The Occupational Training Center assists adults with disabilities in reaching their maximum potential through skill-building, personal growth and community connections. Their comprehensive programs include employment, day and residential services tailored to individual needs. Since 1964, the O.T.C. has grown from training eight individuals in the basement of a school to training over 700 people in a wide variety of vocational disciplines throughout their many New Jersey locations. Their programs are designed to help adults with disabilities find the success they need at work, at home, and beyond.

You can learn more about how the Occupational Training Center provides opportunities for growth by visiting OTCBC.org.

At 13 years old, Hannah, who is on the autism spectrum, had a dream of building an ice cream shop. Although she could not express in words what she envisioned, she created a model of her desires and dreams and presented it to her parents. She is 19 now, and the Trenton Ice Cream Parlor has become a beacon of hope in Trenton, NJ. The Trenton Ice Cream Parlor is the physical representation of Hannah's dreams, modeled after her spirit and the notion that Trenton can indeed "make," and the world should indeed "take." Hanna and her family encourage everyone to visit their location on South Broad Street in Trenton and enjoy a sweet treat this summer!

Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, also known as TASK, serves meals across the Trenton area and provides programs and services to help enhance self-sufficiency and improve quality of life. Today, TASK serves more than 9,000 meals a week at its North Trenton Dining Room and more than 30 community meal sites across the area. In addition, TASK provides adult education programs, case management, job search assistance, creative arts classes, and the provision of basic necessities. You can learn more about TASK and volunteer opportunities at trentonsoupkitchen.org.

ISLES Youth Institute is a community development and environmental organization with a mission to foster self-reliant families and healthy, sustainable communities. ISLES designs and develops effective services that support this mission and share what they learn with others who can make a difference. From developing the green workforce, to helping people create more stable financial futures, ISLES works across Trenton to develop healthy, peaceful, and thriving communities.

ISLES' services have evolved over the past 40 years, just as Trenton's needs have evolved. Today, ISLES offers workforce development and GED programs for individuals who have not completed High School and for people transitioning to green jobs, provide lead and weatherization evaluation and remediation to homes, and partners with the community and those that serve them to address needs such as violence. You can see the results of those partnerships in the "Increase the Peace" Campaign around the city!