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.
Our Vision
Dress for Success Central NJ aspires to be the leading outcomes-based provider of employment services for women in Central New Jersey. Through a full continuum of career services, we will empower women to gain employment, support their families and meaningfully contribute to our community. We will do this by expanding access to our services and partnering with the business and nonprofit communities in a consistent, sustainable manner.
Our Mission
The mission of Dress for Success Central NJ is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
Each Dress for Success Central New Jersey client gets to shop for one free suit when she has a job interview. Clients may also shop in our boutique for a pair of shoes, jewelry, and other accessories such as a handbag and scarf. After successfully finding employment, each client may return to select five outfits for a week’s worth of clothing
Having completed the crucial first step—securing employment—women are then welcomed to join our Professional Women’s Group. This group focuses on retaining their jobs and developing their professional skills. Our goal is to ensure each woman is moving towards meaningful and sustainable careers as well as financial independence.
You are invited to join the Professional Women’s Group Community and meet other women for networking, support, development of your professional skills, and to have fun.
The mission of the Professional Women’s Group is to promote employment retention and career advancement by providing valuable skill-building information while creating a safe environment to network with other professionals.
Dress for Success Central New Jersey- 7 County career center offers a unique one-on-one experience with a trained career coach. Clients receive writing assistance with their résumés and cover letters. Technology support, job placement assistance and other career related resources are also available. Women participate in mock job interviews with our experienced staff and volunteers.
With your support, Dress for Success can continue to empower hundreds of thousands of women on their path to financial independence.
Volunteering is a meaningful and rewarding experience that has many benefits, including the following:
• Learn and develop new skills: Our programs provide you with an opportunity to acquire new skills while carrying out a wide variety of tasks.
• Make connections: Meet new people, build new friendships, and make lasting relationships that may lead to a job.
• Improve your resume: Gain invaluable experience working with others, learning about the workplace, and seeing firsthand how a non-profit operates.
• Build your confidence: Your ability to deal with a range of situations and being part of a team will increase your self-esteem.
Volunteer Opportunities Include:
Personal Shopper
Career Center (resume writing, mock interviews, job search)
Special Events & Fundraising
Marketing and Communications
Grant Writing
Administrative Assistance
Boutique Services
Committee Member
Expert Speaker
Mentor
Need more information? Contact volunteer@dfscentralnj.org or call 609-896-4112
DFSCNJ is located at 3131 Princeton Pike, Building 4- Suite 209 in Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
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
Volunteer
Take Action
Like Us
To take full advantage of our support network, please search below for our services that can help you.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
