The Trenton Prevention Policy Board (TPPB) is a unique community-building, collective impact network that is supported by the Attorney General’s Office of Community Justice. Since becoming involved in 2010, the Center for Community Engaged Learning and Research at The College of New Jersey has organized a process that brings together representatives from a wide range of over 40 organizations on a monthly basis around a primary objective: to make evidence-based policy, practice, and program recommendations to prevent juvenile crime and promote positive youth development in the city of Trenton. Towards this objective, the board’s goals include: 1) to learn more about the systems and programs that are serving young people; 2) to examine where there are gaps, inefficiencies, or opportunities for collaboration ; and, 3) to recommend new and improved, evidence-based programs and practices in positive youth development and to work toward implimenting those practices.
This October, TPPB is launching a Youth Advisory Council to better achieve its goals. A group of 10-12 young people, ages 13 – 18, from every corner of Trenton will come together once a month to debate ideas for promoting positive youth development in Trenton. Youth Council Members will have consistent, off-the-record space to discuss the merits and drawbacks of positive youth development and juvenile crime prevention programs that are currently offered or under development by adult leaders in the community. Youth Council members will also have multiple and ongoing opportunities to present their ideas at public forums, and to track over time the impact that their advice has on the programs that serve young people in the City.
Trenton residents between the ages of 13- 18 are invited to participate. Meetings will be held on the 3rd Thursday of the month, from 5:30 – 7:00 PM in downtown Trenton, from October – July. Youth with experience with the juvenile justice system and human serivces are especially welcome. Interested young people can contact Sarah Aubrey, the coordinator for TPPB, at aubreys@tcnj.edu.