Fostering self-reliant families and healthy, sustainable communities.
June 2021
Dear Friend,

June is always a busy time for Isles, and we're especially excited to share some celebrations and milestones with you this year. Here's a snapshot:

First, we just completed our first-ever ambitious weeklong virtual Forum from June 7-12. We had more than 1,000 registrations for 18 sessions held over six days, where we explored community development and environmental challenges and solutions. Missed it or want to watch again? Read below to see how to watch the recordings from these popular and informative sessions.

This Saturday is Juneteenth, a day celebrating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States. Isles recognizes Juneteenth as a holiday for reflection and service and will be participating in the city-wide event at Mill Hill Park.

Next Tuesday, June 22nd, is the Isles Youth Institute Commencement Ceremony. This celebration of youth achievement will be in a hybrid format this year - we're holding the event with a limited in-person audience at the Social Profit Center at Mill One and livestreaming it on our website.

Last, but certainly not least, Isles' Summer Garden Social is Friday, June 25th! The Garden Social, held outdoors at Isles' demonstration and production garden at Tucker Street, is a celebration of sustainable communities. We invite gardeners to bring a dish to share with using their own local produce.

Read below for more information on all of these events - we'd love to see you there!

In community,

Jacquelin Giacobbe
Director of Communications and Grants Management
Watch Recordings from Isles' Forum
Isles’ Forum was a week-long virtual series of webinars, workshops, and panels to explore community development and environmental challenges and solutions. We tackled questions such as, “How can we make densely packed, urban areas sustainable? How can local housing policy create safe, strong neighborhoods? What role does urban agriculture have to play in inner cities? How can we support the next generation of safe and engaged youth in Trenton and the region?”

Missed any sessions? There are two ways to watch:
  1. Visit the Forum homepage, click on the session title and then click the “watch video” button. (You can also download session slides from this page.)
  2. Visit this page with all the Forum videos in one spot.
2021 Isles Youth Institute Commencement
The 2021 Isles Youth Institute Commencement Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at 10:00 A.M. at the Social Profit Center at Mill One in Hamilton, NJ. Commencement will include an awards ceremony and student speeches, with a reception to follow. This year's keynote speaker will be Dr. Adela Ames-Lopez, Director of Health & Human Services for the City of Trenton. Isles expects an audience of families, teachers, friends, and other supporters in attendance. The ceremony will be broadcasted on a live stream which you can check out here during the day of the event. Limited in-person tickets are available - if you would like to attend, please RSVP here.

The commencement ceremony is the culmination of a year’s worth of academic and job training for students at Isles Youth Institute (IYI), an alternative school that emphasizes leadership development and civic engagement for students who have dropped out of traditional high school. Students participate in afterschool activities and volunteer extensively in the community as they work towards their educational goals, including applying to college and pursuing employment.
Isles' Summer Garden Social
Friday, June 25th from 4-7 PM
Isles at Juneteenth in Mill Hill Park
Saturday, June 19th 12 - 5 PM
Come celebrate the summer harvest and partake generously in food and fun at our garden, located at 33 Tucker Street in Trenton.

Have a special dish to share? We love it when people bring dishes, especially when made with produce from their own gardens. Family and friends are always welcome. This is our most popular garden event of the season! To RSVP and for more details about this free event contact our Urban Ag team at 609.341.4729 or urbanag@isles.org.
This Saturday, Isles is participating in the Juneteenth celebration held by the African American Cultural Collaborative of Mercer County (AACCofMC).
 
Come check out Isles’ T-Recs mobile recreation truck, where we’ll have fun and games for all ages. In addition, we’ll be offering on-site garden demos and will have an Isles Youth Institute table where you can learn more about Isles’ alternative education and job training option for youth aged 16-24. Learn more about the event here.