Princeton NJ Non-Profit Press Releases

Isles and Princeton University: A Partnership in Lead Action

May brought two reminders of what's possible when Isles teams up with our partners at Princeton University to address the lead crisis in East Trenton.

Isles Senior Advisor Elyse Pivnick presented "New Jersey Leads on Lead: Policies and Practices" to Princeton Professor John Higgins' Geoscience class, an annual course that has become a cornerstone of Isles' long-running partnership with the University. This year, Higgins' students learned to collect and analyze paint, soil, and water samples for lead contamination in East Trenton, a neighborhood where Isles has worked on lead inspections and remediation for years alongside the East Trenton Collaborative. The hands-on fieldwork gives Princeton undergraduates a direct role in documenting lead exposure in Trenton homes, while equipping residents with data they can use to push for safer housing and stronger policy.

"For nearly a decade, Princeton students have helped Trenton residents understand what's in their homes, their yards, and their water," said Pivnick. "That kind of partnership -- where rigorous science meets community trust -- is how change actually happens. Lead isn't an abstract problem. It's in our walls, our soil, and our pipes, and it takes researchers, residents, and advocates working side by side to get it out."

A month later, members of the Isles team gathered with community partners at the launch of four short documentaries produced by students in Professor Purcell Carson's "Documentary Film and the City" course. The films explore the lead crisis in East Trenton through the perspectives of the residents living it -- including two that feature community organizers from the East Trenton Collaborative.

Attending the screening from Isles and partner organizations were Trenton North Ward Councilwoman Jennifer Williams; Deandrah Cameron and Heather Sorge of Lead-Free NJ; and Isles' Stacy Heading, Elyse Pivnick, and Shereyl Snider.

Together, these collaborations reflect Isles' commitment to interconnected services and partnerships that create an environment where Trenton families can grow and thrive -- starting in their own homes, safe from lead.

The day began with a Gun Violence Awareness march hosted by Isles Trenton Community Street Team (TCST), led by Perry Shaw, from Trenton Housing Authority's Donnelly Homes to Cadwalader Park. We were joined by community members, NJ Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and her team, Mayor Reed Gusciora, Councilwoman At-Large Crystal Feliciano, Reverend Paul L. Rhebergen, and Pastor Dr. Darrell LaRue Armstrong. Our community partners VICTORY/Capital and Younity marched alongside us, together with Moms Demand Action.

At the park, we were proud to co-sponsor the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Rally, alongside numerous other organizations. We were joined by Councilwoman Teska Frisby, County Executive Dan Benson, County Commissioner Cathleen Lewis, and Councilwoman Yazminelly Gonzalez.

The heart of the rally was the reading of the names of the 16 people killed by gun violence this year in Trenton and Mercer County. The list is shorter this year. That progress is the work of an entire public safety ecosystem, and we are proud to be part of it.

Earlier this month, we were glad to welcome Senator Andrew Zwicker to Isles to see our lead and healthy homes work up close and to thank him for being a champion for our mission.

Alongside public health leaders, township officials, and advocates, we discussed Budget Resolution 276, of which Senator Zwicker is a prime sponsor. BR 276 calls for fully funding the Lead Hazard Control Assistance Fund.

Here's why it matters. Lead is one of the most damaging and most preventable threats to children's health. New Jersey has built the strongest lead remediation network in the country, but federal funding runs out at the end of 2026. Without action, state funding drops to less than $10 million a year, putting jobs and local agencies at risk.

The fix already exists. Fully funding the Lead Hazard Control Assistance Fund would make up to 1,600 more homes lead-safe every year, protecting kids and families across our state.

New Jersey has built something rare and effective. Now is the time to fund it.

To read more about the funding cliff, check out this op-ed from our Johnson Center staff.