Community members and environmental justice advocates will gather in Hamilton Township on Aug. 9 for a public listening session designed to elevate the voices of residents affected by lead contamination and other environmental issues in Trenton.
Hosted by the East Trenton Collaborative, in partnership with Isles Inc., Lead-Free NJ, Urban Promise Trenton, WE ACT, and the South Ward Environmental Alliance, the event — “Environmental Justice: Storytelling for Systems Change” — aims to break down systemic barriers and empower residents through shared stories and actionable strategies.
The session will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Isles Social Profit Center, 1 N. Johnston Ave. Community members can RSVP at tinyurl.com/ETClistenandlearn.
“Our children are our future, and we must do everything possible to ensure they have a fair chance at success,” said Shereyl Snider, community organizer with the East Trenton Collaborative and lead advocate for Trenton’s Lead-Free NJ hub.
“Exposure to lead toxins is preventable,” she said. “All we need to do is be proactive instead of reactive and Get The Lead Out of our soil, water, paint, and homes.”
The day’s program will feature first-hand accounts from residents, workshops led by environmental leaders, and discussions on organizing and advocacy.
Among the speakers will be Sean Stratton, who will present on community mobilization around lead contamination, and Anthony Diaz from the Newark Water Coalition, who will speak about successful lead service line replacement efforts.
Kim Gaddy, a nationally recognized environmental justice advocate, will deliver a keynote on grassroots leadership. Harrison Watson of Isles will provide updates on policy developments and opportunities for community engagement.
Organizers say the event focuses on “environmental justice communities” — areas with predominantly people of color or high poverty rates that face disproportionate environmental burdens and reduced quality of life.
The East Trenton Collaborative is one of only four Lead-Free NJ community hubs in the state, working to raise awareness about lead exposure and coordinate local responses.
It operates from the East Trenton Community Center at 601 N. Clinton Ave. and focuses on economic, physical, and social development.
Isles Inc., the lead agency of ETC, is a Trenton-based nonprofit founded in 1981. Its work includes healthy housing, job training, youth development, urban agriculture, and policy advocacy across New Jersey.
Additional partners supporting the Aug. 9 event include the Newark Water Coalition and Rutgers Health Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute.
More information is available at www.east-trenton.org and www.isles.org.
