City residents getting more health care access
The City of Trenton’s Department of Health and Human Services and the Henry J. Austin Health Center (HJAHC) have announced a shared-services agreement to ensure that city residents have continued access to high-quality, comprehensive, integrated medical care.
“This agreement makes certain that individuals, families, and children have uninterrupted access to critical health care, such as pediatric care services, including help with substance abuse and nutritional counseling,” said Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson about the partnership. “Henry J. Austin Health Center provides myriad medical services, including dental care, and has been doing so for many years.”
Over the past two years, health-care professionals volunteered at the city’s 218 North Broad Street clinic to provide childhood immunizations, general physicals, treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, and other services.
With this new agreement, patients currently under the clinic’s care will see an increase in care and services at the Henry J. Austin Health Center. That includes opportunities to interact with social workers, dentists, optometrists, clinical pharmacists, nutritionists, and more
Since 1969, Henry J. Austin Health Center has provided comprehensive health-care services to the Trenton community and recently established a pharmacy at its North Warren Street facility.
According to James Brownlee, the city’s health officer and director of the Department of Health and Human Services, current clinic patients will be notified of the arrangement with the Henry J. Austin Health Center and receive guidance on how to connect with their new health-care professionals.
“Our goal is to increase the availability of services to our patients, which elevates care,” said Brownlee.
Also involved is the Trenton Health Team which collaborates with the Henry J. Austin Health Center, St. Francis Medical Center, City of Trenton Department of Health and Human Services, and other health-care providers to expand city residents’ access to high quality, coordinated, cost-effective healthcare.
New executive director For Mercer Street Friends
The Mercer Street Friends (MSF) board of trustees recently selected Armstead G. Johnson to be executive director of the organization, succeeding Dr. Shannon M. Mason.
Johnson has a record of leadership at similar nonprofits and experience in youth development and anti-poverty programming.
He comes to MSF from the United Community Corporation (UCC) in Newark, where he was executive director. Like MSF, the UCC is an anti-poverty organization that has been a cornerstone of its community for over 50 years.
He was also executive director of All Saints Community Service and Development Corporation, which serves at-risk youth in Hoboken and Union City. His professional experience includes working with the Boys & Girls Clubs and the Urban League, and advocating for people with disabilities. Mr. Johnson also served social service agencies in Plainfield, Orange, West Orange, and Clifton.
Johnson holds a B.A. degree in political science from Howard University, an M.A. in public administration from Rutgers University-Newark, and a certificate in executive nonprofit leadership from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Delia Pitts, vice-chair of MSF’s board and chair of the search committee, said the committee selected Johnson because of his fundraising experience, engaging personality, supervisory experience in a variety of leadership roles, and optimism about the future of Mercer Street Friends.
Mason, who has worked for MSF for almost 14 years and is focusing on duties as senior pastor of New & Living Way Ministries in Trenton, welcomed her successor in a statement: “(Johnson) has proven to be an innovative leader who can make the hard decisions and build from challenging places. He is smart, experienced, charismatic, and compelling; he will be good for Mercer Street Friends and for the city.”
Trenton Children’s Chorus hops on the peace train
Eleven members of the Trenton Children’s Chorus (TCC) have been chosen in a national search to join the Peace Train Tour Across America.
The tour features a 100-voice diverse youth choir and band performing from New York to Washington DC to help put the “United” back in the USA. The project aims to unite people in a spirit of peace, respect, and mutual understanding through music.
The Peace Train Project was founded by South African musician and Grammy Award nominee Sharon Katz In 1992.
Against the background apartheid and the release of Nelson Mandela, Katz assembled a multi-racial 500-voice children’s choir to tour the country and bring a message of peace and reconciliation to rural areas, townships and cities. An award-winning documentary about the 1992 Peace Train Project, When Voices Meet, tells the story.
The TCC participants will join other singers from California, Hawaii, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, and the Washington, DC area, and will perform with Katz and her band at seven concerts in nine days.
Singers will also have the opportunity to attend workshops addressing the challenges of poverty, racial strife, intolerance, and educational inequities.
The Peace Train arrives at the Trenton Train Station on Tuesday, July 12 at 11:42 a.m. The touring choir will be joined by the Trenton Children’s Chorus for a free public outdoor performance at 12:30 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 471 Parkway Avenue. Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson will offer opening remarks. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or a lawn chair, and the event will be moved to the church sanctuary in case of rain.
Capital City Farm wins state smart growth award
D&R Greenway Land Trust’s Capital City Farm in Trenton was recently awarded a Smart Growth Award from New Jersey Future. Only projects that represent some of the best examples of sustainable growth and development in the state have been recognized with Smart Growth Awards.
“Capital City Farm is a great example of how land in an area that might not yet be ready to support market-rate development can be put to innovative, productive use,” said Andrew Hendry, CEO of the NJ Utilities Association and a New Jersey Future trustee, who chaired the Smart Growth Awards jury.
“This small plot will bring big benefits to the community it serves — not just healthy food, but nutrition education, job training, and opportunities for community collaboration,” said Hendry.
Located next to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen on Escher Street, the formerly abandoned land for the Capital City Farm was acquired for the project by the City of Trenton with funding from Mercer County’s Open Space Fund. The project has been guided by a collaborative composed of D&R Greenway, East Trenton Collaborative, Isles Inc., Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Escher Street SRO, Helping Arms, Rescue Mission, Watson Institute, Designing the We, City of Trenton, and Mercer County.
In 2015 project organizers addressed soil remediation, seeded a pollinator garden, planted tree and shrubs along adjoining streets, replaced the chain link fence with a new tubular one, upgraded electric and water hookups, and installed a cistern, greenhouse, a large Trenton-themed sign. Currently the farm has a demonstration garden that provides food for six Trenton families.
In addition to creating signage with information on farming, area history, and opportunities for involvement, coordinators are also planning programs on agricultural education, nutrition, and job-training opportunities.
Capital City Farm Farmstand, 301 North Clinton Avenue. Open Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteer hours Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m.-noon, Thursdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon. www.drgreenway.org/capitalcityfarm.html.
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