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Congratulations Laura!
We are thrilled to announce that Laura Fenster Rothschild has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer at Isles!
Laura has been an invaluable leader at Isles, previously serving as Managing Director of Learning & Impact. In this role she successfully launched the Johnson Center for Learning and Impact where she partnered to build the capacity of individuals, organizations, and communities through advocacy, research, and education. As the leader of Isles Youth Institute, Laura advanced the practices of our re-engagement high school - securing funding, growing enrollment, and improving outcomes while also restructuring and identifying a talented Executive Director to continue this progress. Her dedication to equitable, effective, and sustainable practices has been instrumental in advancing our mission: To create the environment necessary for people and communities to grow and thrive.
Prior to coming to Isles, Laura had over two decades of experience leading and supporting organizations in promoting the health and wellbeing of youth, families, and communities. Laura began her career in education and health, first at the Center for Supportive Schools leading a national initiative designed to transform high schools into communities of wellness and success in 117 urban centers around the country. Then, as the Director of Education and Training at Rutgers University’s Center of Alcohol Studies where she worked to bring research scientists together with clinicians and policy makers to promote advances in behavioral and public health. In addition to these long term positions, Laura worked as an Independent Consultant partnering and leading projects focused on developing and implementing organizational, programmatic, and community initiatives that are transformational. This included work in education; behavioral healthcare; policy; and through philanthropic and impact-investment strategies.
Throughout her career Laura has consistently demonstrated the vision, leadership, and commitment that makes her the perfect fit for this expanded role. In all her work, Laura grounds her practice in building and nurturing deep relationships that honor each other’s narratives, allow all to show up as their authentic selves, and provide space for growth and laughter. Her approach and expertise in programmatic, financial, and operational consultation, combined with her deep understanding of mission-driven work, will be essential as we continue to strengthen people and places in urban settings.
Please join us in congratulating Laura! We're excited to see her continued leadership as we work together to create lasting change in our communities.
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Creek to Canvas Clean Up
Community members, Isles staff, volunteers and artist Raven George gathered at Roberto Clemente Park for a cleanup day. As one of the 2025 Creek to Canal Grant Award winners, Raven brought neighbors together to reclaim and beautify this vital community space through collective action and care. The Creek to Canal Grant is part of Isles' new Trenton Creative Network Grant program, which awards grants to support local artists in developing impactful community projects.
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Historic Victory: EPA Adds East Trenton Potteries Site to Federal Superfund List
The East Trenton Collaborative (ETC) achieved a major environmental justice victory when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officially added the Historic Potteries site to the National Priorities List on July 7th, securing federal funding for comprehensive lead contamination cleanup.
This milestone comes after a decade of persistent community organizing and over five years of focused work on lead contamination issues in East Trenton. From the 1850s through the 1920s, more than 70 pottery manufacturers operated in the neighborhood, using lead in their glazes and leaving widespread soil contamination that poses serious health risks, particularly to children under seven.
"This is a bittersweet accomplishment for our team and residents. The generational toll of this level of unmitigated contamination is felt daily by our community," said Caitlin Fair, Program Director of the East Trenton Collaborative. "However, we are both relieved and hopeful that the work we have been able to do and will continue to do will be of tremendous benefit to future generations."
The organizing efforts have been led by ETC's resident-driven Environmental Safety Community Organizing Committee, headed by organizer Shereyl Snider. As a Lead-Free Community Hub in partnership with Lead-Free NJ, ETC has focused on increasing public awareness about lead dangers and advocating for testing and remediation at all levels of government.
"Our residents didn't just demand action—they became experts," said Snider. "We partnered with Rutgers to train community members as community scientists, teaching them about lead exposure and how to collect soil samples for testing."
This victory builds on Isles' broader commitment to addressing lead exposure through multiple programs. Isles' Lead and Healthy Homes initiative provides free lead and healthy home assessments to Mercer County residents, along with healthy home kits and education about creating safer living environments. This comprehensive approach addresses both indoor and outdoor lead exposure—critically important work given that approximately 50% of children in Trenton Schools have blood lead levels that affect learning and behavior.
The NPL designation unlocks federal funding for long-term cleanup of contamination affecting homes, parks, and public spaces throughout the neighborhood. The EPA has already installed temporary soil covers at Ulysses S. Grant Intermediate School and completed similar measures at local parks, while providing free soil testing to residents.
This victory demonstrates how resident-led organizing can drive meaningful environmental change and protect community health for future generations.
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Community Voices in Action
Community members united at one of our recent town halls to discuss advocacy strategies and protect vital neighborhood programs. From seasoned activists to first-time participants, residents came together to learn about federal budget impacts, how to contact Congress, and build connections that strengthen our collective voice. Stay tuned for upcoming events!
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Isles Trenton Community Street Team's Heather Johnson-Smith Represents Northeast at National Gun Violence Conference
TCST Operations Manager Heather Johnson-Smith, BSN, was recently selected to represent the entire Northeastern Region at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's national conference, "Examining the Burden of Gun Violence Among Black Women and Girls."
This prestigious gathering addressed a critical yet often overlooked issue—the devastating impact of gun violence on Black women and girls, a trend that continues to worsen nationwide. Heather was invited not only as a participant but as an expert panelist, bringing her decades of experience in trauma-informed care, healing practices, and direct survivor support to the national stage.
During the conference, Heather engaged with leaders from across the country, including academics, practitioners, and neuroscientists, sharing insights and strategies while ensuring that Trenton's voice—and the pain and triumphs of our women and girls—were represented in these vital conversations.
With over 20 years of dedicated service to Trenton's youth and families, Heather's expertise in trauma-informed care and community-based healing made her an invaluable contributor to this national dialogue. Her foundational background in nursing, combined with her extensive work in violence intervention and crisis response, positioned her perfectly to advocate for equitable, sustainable approaches to addressing this crisis.
Heather returns to Trenton with new tools, strategies, and national connections that will strengthen TCST's work on the ground, continuing our mission of healing women, girls, and families impacted by violence. As she often reminds us, healing starts with all of us.
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Congratualations Grads!
Congratulations to our largest-ever graduating class of 24 young leaders from the Isles Youth Institute! These incredible graduates have earned their high school diplomas while gaining hands-on work experience, leadership skills, and the tools to transform their communities. Through our comprehensive program combining education, job training, financial literacy, and service learning, these students have developed into conscious, leaders ready to pursue post-secondary education, advanced vocational training, or career-oriented positions.
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Planting Seeds of Change
Isles partnered with Capital City Farm to showcase urban agriculture in action featuring fresh farm produce alongside our local honey and custom herbal tea.
The evening's highlight? Leslie Taylor, a dedicated Isles Garden member, speaking powerfully about food injustice in Trenton. Guests connected directly with our Director of Food and Gardens, Otha Caldwell, learning about our work combating food insecurity right here in Trenton, NJ.
This incredible exposure connected us with national food justice advocates while elevating our local community voices.
| | | Federal funding uncertainty leaves our organization in a vulnerable position just when our communities need us most. The clock is ticking on programs that transform neighborhoods in Trenton and beyond. We need your support now to keep these vital services alive and to ensure we can continue serving families who depend on us. | | | | |
