princess Hoagland welcomed the group and we began introductions.

Updates

Education Task Force 

• Information was shared regarding the Trenton Board of Education "Code of Conduct" policy
• Sub-committee members are seeking specific school support/partnering
• Information gathering is taking place for an OPRA request
• General conversations took place regarding potential partners and information previously gathered from parents and students through a survey

Neighborhood Quality of Life meeting w/economic Development Director

• Public Works & Inspections Dept. are reviewing our "Neighborhood Quality of Life" form
• City of Trenton is launching an "app" to assist with information gathering around QOL issues
• Tree Fund conversations took place with a discussion about types of trees best suited to planted
• Conversations were had regarding priorities around QOL issues, trees or lighting

Urban Auxiliary Police, civilian Police Academy meeting

• Dialog was had with Police Dir. Parrey, another conversation will take place Sat. 8/13/16
• Program insurance will fall under City of Trenton "umbrella policy"
• A budget for 3 Officers has been completed 10k
• Conversations were had around Emergency Mgmt. Services, Fire Dir. Bashir will be contacted

SLACK app presentation

• Discussions were had about the information gathering/sharing app
• Tutorial will be distributed to Civic Trust Members

Presentation Team

• Neighborhood QOL issues were discussed in more detail such as lighting and tree planting
• The "Neighborhood Initiative" press release was discussed with plans for a simultaneous release for Perth Amboy, Jersey City and Trenton Civic Trusts