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Venice and her young son on a jobsite with Peace of Mind Construction, a company she has owned and operated since 2021

From Client to Partner: Venice’s Full-Circle Partnership

This February marks a milestone worth celebrating: Peace of Mind Construction Group turns five years old. Most businesses don’t make it this far, and for the owner, Venice, it’s a milestone she’s earned.

Venice is 32 years old, born and raised in West Trenton. She launched Peace of Mind Construction Group in 2021, drawing on a background in real estate sales, property management, and investment. She’d been buying, renovating, and flipping properties, and kept running into the same problem.

“I quickly noticed that as a woman in the industry, in a lot of cases, I was being taken advantage of,” she said. “I had never come across a Black woman contractor or seen many women in the industry at all. I found it very hard to find a contractor that I resonated with, that I felt comfortable with, or that was even partially honest with me.”

“If I didn’t see it, then I could be it,” Venice recalls. “Someone has to be the change. Someone has to pave the way, and then hopefully make it easier for others that will come behind me.”

She got licensed, insured, and started Peace of Mind Construction Group, a name that became more than a business identity. While Venice publicly chased her dreams, she privately navigated a profound season of personal adversity and full-time motherhood, which only deepened her conviction to provide peace of mind for others as a guiding principle.

Years later, while working as a contractor for the Trenton Housing Authority, Venice was referred to Isles’ Center for Energy and Environmental Training (CEET) to earn her EPA Lead Renovator certification. She connected with Andre Thomas, CEET’s Director of Training and Support, and the partnership grew quickly. Venice upgraded her credentials and those of her workers, earning the abatement certification required for lead remediation work. Peace of Mind became a certified EPA lead remediation firm, taking on projects for Isles, United Way, the Mercer County Hispanic Association, Garden State Homes, and others. The company is also currently renovating Isles’ own space on Wood Street.

The partnership deepened when Venice became an employer through Isles’ Workforce Development program, which pays half the salary of apprentices for six months. To date, she has hired three apprentices, with a fourth on the way. Denise Higgins, who supports Workforce Development at Isles, has been integral to the process, connecting Venice with the right candidates and staying involved post-hire to ensure all is well.

For Venice, the work is deeply personal. Her soon-to-be four-year-old son, who already talks about “being a contractor like mommy,” is both her motivation and her reminder of what’s at stake.

“Every time Isles presents someone to me that is looking for a job, I always think of my son,” she said. “I think of how I would want someone to treat my child if he were to be out in the world looking for a job and trying to start his career.”

“I believe people deserve to be given a chance if they’re willing and serious. Someone has to be there to give them that chance, and many employers will not, but experience has to start somewhere.”

Five years in, Venice has her sights set on purchasing an office and warehouse in Trenton, hiring more residents, and developing homes that will add housing stock to a city that needs it.

“I look at what I’m doing as bigger than me,” she says. “Lifting them up, lifts me too. That’s how we rise, by raising each other up.”

Andre Thomas echoes that vision: “Together we provide employment opportunities for the underserved while remediating homes, making them lead-safe and healthier.”

From Venice’s mom realizing her dream of homeownership through an Isles initiative, to a training program that sharpened her credentials, to a contractor partnership making Trenton homes safer and putting residents to work, Venice Lluen’s story is a testament to what happens when Isles invests in people and those people invest right back.

Sponsorships available!

For more information on how your business can partner with Isles, please call Randi Orlow at 609-341-4722 or email rorlow@isles.org

Isles Urban Agriculture Brings Hands-On Learning to Carroll Robbin's Elementary School

In January, Isles Urban Agriculture launched a 16-week educational partnership with Carroll Robbin's Elementary School, bringing hands-on gardening and environmental lessons directly into Trenton classrooms. The collaboration reflects Isles' ongoing commitment to nurturing environmental stewardship, curiosity, and wellness among the city's youngest learners.

Led by Jenara Kim Prieto, the Isles Urban Agriculture team facilitates weekly, age-appropriate lessons that weave together nature, science, math, and observation, helping students connect the natural world to their everyday lives.

The kickoff introduced students to shapes in nature. Using leaves, pinecones, sticks, and seeds, children explored how circles, triangles, lines, and patterns appear throughout the environment. Classrooms came alive as students examined textures, sorted objects, and shared their discoveries, turning abstract concepts into tangible, joyful experiences.

Later in the month, the focus shifted to seeds: what they are, where they come from, and what they need to grow. Through storytelling, discussion, and hands-on exploration, students began building a foundational understanding of plant life cycles and food systems, learning that even the smallest seed holds remarkable potential.

This 16-week partnership is more than a series of lessons. It is an investment in environmental literacy, confidence, and imagination. By integrating gardening education into the school day, Isles Urban Agriculture is helping students see themselves as caretakers of the earth and active participants in their communities. As the weeks unfold, students will deepen their understanding of plants, soil, ecosystems, and sustainability, learning by doing and growing by caring.

Isles Celebrates 25 Youth Amplification Grant Awardees

Isles is proud to honor the 25 organizations selected as 2025-26 Youth Amplification Grant Awardees. At a recent Grant Award Ceremony, TCST celebrated these Trenton nonprofits for their work creating transformative programs for young people ages 10-18. From boxing and mindfulness to drone technology, creative arts, skilled trades, and entrepreneurship, each initiative offers mentorship, builds life skills, and provides safe spaces where youth can grow and thrive.

The Youth Amplification Grant supports youth-led and youth-serving programs that promote safety, healing, and positive community engagement—while working to reduce gun violence in Trenton. By investing in grassroots solutions and amplifying youth voices, these organizations are developing the next generation of community leaders.

TCST was founded in 2022 through a collaboration between Isles, Fathers of Men United for A Better Trenton, and Building a Better Way for Trenton. Congratulations to all the awardees!

To learn more, visit trentoncommunitystreetteam.org/about.

Now Hiring:

Trenton Community Corps

Isles is currently accepting applications for the Trenton Community Corps, an AmeriCorps service opportunity that provides paid training and hands-on work experience in green jobs. Members serve 35 hours per week on projects such as tree planting and care, stormwater management, urban agriculture, and neighborhood beautification—helping to build healthier, more resilient communities across Trenton. Participants earn a $17/hour living stipend, receive employment coaching and supportive services, and qualify for an education award upon completion of their term. If you’re 18 or older, enjoy working outdoors, and are ready to make a difference, we encourage you to apply today. Learn more and apply at isles.org/trentonclimatecorps.

Build Skills, Find Work: SNAP STEPS Career Services

Isles’ SNAP STEPS program helps participants move toward employment with personalized coaching, training funds, and practical job-readiness support. Services include résumé development, interview preparation, career exploration, and connections to job training opportunities that can lead to advancement or an entirely new career path. Participants receive one-on-one guidance tailored to their goals, along with support navigating today’s job market with confidence.

Whether you’re searching for your first job, aiming for a promotion, or ready to learn new skills, SNAP STEPS provides the resources to take the next step. Contact Isles at foc@isles.org or 609-341-4787 to learn more and find out if you’re eligible.