This article was originally published in the July 2017 Trenton Downtowner.
The I Am Trenton Community Foundation is using a series of billboards around the city to show off one Trenton’s greatest assets: citizen who love and actively care for the city.
Kelly Ingram, board president for the nonprofit, says, “These billboards shout out that Trenton is a place of energy, talent, creativity, and solutions. As a small community foundation, we know Trenton has challenges — but we also know the resourcefulness and accomplishments of our fellow Trentonians who make the impossible real every day. We’re very proud to stand with them and say ‘Yes, we ARE Trenton.’”
This year’s billboards feature Trenton Coffeehouse Roast master Abdul Qadir Wiswall, musicians Josue Lora and Nota G of Agudos Clef, educator and mentor Miriam Reed, jazz musician and activist Doris Spears, Community organizer Amini Sababu, sports organizer Anthony “Verge” Cannon, Casa Cultura founder Sam Kanig, artist and activist Tamara Torres, D.J. and Trenton’s living soundtrack Ahmad Shakir and his son Ahmad Shakir II, research scientist and Revolutionary War re-enactor Algernon Ward, longtime area radio host Ms. Sue, activist poet and artist Bentrice Jusu, student organizer Carlos Salinas, East Hanover Street community member Nanette “Ms. Ann” Miller, city landscaper Derrick McEady, and the team members of the Six Oh Nine Project and the Orchid Group.
The billboard project was supported by Janssen Pharmaceuticals and the Investors Bank. I Am Trenton Community Foundation was established in 2007 by a group of individuals committed to making Trenton even better through community engagement, building pride in the city, and community-focused giving. In addition to the billboard project, I Am Trenton provides small community project grants. Visit www.iamtrenton.org.
