There are no shortages of individuals, organizations and businesses working with the City Trenton to address literacy in NJ's Capital City.

One of my personal efforts, Library Boxes of Trenton aka #lbot is about to launch the next step in this grassroots effort.  More information can be found on the Library Boxes of Trenton Facebook Page.

The week of October 9th I met with ~6 representatives of the Trenton Literacy Movement - TLM to hear about the efforts they have been working on for approximately 4 years.  At this meeting I learned a bit of the history, some of the players, the goals and most importantly why they are committed to literacy efforts.

In short "TLM is an umbrella organization born out of the commitment of the NAACP Trenton Branch to educational equality.  TLM seeks to galvanize the greater Trenton community to partner with Trenton Public Schools in addressing Trenton's literacy crisis."  Highlighted points of the organization can be read via the image captured below of a handout from the event.

The event coordinated in partnership with Random House Publishers/Books began with a welcome and introduction by Interim Superintendent Lucia Feria.  After some brief comments Chief of Staff Francis Blanco delivered a message from the Mayor Eric Jackson followed by comments from  Author Mary Pope Osborne.

Hedgepath-Williams School located in Trenton's East Ward is named after 2 families who fought segregation in Trenton's public schools in 1944, which became the precursor to the Brown v. Board of Education case that prohibited racial segregation of school systems throughout the United States. 

My visit also gave me some time to chat with Principal Mrs. Talaya Stoddard-Wilson about the biking culture in Trenton, stay tuned.