Isles

Community planning and development (cp&d) : Isles collaborates with residents and stakeholders to identify community concerns and priorities; create community-led neighborhood plans; and secure resources to sustain neighborhood revitalization efforts over the long term. In addition, Isles leads city-wide research and planning initiatives related to blight reduction, creative placemaking, and food systems. Isles also purchases, improves, and develops real estate in downtown trenton, and manages and maintains affordable housing units to moderate the market and ensure healthy, safe, affordable housing remains available for long-term residents. In 2022, this work included the following: partnering with trenton city to revitalize businesses and community through the neighborhood preservation program designed and installed new signage and safety measures for 8 downtown businesses advanced construction on 15 units of affordable housing urban agriculture: Isles supports over 70 community, school, backyard, and institutional gardens- in 2022, we: provided 20+ workshops in gardening, nutrition, beekeeping, and cooking, reaching more than 200 youth and residents distributed more than 200 free "grow kits" to promote at-home gardening, and donated more than 700 lbs of produce to emergency food suppliers supported over 200 gardeners in trenton

Social profit center at mill one: is a historic former textile mill on the trenton/hamilton border that Isles converted into a high-performing, mixed use regional hub for dozens of social profit organizations. The center fosters a collaborative environment for organizations to thrive and find new ways to strengthen communities through capacity building programming and technical assistance. In 2022, we: secured 30 tenants including non profit and for profit companies representing 95% occupancy currently host monthly meetings and quarterly mixers with tenants to foster a collaborative environment.

Isles' center for energy and environmental training (ceet): ceet is a green collar job training facility, targeting careers in energy efficiency and environmental health. This year, ceet: trained 177 individuals in environmental health and energy efficiency (both virtually and in-person) provided healthy homes for 68 community health workers provided support for 25 unemployed workers to get employed through the clean energy jobs program lead safety and healthy homes: Isles continued to provide retrofits to low-income homes to improve energy efficiency and remove lead, mold/moisture, asthma triggers, fall and burn hazards and other negative indoor health conditions. In addition, Isles continues to be a strong advocate for lead and healthy homes public education, policy change and increased funding for remediation of lead contaminated homes. This year, Isles: conducted 221 lead and healthy homes assessments made 43 homes lead safe improved heating systems and energy-efficiency in 130 homes

Isles youth institute (iyi): iyi offers alternative education options for disengaged students seeking their high school equivalency diploma, job skills, and life skills training. 33 certifications were earned by Isles youth institute students in cpr, osha, and pre- apprenticeship construction training 16 iyi students graduated earning their high school diplomas. 58 students, community members and alumni participated in various internal and external job training, internship, and summer employment opportunities. Meaningful community service projects for more than 30 youth, which included beautifying and maintaining the trenton city hall outdoor atrium and improving community centers. 50 youth earned certifications in cpr, osha, and pre-apprentice construction trainingfinancial services: Isles continued to offer homebuyer and foreclosure counseling to prepare low- and moderate-income individuals for homeownership and to help families avoid foreclosure. We also offered Isles financial solutions (ifs), an employer-based financial capability initiative for lower wage workers that includes an innovative mix of financial coaching, credit-building finance, savings products, and group-based learning. Ifs works with princeton university, capital health systems and local nonprofits. This year: Isles had 330 customers seeking housing or foreclosure advice or assistance 155 customers attended pre-purchase workshops. 93 customers earned housing certificates (to qualify for financial assistance.) 34 customers purchased a first home. 319 customers received ifs services