The Trenton Times published the following article on July 18, 2013. To read the full article, click here.

Trenton residents learn how to be more active participants in government

By Nicole Mulvaney/The Times of Trenton 
on July 18, 2013 at 7:00 AM, updated July 18, 2013 at 3:03 PM

TRENTON — As a small group of city residents came to the Lighthouse Outreach Ministries on Bellevue Avenue last night, they all had a specific objective: to learn how to effect positive change in their hometown through leadership and community service.

“I want to learn about how I can keep my city safe and take part as a citizen,” Trenton resident Simona Brickers said. “I want to see us become a lot stronger as a community.”

The first of a four-part “Bring Your Voice to the Table” series held at the ministry centered on ways Trenton residents can become more active participants in government, learn about their legal rights and get results.

“We have to have a collective voice. It is disheartening to see so many empty seats at city council meetings,” Trenton resident Rachel Cogsville-Lattimer said. “I’d love to see those wooden chairs filled with human bodies.”

Organized by the Citizens Campaign, an organization founded in 1998 and dedicated to educating residents statewide about leadership opportunities in their hometowns, the series will focus on how Trenton residents can be more effective advocates in City Hall to have their ideas heard.

“Most people think the only way to get involved as an active citizen is to run for council and get elected, but citizens can get involved in so many other ways,” campaign director Lauren Skowronski said. “You don’t have to spend a lot of money and campaign really hard.”

To do this, Skowronski said that the first step is identifying a specific problem to target and getting others to advocate for solutions.

Yesterday, attendees identified gun violence, domestic violence and the many abandoned houses in the city, among other concerns, as neighborhood problems that are in dire need of being addressed.

“Instead of complaining about what’s wrong, we need to understand what’s wrong and how to collectively and legitimately resolve it,” resident Darren Green said. “Trenton is too small to be this dysfunctional.”

Citizens must also do their research and know their rights, especially by learning about the Open Public Records Act (OPRA), which allows people to obtain government records that might otherwise be withheld, Skowronski said.

She said citizens also need to make sure they take their concerns to the correct governing body or official, rather than wasting time in the wrong department. Further, they need to anticipate that the city may not have the funds to address problems and that the citizens may need to line up alternative sources of funding by themselves.

“We need to increase the pool of problem-solvers,” Skowronski said.

The talks are hosted by the West Ward Alliance, which works to improve the wellness of children and families in Trenton.

“Knowledge is power. Real change starts with the individual, not elected officials. They are an extension of us, not the other way around,” Trenton resident Calvin Thomas said. He serves on the steering committee for the West Ward Alliance. “Superman is not going to come and help us. Individuals that reside and live in the community need to make things happen,” he said.

Community co-sponsors include Lighthouse Ministries, Trenton NAACP, West Ward Neighborhood Group and Grace Community Church.

Next Wednesday’s event will teach residents how they can inform the community about issues involving Trenton.

On July 31, attendees can learn about how to make an impact on the decisions being made in the city through different boards and commissions.

The final event on Aug. 7 will illustrate ways to become a political party leader and get more involved within the community.

The forums are open to the public and will be held every Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. through Aug. 7 at the Lighthouse Outreach Ministries. All Trenton residents are invited to participate.

Contact Nicole Mulvaney at 609-989-5723 or at nmulvaney@njtimes.com.