Library Boxes of Trenton NJ

June 10, 2016 Trenton 365

On Friday May 6, 2016 in Trenton NJ the “Books On The Block 1.0” event took place at Championship Bar located at 931 Chambers St.

Several individuals and organizations committed to literacy efforts in Trenton, NJ participated.

Local Artists upcycled newspaper boxes into Library Boxes and painted Book Nooks that will be distributed through a network of locations throughout Trenton, including Barbershops, Businesses, Organizations and individual residents.

Partnering Organizations

Library Boxes of Trenton NJ
https://www.facebook.com/TrentonNJLibraryBoxes/

Trenton 365 founder and project coordinator Jacque Howard, explained that this project is an “adoption model” meaning that individuals, businesses or organizations will initially receive the repurposed newspaper boxes for free along with a load of used books. The adopters will commit to manage the boxes and surrounding area. (Excerpt from Mercerme.com)

United Way of Greater Mercer County – Barbershop Initiative
http://www.uwgmc.org/

United Way of Greater Mercer County is a nonprofit organization that, among other goals, works to enhance and promote early childhood literacy. We are proud to partner with our friends in Trenton and the Books on the Block program. Through these efforts, we know that we can help blanket the city of Trenton with books and increase access to literacy. Megan Kirschner

Trenton Free Public Library
http://www.trentonlib.org/

The Trenton Free Public Library wholly supports Books on the Block, which reflects our mission of being a bridge that connects the community to literacy, guides learning, and inspires curiosity. Rochelle Stern

Trenton Makes – Words
http://trentoncommunitymusic.org/trenton-makes-words/

Trenton Makes—Words! is a community initiative to foster the vocabulary development of Trenton children age 5 and under through parent-child engagement experiences with art, music, history, and science. The partnership between The New Jersey State Museum, Trenton Community Music School, and The Children's Home Society is supported by PNC Grow Up Great and offers city-wide engaging educational programs and festivals for parents/caregivers and their young children.

Trenton Makes - Words! will be holding a Pop-Up at the Books on the Block event on May 6th, where there will be activities for parents and children including music, arts and crafts, and storytelling to promote fun and learning. Caitlin Fair

Code for Trenton
http://codefortrenton.org/

All of the change-makers part of Code for Trenton are excited to enjoy the honor of joining with others to make the library boxes and book nooks happen all over Trenton. We're excited about using mapping technology and social media to facilitate and support. This is profound stuff - putting the written word in the hands of every child and adult fosters a culture of knowledge, of literacy, and of a future that we build ourselves from the bottom-up rather than being told how to. Personally this matters so much to me; as a born and raised proud Trentonian, and as a person who feels that reading, writing, and knowledge is what will get the entire city moving forward, regardless of the craziness that is in our way. Adam Porroni

My Brothers Keeper

http://www.trentonnj.org/cit-e-access/news/index.cfm?NID=39398&TID=55&jump2=0

President Obama’s national My Brother’s Keeper initiative is a challenge to communities to come together in addressing opportunity and achievement gaps that young men of color face. With the White House’s guidance, the Capital City My Brother’s Keeper initiative is an effort to support existing and new community led initiatives that address issues of chronic absenteeism, early literacy, and employability.

The City of Trenton, through the Capital City My Brother’s Keeper initiative, is pleased to support a community led and driven initiative that will increase access to literacy resources for our children and the City at large. Early literacy is a critical component of Trenton’s continued revitalization. Alex Rivera

Refreshments were available for purchase from the WTF? Where’s The Food Truk”

https://www.facebook.com/wtffoodtruck2013/?fref=ts

DJ – Flea Market entertained the crowd with a mix of music.

https://www.facebook.com/FleaMarketTheDJ?__mref=message_bubble

Participating Artists included:

William Kasso
Leon Rainbow
Wills Kinsley
Tamara Ramos
Jonathan Conner
Jamaila Hernandez
Jesse Vincent
Billy MF Brown aka Roy Hames
Aylin Green
Lori Johannson
Bruce Lindsay
Antoinette Marchfelder
Jodi Walker
Chelsea Perron

Bayron Calderon

Jamie Peck

On Thursday June 2, 2016 the Library Boxes and Book Nooks were unveiled to the public.

To date ~10 boxes and nooks have been adopted and Library Boxes of Trenton is proud to announce that Prometheus Publishing has signed on as a sponsor! (More information coming soon)

If you have questions, would like to participate or have some words of encouragement please email

libraryboxesoftrenton@gmail.com

All images captured by Lifestyle By Amans Brindled - www.amansbrindled.com