Mission

Isles, Inc. is a community development and environmental organization based in Trenton, New Jersey. With a mission to foster self-reliant families and healthy, sustainable communities, we design and develop effective services that support this mission and share what we learn with others who can make a difference.

What We Do

Isles believes that even the most distressed places (or "isles") hold untapped assets and human capacity. Isles revitalizes communities, trains and educates, builds wealth, and stimulates green, healthy living. Our range of services help develop green affordable homes, parks and community agriculture, operate a vocational high school and green job training center, support financial and credit building services, clean up environmental hazards, foster energy efficiency and promote healthy lifestyles. In addition, Isles encourages public policies that support family self-reliance and community health, as self-sufficiency and healthy environments are keys to sustainable communities.

Isles is committed to Trenton and other challenging communities in central New Jersey. While Mercer County is one of the wealthiest counties in the state, Trenton, the state capital, is one of New Jersey's poorest cities. With significantly high unemployment, and low graduation rates, residents must contend with unmaintained or abandoned housing stock, limited access to healthy, affordable food, and few economic opportunities. From an asset based community development perspective, Trenton has much to offer, historic sites, art galleries, neighborhood organizations, and the seat of state government offices mean that, as is true in most distressed areas, despite the statistics, there are opportunities. Through inclusive partnerships, Isles assists government and non-profit organizations in creating master plans to guide neighborhood revitalization.

For 40 years, Isles has helped to build great places to live, work and play. In 2020, we trained over 204 individuals in energy efficiency and environmental health, issued 44 certifications earned by Isles Youth Institute students in CPR, OSHA, and Pre-Apprentice Construction Training, donated 1,000+ pounds of produce to emergency food providers, facilitated the purchase of 29 homes and issued 112 first-time homebuyer certificates, and provided 70 healthy home assessments (59 in person and 11 virtual) and made 9 homes lead-safe.