Isles Inc

TO OFFER SERVICES IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES (IN THE TRENTON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA) TO ADDRESS CRITICAL URBAN NEEDS IN THE AREAS OF COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION, URBAN AGRICULTURE, GREEN JOB TRAINING, YOUTH EDUCATION, VIOLENCE PREVENTION, CLIMATE IMPACT, LEAD REMEDIATION, ENERGY AND WEATHERIZATION SERVICES, FINANCIAL AND HOUSING COUNSELING AND EDUCATION AND RESEARCH AND POLICY IMPLEMENTATION.

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT (CP&D): ISLES COLLABORATES WITH RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY COMMUNITY CONCERNS AND PRIORITIES; CREATE COMMUNITY-LED NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS; AND SECURE RESOURCES TO SUSTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION EFFORTS OVER THE LONG TERM. IN ADDITION, ISLES LEADS CITY-WIDE RESEARCH AND PLANNING INITIATIVES RELATED TO BLIGHT REDUCTION, CREATIVE PLACEMAKING, AND FOOD SYSTEMS. ISLES ALSO PURCHASES, IMPROVES, AND DEVELOPS REAL ESTATE IN DOWNTOWN TRENTON, AND MANAGES AND MAINTAINS AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS TO MODERATE THE MARKET AND ENSURE HEALTHY, SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING REMAINS AVAILABLE FOR LONG-TERM RESIDENTS. IN 2021, THIS WORK INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING:-COMPLETED DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW DOWNTOWN TRENTON NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION TAX CREDIT PROGRAM, WITH EXPANDED BOUNDARIES AND INTEGRATION OF THE CREEK TO CANAL CREATIVE DISTRICT PLAN.-FACILITATED THE UPDATING OF A CITY-WIDE NEIGHBORHOOD CONDITIONS REPORT, EXAMINING KEY INDICATORS OF A NEIGHBORHOOD'S HEALTH.-COMPLETED REHAB OF A 3 BEDROOM APARTMENT AND FIRST FLOOR COMMERCIAL SPACE AT 118 N MONTGOMERY IN OLD TRENTON-LED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE "PEOPLE PLAN" COMPONENT PLANNING EFFORT FOR THE DONNELLY HOMES NEIGHBORHOOD IN NORTH TRENTON, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TRENTON HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE CITY OF TRENTON-COLLABORATED WITH SIX LOCAL ARTISTS TO BEAUTIFY LOCATIONS IN DOWNTOWN BY COMBINING CUSTOM ARTWORK, VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPHS, AND RESEARCH ON LARGE-SCALE DESIGN, KNOWN AS "REFLECTING TRENTON"URBAN AGRICULTURE: ISLES SUPPORTS 75 COMMUNITY, SCHOOL, BACKYARD, AND INSTITUTIONAL GARDENS. IN 2021, ISLES:-PROVIDED 70+ ONLINE INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS IN GARDENING, NUTRITION, BEEKEEPING, AND COOKING, REACHING MORE THAN 200 YOUTH-DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 200 FREE "GROW KITS" TO PROMOTE AT-HOME GARDENING, AND DONATED MORE THAN 700 LBS OF PRODUCE TO EMERGENCY FOOD SUPPLIERS-HARVESTED OVER 500 POUNDS OF HONEY AND AGAIN RECEIVED FIRST PLACE IN THE BLIND TASTE TEST DIVISION OF THE ANNUAL NJ BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION HONEY SHOW

ISLES' CENTER FOR ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL TRAINING (CEET): CEET IS A GREEN COLLAR JOB TRAINING FACILITY, TARGETING CAREERS IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. THIS YEAR, CEET:-TRAINED 157 INDIVIDUALS IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY (BOTH VIRTUALLY AND IN-PERSON)-PROVIDED HEALTHY HOMES FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS COURSES (VIRTUALLY) TO 40+ PARTICIPANTS, LEAD SAFETY AND HEALTHY HOMES: ISLES CONTINUED TO PROVIDE RETROFITS TO LOW-INCOME HOMES TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND REMOVE LEAD, MOLD/MOISTURE, ASTHMA TRIGGERS, FALL AND BURN HAZARDS AND OTHER NEGATIVE INDOOR HEALTH CONDITIONS. IN ADDITION, ISLES CONTINUES TO BE A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR LEAD AND HEALTHY HOMES PUBLIC EDUCATION, POLICY CHANGE AND INCREASED FUNDING FOR REMEDIATION OF LEAD CONTAMINATED HOMES. THIS YEAR, ISLES: -PROVIDED LEAD-SAFE RENOVATION, REPAIR, AND PAINT TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR 65 WORKERS.-PROVIDED 6 LEAD WORKER/LEAD SUPERVISION TRAININGS, OFFERING 21 LEAD ABATEMENT CERTIFICATIONS-OFFERED "THE EIGHT KEYS TO A HEALTHY HOME" 2 TIMES TO REACH A TOTAL OF 49 COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

ISLES REAL ESTATE SERVICES WORK IN CONJUNCTIONWITH THE COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO CARRY OUT STRATEGIC REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, INCLUDING COMMUNITY FACILTIES, HOMES, AND COMMERCIAL SPACES. THIS ALSO INCLUDES LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT OF ALL ISLES PURCHASED PROPERTIES AND ISLES OFFICE FACILITIES. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CONSISTS OF PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS AND TENANT SERVICES. FACILITIES MANAGEMENT CONSISTS OF ASSISTING WITH TRAINING AND MEETING SPACES AS WELL AS MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS OF FACILITIES.SOCIAL PROFIT CENTER AT MILL ONE: IS A HISTORIC FORMER TEXTILE MILL ON THE TRENTON/HAMILTON BORDER THAT ISLES CONVERTED INTO A HIGH-PERFORMING, MIXED USE REGIONAL HUB FOR DOZENS OF SOCIAL PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THE CENTER FOSTERS A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO THRIVE AND FIND NEW WAYS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMMING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. IN 2021, WE:-SECURED $1.8M IN INVESTMENT THROUGH THE HISTORIC REHABILITATION TAX CREDIT PROGRAM. -OPENED OUR DOORS IN Q1 AND SECURED 25 TENANTS, REPRESENTING 73% OF THE BUILDING OCCUPIED.-CURRENTLY HOST MONTHLY MEETINGS AND QUARTERLY MIXERS WITH TENANTS TO FOSTER A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT.

ISLES YOUTH INSTITUTE (IYI): IYI OFFERS ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION OPTIONS FOR DISENGAGED STUDENTS SEEKING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA, JOB SKILLS, AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING. THIS YEAR:-33 CERTIFICATIONS WERE EARNED BY ISLES YOUTH INSTITUTE STUDENTS IN CPR, OSHA, AND PRE- APPRENTICESHIP CONSTRUCTION TRAINING-6 IYI STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN OUR SOCIAL-DISTANCED GRADUATION EARNING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS. -28 STUDENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ALUMNI PARTICIPATED IN VARIOUS INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL JOB TRAINING, INTERNSHIP, AND SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.-25 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN ISLES' LOVE, PEACE, JOY SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDED WORKSHOPS IN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, SELF-WORTH AND MENTAL HEALTH, THERAPEUTIC PAINTING, AND AFRICAN DRUMMING-"WOMEN CRUSHING WEDNESDAYS (WCW)," SERIES DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, RECOGNIZING GAME-CHANGING WOMEN IN AND FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING THEM A PLATFORM FOR DISCUSSION VIA ZOOM. -MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS FOR MORE THAN 30 YOUTH, WHICH INCLUDED BEAUTIFYING AND MAINTAINING THE TRENTON CITY HALL OUTDOOR ATRIUM AND IMPROVING COMMUNITY CENTERS.FINANCIAL SERVICES: ISLES CONTINUED TO OFFER HOMEBUYER AND FORECLOSURE COUNSELING TO PREPARE LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME INDIVIDUALS FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP AND TO HELP FAMILIES AVOID FORECLOSURE. WE ALSO OFFERED ISLES FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS (IFS), AN EMPLOYER-BASED FINANCIAL CAPABILITY INITIATIVE FOR LOWER WAGE WORKERS THAT INCLUDES AN INNOVATIVE MIX OF FINANCIAL COACHING, CREDIT-BUILDING FINANCE, SAVINGS PRODUCTS, AND GROUP-BASED LEARNING. IFS WORKS WITH PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, CAPITAL HEALTH SYSTEMS AND LOCAL NONPROFITS. THIS YEAR:-ISLES HAD 284 CUSTOMERS SEEKING HOUSING OR FORECLOSURE ADVICE OR ASSISTANCE -155 CUSTOMERS ATTENDED PRE-PURCHASE WORKSHOPS. -176 ATTENDED ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING SESSIONS.-81 CUSTOMERS EARNED HOUSING CERTIFICATES (TO QUALIFY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.)-42 CUSTOMERS PURCHASED A FIRST HOME.-236 CUSTOMERS RECEIVED IFS SERVICES-107 ONE-ON-ONE CUSTOMERS COMPLETED A BUDGET, CREDIT ANALYSIS AND ACTION PLAN. -176 ATTENDED VIRTUAL FINANCIAL WORKSHOPS (OFFERED VIRTUALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.)-12 CUSTOMERS FILED THEIR TAXES WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A FINANCIAL COACH.