665
Isles, Inc.
ADDRESS
10 Wood Street
Trenton, NJ 08618
PHONE
609-341-4700
FAX
609-393-9513
INTERNET ADDRESS
ADMINISTRATOR
Allison Salerno, Communications Manager
CONTACT NAME
Allison Salerno, Communications Manager
DESCRIPTION
Isles, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to
foster more self-reliant families in healthy sustainable
communities. Isles seeks to address immediate critical needs,
such as housing, health, financial literacy, jobs and hunger, while
pursuing long-term equitable solutions that support self-
reliance and a healthy environment on a regional level. Through
training, technical and organizating assistance, real estate
development planning, education, research and advocacy, Isles
improves social economic and environmental health in Trenton
and surrounding suburbs.
PROGRAMS
Isles YouthBuild Institute: Since 1993, YouthBuild has
provided a caring, peer-based setting for young adults who
want a high school diploma, career education, construction
education, job and high education placement. Trainees attend
both academic and vocational classes. They also rehabilitate at
least one abandoned home in Trenton each year. The Institute
also offers life skills and leadership training, individualized
counseling and financial literacy. Isles' case management and
services provide appropriate referrals while showing students
how to manage child care and employment without giving up school.
Environment and Community Health: Among the opportunities
in this program are community gardening, restoration of public
open space, nutrition education, lead-poisoning prevention,
and fitness and wellness initiatives. These programs help
improve the health and environment for city residents who are
disproportionately affected by adverse indoor and outdoor
environmental conditions. Isles operates the most extensive
network of community gardens in New Jersey.
Community Planning and Research: facilitates community
involvement by helping residents organize, identify and address
immediate needs and build their capacity to meet long-term
challenges without Isles' assistance. Isles works with
communities to research, advocate and organize strategies that
foster sustainable, equitable development in both local and
regional communities.
Isles' Real Estate Department provides the "bricks and mortar"
part of Isles' mission of fostering self-reliant families in healthy,
sustainable communities. It builds the homes that families will
occupy. Isles has been involved in real estate development in
Trenton for 15 years, beginning in 1993, working closely with
the City of Trenton and using a combination of city, state and
federal funding, Isles creates home ownership opportunities for
low- and moderate-income families, and has developed
approximately 165 units of owner-occupied housing in Trenton.
Financial Self-Reliance: Isles strengthens family financial stability by
providing financial literacy training, home-ownership counseling and placement
and microbusiness development for individuals and families.
The emphasis is on helping families acquire assets through participation
in the following programs - Fiinancial Literacy Classes, Homebuyer's Club
and Microbusiness Development.
FOUNDED
1981
SUBJECTS
Housing
Environmental Organizations and Services
Advocacy
Children and Youth
LAST UPDATED
5/08