TCNJ

Community e N G A G e M e N t c o M M u n i T Y e n g a g e d l e a R n i n g i S a d e F i n i n g e l e M e n T o F a T c n J e d u c a T i o n . rough curricular and co-curricular activities, students learn by service to and engagement with diverse communities on and off campus. e college produces students who not only excel academically and in their chosen careers, but who are also engaged citizens both locally and globally. a R e T u R n T o o u R R o o T S Having left trenton to settle the current Hillwood lakes campus 84 years ago, tCnJ reestablished a physical presence in the capital this year with its new satellite office, trentonWorks, at the intersection of South Broad and State Streets—what most residents consider the heart of the city. While the college has remained actively engaged in trenton over the years through various community service initiatives, trentonWorks allows faculty and staff to create a broader range of teaching and learning opportunities that are deeper and have greater impact on students as well as residents. Dubbed the college's downtown hub for innovation, creativity, collaboration, and community change, trentonWorks is just four miles from the tCnJ campus and within walking distance to some of the most important Revolutionary War sites, the State legislature, the federal courthouse, and over 100 local businesses. equally important, according to patrick Donohue, assistant provost for community engaged learning (Cel) and executive director of the Bonner Institute, the space is accessible to local residents and community partners. "is space has had a tremendous impact on our ability to animate the college's public service and educational missions," he said. "For example, by offering citizenship classes on a weekly basis with el Centro de Recursos para Familias, students from a variety of tCnJ disciplines—history, Spanish, and political science—have the chance to learn while they serve by helping new residents pass their test. everyone benefits." In partnership with the School of the Arts and Communication, trentonWorks also houses an Interactive Multimedia lab, where students receive credit to respond to the needs of local businesses and nonprofit partners for the design and development of new applications. e interdisciplinary nature of these programs and the opportunity for students to engage all year rather than just a day or a semester make them best-practice models for other colleges and universities. T R e n T o n V i o l e n c e R e d u c T i o n S T R a T e g Y ( T V R S ) Funded by a multi-year grant from the new Jersey Attorney General's office and overseen by the trenton police Department, this long-term initiative is taking a holistic approach to assisting repeat offenders and those at risk of becoming involved in gangs choose a different path in life. By deploying social services and outreach workers in high- crime neighborhoods, the effort delivers needed counseling, job training, and other aid as an alternative for young people who might otherwise engage in criminal activity. Assistant professor Sandy Gibson and a team of Cel program staff will lead tCnJ's effort to integrate the research, evaluation, and direct service needs of the project into the college's Cel program. h e R e F o R h o M e When Hurricane Sandy struck in october 2012, its effect was felt up and down the east Coast. Homes were ruined, businesses destroyed, loved ones lost. e tCnJ community banded together to help their fellow new Jerseyans by creating Here for Home. Students, faculty, and staff began organizing food and clothing drives on campus before traveling to devastated locations to assist local groups with cleanup, recovery, and rebuilding efforts. 8

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