CEL DAY WIKI LAUNCHED!! To see pictures and brief summaries of CEL Days within 24 hours of their occurence, visit our new wiki site tcnjserves.pbwiki.com. Each day has its own page.

Photo Gallery: 2009-2010

Martin Luther King Day of Service - TCNJ. Students work together to create a mural for Hedgepeth/Williams school as a Neighborhood Beautification Project.

April 17, 2010 - TCNJ students, Bonner Staff and Bonner Community Scholars join Camden Woodrow Wilson High School and local Camden residents in a park clean up.

Last CEL day of the Academic Year 2009-2010. Students join in creating a Demonstration Garden at TCNJ.

Photo Gallery: 2008-2009

Youth Development Institute 2008. Local Trenton students come to TCNJ for a day.

Photo Gallery: 2006-2007

Housing

Getting down and dirty – These first-year students rolled up their sleeves and dug right into this Habitat for Humanity project in East Trenton. Not only did they demolish an old house, they framed walls, nailed down flooring and finished other construction tasks on seven different dwellings for needy area families.

Developmental Disabilities

Visitation Home Days - Founded by the mother of an autistic child, this residential facility in Hamilton, N.J. serves the needs of those who are developmentally disabled. Students played games with the residents, exercised with them and read them stories. Is it any wonder the residents keep asking when the students are coming back?

Immigration

Reaching out to the Community--What services does Trenton’s Hispanic population need most? Students surveyed downtown residents door-to-door to help El Centro, an outreach organization, determine how to better serve its community. In addition, a Mexican immigrant now living locally shared his account of crossing the Texas border in quest of the American dream. Students gained insight about a vital community not far from campus, yet a world away.

Environment

Keep it clean – From the Jersey Shore to a riverfront park in East Trenton, first year students picked up trash, pulled out invasive plant growth and recycled reams of aluminum cans and plastic bottles. Not only are their efforts vital for the environment, but for neighborhood morale too, according to a city planner who spoke to the students. Students participated on three separate CEL environmental days.

Homelessness

A day at the Salvation Army: While some students cleaned up storage rooms, installed shelving and even played chess with patrons at the Salvation Army’s drop in center, others helped to distribute hot meals to needy residents. Students also gained insight on the organization’s greater mission after hearing from a recovering addict. The organization helps former drug offenders to lead a sober existence.

Home Sweet Home and the Rescue Mission – What happens when you have no place to call home? Students learned firsthand about services the Rescue Mission offers to Trenton’s homeless population, including a safe place to sleep and wholesome meals. After preparing and serving lunch to the clients, students organized library books and then heard from a staff member and recovering addict, who emphasized the importance of the Rescue Mission in helping him to lead a drug-free existence.

Race

Teaching tolerance at Kidsbridge

How can you possibly teach young children about atrocities such as the genocide in Darfur? At Kidsbridge Museum, students helped to create an exhibit designed to heighten the awareness of young museum visitors. Others offered the children history lessons and taught them the importance of gender respect. Still others painted the walls and helped to spruce up this popular on-campus museum that serves young children.

Health/Cancer

Raising Hope & the Relay for Life - While some first year students walked miles and miles around a track to raise pledge money for cancer research, others crafted HOPE stones and delicate paper butterflies for local cancer patients. In addition, three TCNJ students recounted their own battles with cancer in a well-received panel discussion. Total monies raised for the American Cancer Society - $35,000.

Senior Services

Wisdom of the Ages – What was it like growing up during WW II or the Great Depression? Students interviewed elderly residents of Greenwood House, a local nursing home, about their lives and the turbulent times in which they grew up. Students also played games with the residents, discussed current events and ultimately learned that maybe their lives aren’t so very different.

Youth Development & Sports

Hoops Academy – You can be anything you want to be, but you have to stay in school and you have to work hard! That was the message these first year students conveyed to children at the Young Scholars Institute. Next, the students organized a basketball clinic, where they practiced drills and played games, always emphasizing the importance of hard work both on and off the court.

Hunger

Feast or Famine – Hunger isn’t confined to third world countries; many within our own community often go hungry. First year students organized a banquet at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen to raise awareness of hunger as a local social justice issue. By serving meals to patrons and talking to them about their lives, students learned about the scope of the problem and how one area agency combats it.

Literacy

Dr. Seuss Day at Columbus School--Reading Rocks

“One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. . . “ Who knew reading could be so much fun? First year students, some dressed as Dr. Seuss characters, read to grammar school children at Columbus school in Trenton in one of several events emphasizing the importance of early literacy.

• FYE CEL
• FSP CEL Courses (Fall 2008)