Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson Launches "Capital City My Brother's Keeper"
Frequently Asked Questions
Trenton, N.J. — Mayor Eric Jackson today announced the formation of "Capital City My Brother's Keeper" (CCMBK). The Mayor's initiative answers President Barack Obama's call to action for communities to devise sustainable solutions to inequality among young men of color. CCMBK will focus on childhood literacy, chronic absenteeism in Trenton public schools and the employability of young men, ages 16-25.
"It is time for us to get past talk and start devising real solutions to issues that are causing young men of color to struggle in a society where, I believe, anything can be accomplished when socioeconomic barriers are eliminated," said Mayor Jackson, who first announced the idea for "Capital City My Brother's Keeper" during his State of the City address in October.
Research, including a citywide survey conducted by the Mayor’s pre-launch committee, identified childhood literacy among third graders, chronic absenteeism and employment readiness among young African American and Latino males—especially those exiting the criminal justice system—as problems that should be the focus of "Capital City My Brother’s Keeper." The John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy at Thomas Edison State College facilitated the survey. Currently, members of the pre-launch committee include leaders from the Watson Institute, the I Am Trenton Community Foundation, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, the Latino Clergy of Trenton, the Capital City Community Coalition, the Living Hope Church/Empowerment Center and Friendship Baptist Church.
Over the next 45 days, in step with the guidelines of the President's "My Brother's Keeper" national initiative, committee members will work to organize a local action summit with the community and key stakeholders to assess needs and available resources and assets, set priorities and concrete goals. Thereafter, the planning committee will conduct a policy review and form an action agenda, which includes measuring results and sharing data with the initiative's partners to ensure that solutions can have a meaningful and long-term impact. A formal action plan is expected to be publicly announced by June 24, 2016.
"Collaborating on solutions that impact the lives of people, especially our young people, is exactly what government and community leaders should be doing. It’s critically important to the future of our city," Mayor Jackson added.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Please direct all press inquiries to:
Michael A. Walker
Public Information Officer and Aide to the Mayor
City of Trenton
Office of the Mayor
City Hall
319 East State Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
Direct: 609-989-3033
Cell Phone: 609-789-7272
E-mail: mwalker@trentonnj.org
