About the East Trenton Collaborative
The East Trenton Collaborative is a community organizing and development 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 a great place to live, work, and play.
The East Trenton Collaborative, previously led by CityWorks, was first organized in 2007 and began official operation in 2009 focusing on redevelopment of East Trenton’s physical spaces as well as operation of the East Trenton Center to provide educational and social services. In response to the recent economic downturn and a need for increased administrative capacity, CityWorks closed its doors, New Jersey Community Capital became the East Trenton Collaborative’s lead organization in 2015. In 2018, ETC shifted its strategy and mission to frame its neighborhood revitalization efforts through community organizing. In 2024, Trenton based community development and environmental organization Isles, Inc. became the lead organization for the East Trenton Collaborative.
The Neighborhood
The East Trenton neighborhood in Trenton’s North Ward was and continues to be one of the hubs where Trenton makes. Like many urban neighborhoods, East Trenton has undergone a transformation from being a thriving manufacturing and economic center to struggling to cope with disinvestment and decline. In the early 1900s, the neighborhood was an economic powerhouse: it was the center of Trenton’s pottery and ceramic industries and home to the iconic Lenox China factory. Deindustrialization began at the end of WWII, and years of economic decline, triggered by technological changes, cheap labor costs, and anti-urban sentiments followed.
The East Trenton neighborhood is bounded by Plum Street to the North, Lincoln Avenue to the South, North Clinton Avenue and Cortland Street to the West, and the Northeast Corridor rail lines to the east.
Despite East Trenton’s recent history of economic decline, the neighborhood is still home to Taylor Provisions, inventors of the iconic New Jersey breakfast; Hutchinson Industries; the Capital City Farm; and a number of local businesses large and small. It is home to 4,000 committed residents who are proud to call this neighborhood home.
Our Impact
In 2020, the East Trenton Collaborative created our first Impact Report. This report outlined the tremendous accomplishments made during a year of unexpected challenges. Together, ETC staff and East Trenton residents weathered these challenges and were able to advance several of our goals.
11
STREETS REPAVED
7
Vacant properties acquired for rehab
10,600
MEALS PROVIDED TO EAST TRENTON RESIDENTS
In 2021, the East Trenton Collaborative operated at a limited yet steady capacity due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. ETC continued to host its regular community and organizing committee meetings virtually throughout the pandemic, and as of 2022, is beginning to transition towards a hybrid model and return to in-person meetings at the East Trenton Center. The 2022 Impact Report will be compiled and available here early 2023.
The East Trenton Neighborhood Plan
In 2020 and 2021, East Trenton residents united with each other and other stakeholders to begin creating a new Neighborhood Plan. This Neighborhood Plan provides the East Trenton Collaborative with a broad toolbox of strategies that will enable it to continue driving forward community change over the next 5 to 10 years.
This plan is structured around four broad goals:
Community Leadership and Unity
Healthy, Safe, and High-Quality of Life
Quality, Affordable, Healthy Homes
Economic Opportunity
The 2021 Neighborhood Plan is now available. You can view this plan below. Hard copies of the plan are available at the East Trenton Center, located at 601 North Clinton Avenue.
A Spanish language summary of the plan is forthcoming. // Un resumen del Plan en español see publicará próximamente.
Strategic Partners
isles, inc.
Founded in 1981, Isles, Inc. is a community development and environmental organization based in Trenton, New Jersey. With a mission to foster self-reliant families and healthy, sustainable communities, we design and develop effective services that support this mission and share what we learn with others who can make a difference. As the lead agency operating the East Trenton Collaborative, Isles, Inc. provides strategic leadership and administrative support for ETC.
Community Asset Preservation Corporation (CAPC)
CAPC is a nonprofit organization that acquires vacant and abandoned properties to stabilize and revitalize communities. CAPC works with local community builders and contractors to rehabilitate and return properties to productive use as quality, affordable housing. As an ETC partner, CAPC identifies, acquires, rehabilitates, and reoccupies vacant and abandoned properties in the East Trenton neighborhood.
UrbanPromise Trenton (UPT)
UPT is a nonprofit organization whose core mission is to equip Trenton’s children and young adults with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management; spiritual growth, and Christian leadership. Recognizing that thriving communities are key to positive and ongoing growth and development and youth, UPT provides support for East Trenton Center operations and implementation of ETC’s community organizing strategy.
Affiliates
Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF)
Play Soccer Nonprofit International
Greater Mercer TMA
Sixth Regiment Colored Troops Reenactors
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC)
Work With Us
SEE Job Openings at our partner agencies
Our People
The East Trenton Collaborative staff, made up of personnel from Isles, Inc. and UrbanPromise Trenton, work with neighborhood residents to carry out the day-to-day implementation of the East Trenton neighborhood plan.
