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Urban Promise Trenton

Food Assistance
Housing
Education / Employment
Counseling
Empowerment
End Hunger and Homelessness in Mercer County N.J.

The Common Good Initiative

The Trenton Social Impact Group is comprised of CEOs and Executive Directors of nonprofit organizations working together to improve the lives of those living in the Trenton area. These organizations have created a safety net of services to help all people in Mercer County, New Jersey. The organization believes everyone deserves to live with dignity. Our “Common Good Initiative” helps individuals in need of food and shelter. Our participating members connect people to resources—but our most important work connects people with people.

Urban Promise’s mission is to equip Trenton’s children and young adults with the skills necessary for:

Academic Achievement
Life Management
Spiritual Growth
Christian Leadership.

The vision to create an UrbanPromise ministry program in Trenton became a reality in 2011 when UPTrenton held its first Summer Camp on West State Street. Enthusiasm about the camp was so great that we opened our doors for a free AfterSchool program that same year. In the fall of 2014, we opened our second site in east Trenton in collaboration with the East Trenton Collaborative. We have continued to operate AfterSchool and Summer Camp, and StreetLeader programs in two locations. In addition, we offer a Youth College Readiness Program, an outdoor experiential learning program, Trenton Trekkers, and a College Scholarship Program.

As we celebrate our tenth anniversary, our goal is to create and maintain programming that allows students the opportunity to progress from campers, to StreetLeaders to college students, all with the support of UrbanPromise Trenton.

Our Programs

AfterSchool Drop-In Program

Our 2021-2022 AfterSchool Program will begin September 13. We will be back in person following CDC safety guidelines. Trenton students in 1st – 8th grade are eligible to apply. Please register using this link. Nuestro programa extraescolar 2021-2022 comenzará el 13 de Septiembre. Volveremos a estar en persona siguiendo las directrices de seguridad del CDC…. Read more

StreetLeaders

Summer StreetLeader positions are filled! Before you apply: Dates: June 27 – August 5 Hours: Monday – Thursday 10 am-4:30 pm and Friday 10 am-1 pm Job Description: Teen leaders work at our SummerCamp sites, provide direct programming for the younger students, and assist other staff members by providing support for younger students who are… Read more

SummerCamp

Our FREE SummerCamp 2022 is full! ¡Nuestro campamento de verano gratuito está lleno! We are excited to see our kiddos in person and look forward to a safe and healthy summer! UPT’s 2022 SummerCamp Program is full. We have a waitlist and if we have openings we will contact you.   ¡Estamos emocionados de ver… Read more

Trenton Trekkers

Trenton Trekkers

The Covid-19 Pandemic slowed down our TrentonTrekkers Program, but we are ready to get outdoors and take the opportunity to learn from the world around us. We kicked off 2022 with a trip to The Grounds for Sculpture Nightforms. And it was magnificent! Our StreetLeader team enjoyed the amazing art and light displays. And they… Read more

ETC StreetLeader Program

ETC StreetLeader Program

“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” Henry Ford The East Trenton Collaborative is a community organizing initiative in the East Trenton neighborhood of Trenton’s North Ward. By facilitating conversations and action on community priorities, we engage partners, support businesses, and build the power of residents to make East Trenton… Read more

Trustees Scholarship Fund

Trustees Scholarship Fund

At UPT, we believe that every graduating high school student should have the opportunity to go to college. Unfortunately, the extraordinarily high cost deters urban youth from seriously considering attending college. Did you know that only 11% of Trenton residents have bachelor’s degrees compared to 43% for all of Mercer County? With a grant from the Yearley… Read more

Volunteer and Support

Would you like to volunteer at one of our AfterSchool Drop-In program locations? Please contact Georgia and she will let you know what our students need and how you can help!

If you are a high school student living in Trenton and want to work at our AfterSchool Drop-In program, please check out our StreetLeader program for more info.

All of the organizations in The Common Good Initiative are welcoming volunteers – some virtually, some in person. To find out the guidelines for volunteering at any of these organizations, just click on their logo below:

 

                          

                 

                            

                         

Donate

Donate

  • Make a personal or corporate financial contribution to promote the work of the organizations and of the Common Good Initiative.
  • Organize a fundraiser to benefit the organization of your choice.
  • Provide donations “in-kind” – our agencies have wish lists of items that you, civic organizations or businesses could donate.
Volunteer

Volunteer

  • Give the gift of your time by spending time serving meals, packing food bags, tutoring homeless children… just a few examples of the good work you can do.
  • Volunteer your special skills to help increase awareness of hunger and homelessness…prepare a Common Good Initiative newsletter.
  • Help us with social media.
Take Action

Take Action

  • Let your friends and families know about the Common Good Initative.
  • Contact our local elected officials to tell them all of our community members should be fed and housed.
  • Participate in events hosted by an organization that resonates with you.
Like Us

Like Us

  • Visit our Facebook page and “LIKE” the Common Good Initiative.
  • Send your friends and colleagues a link to the website.
  • Share how much you “LIKE” helping to make a difference!

Services

The Common Good Initiative

To take full advantage of our support network, please search below for our services that can help you.

Feeding the Needs of our Community

More than 50,000 residents will go hungry tonight in Mercer County, N.J., a number that has swelled in the era of COVID-19, according to research by Feeding America. Including children and seniors, 11% of Mercer County is food insecure. Our county-wide support network opens its doors and delivers food throughout the week to help feed those in need.

Arm in Arm
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton
Homefront
Jewish Family and Children Services
John O. Wilson Hamilton Neighborhood Center
Meals on Wheels of Mercer County
Mercer Street Friends
Mt. Carmel Guild
One Simple Wish
Rescue Mission of Trenton
Shine and Inspire
Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
Urban Promise

Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness

The majority (56%) of Mercer County homeless persons reported having some type of disability, according to a Point-in-Time Count of the homeless from Monarch Housing Associates. Survivors of Domestic Violence represent 11.2% of the total homeless population in our county, while 92.6% of our homeless youth identify as African American. Our county-wide support network provides emergency shelters, short-term apartments and long-term housing solutions.

Anchor House
Arm in Arm
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton
Community Health Law Project
Homefront
Isles
Life Ties
Mt. Carmel Guild
Rescue Mission of Trenton
Shine and Inspire
Womanspace

Delivering Education/Employment Classes

The lack of education and employment is part of the reason why the wealthiest American families now have 75 times more wealth as lower-income families, according to a report from Pew Research Center. A minimum-wage worker would have to work nearly 127 hours per week to afford a two-bedroom rental home in most of the U.S., according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Our county-wide support network teaches the skills needed to overcome.

Arm in Arm
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton
Child Care Connection
Dress for Success of Central New Jersey
Homefront
Isles
John O. Wilson Hamilton Neighborhood Center
LALDEF
Mercer Street Friends
Mill Hill
One Simple Wish
Rescue Mission of Trenton
Shine and Inspire
The Father Center of New Jersey
Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
Urban Promise

Counseling Those Who Need Help

Individuals with physical and mental challenges are overrepresented when it comes to food insecurity and homelessness. Among Mercer County’s homeless disabled, 53% reported mental health issues making it the most prevalent disability, according to the Mercer County Point-in-Time Count of the Homeless from Monarch Housing Associates. Our county-wide support network provides trained staff in the areas of trauma, cognitive behavioral therapy, mood disorders and anger management.

Anchor House
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton
Homefront
Jewish Family and Children Services
Life Ties
Mercer Street Friends
Mill Hill
Rescue Mission of Trenton
Shine and Inspire
The Father Center of New Jersey
Womanspace

Building Through Empowerment

Lifting people up through the sharing of crucial knowledge will give all Mercer County residents a true support network. Our county-wide network provides men with mock on-site job interviews and teenage boys with classes about healthy and productive relationships, as well as leadership and life skills. We provide women with support groups for job search and a career center for assistance, ranging from job training to referrals to local boutiques.

Anchor House
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton
Child Care Connection
Community Health Law Project
Dress for Success of Central New Jersey
Homefront
Isles
Jewish Family and Children Services
John O. Wilson Hamilton Neighborhood Center
Life Ties
Mercer Street Friends
Mill Hill
Mt. Carmel Guild
One Simple Wish
People and Stories / Gente Y Cuentos
Rescue Mission of Trenton
Shine and Inspire
The Father Center of New Jersey
Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
Urban Promise
Womanspace

News & Events

July 14, 2020

CMA Joins Fight Against Hunger, Homelessness

A subset of the Trenton Social Impact Group (TSIG), which is a consortium of 25 Mercer County-based nonprofits, will participate in the digital marketing campaign. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated a present and persistent problem where a growing number of neighbors exist without food and shelter.

April 29, 2021

In some cities, the pandemic’s economic pain may continue for a decade

As COVID-19 vaccines are distributed and infection rates trend downward, predictions for what post-pandemic America will look like have begun.

April 30, 2021

The Human Side of COVID-19’s Impact on Nonprofits

Nonprofit organizations are powered by the passion and dedication of their staff. But as the COVID-19 pandemic leads to funding interruptions, increased demand for services and safety concerns, many organizations are being forced to make tough staffing and compensation decisions.

May 25, 2021

CATHOLIC CHARITIES TO PROVIDE COVID-19 TESTS, VACCINES TO UNDERSERVED GROUPS

The New Jersey Department of Health has enlisted Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton to help provide critically needed COVID-19 health education, testing, contact tracing, and vaccine support to underserved groups in Central Jersey, including Latino and Black communities and documented and undocumented immigrants.

January 18, 2022

TRENTON AREA SOUP KITCHEN CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF SERVICE

n Thursday, January 13, 2022, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) opened its doors to patrons for its lunch service, like it does every weekday at its Escher Street dining room. On this day, however, patrons were invited to take a seat in front of a warm bowl of soup as TASK observed the 40th anniversary of its first meal in the city of Trenton.

May 9, 2022

Meals on Wheels rolls out Community Champions Week (L.A. PARKER COLUMN)

Bill Mullowney, a Meals on Wheels Mercer County board member and delivery volunteer, kicked off Community Champions Week with Mercer County Commissioner Nina Melker.

There’s Still Time! Join the LifeTies 40th Anniversary Wellness Challenge!

Date/Time: -

Location: Virtual Announcement of top team winners

More Info: March 29th - Three more days and LifeTies 40th Anniversary Wellness Challenge will begin!. Sign up here to register: https://p2p.onecause.com/lifeties From April 1st - April 29th, you will commit to 40 hours of wellness and self-care activities. You will be able to track all of your activities such as running, walking, dancing, meditating, yoga...join in the fun while contributing to both your wellness and to the wellness of our youth.

Join Womanspace April 28, 2021 for Denim Day

Date/Time: April 28, 2021 -

Location:

More Info: Wear Denim to support survivors and educate yourself and others about sexual assault #SAAM2021 #DenimDay2021

Isles’ 2021 Virtual Forum

Date/Time: June 7, 2021 -

Location: Virtual

More Info: You’re invited to Isles’ Forum, a FREE, week-long virtual series of webinars, workshops, panels and more to explore community development and environmental challenges and solutions. Pick and choose the topics of interest to you, or sign up for all! This Forum is free and open to the public as part of Isles’ 40 Years of Impact celebration. https://isles.org/forum

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