ESWA Fights For Change

TRENTON- Over the years I've come across a number of local organizations that are doing some very positive things. Men of HOPE, Father's and Men United for a Better Trenton, TSPAG (Trenton Special Parents Advocacy Group), and Catholic Charities are just a few that I have encountered and have helped a lot of people including my family. But just recently, I have connected with a volunteer organization of a different type and that organization's name is Eastern Service Workers Association or ESWA for short.

This all-volunteer run organization that takes no government funding and is working diligently to change economic conditions for the lowest paid workers (i.e. individuals that do domestic, temporary, seasonal or warehouse work that often times can't afford health care and other basic needs due to poverty).

One way that ESWA addresses it's members poverty conditions is by offering an 11 point benefit plan
that is run and managed by volunteer members of the organization. The benefit plan is free of charge and provides members with access to food, clothing, advocacy to prevent electricity shutoffs, medical and legal informational sessions, etc. The benefit plan however is not a long term solution to the poverty conditions that members face but it is a method that helps members get the basic things that they need that can enable them to come together and organize to fundamentally change their economic conditions.

Currently, the organization is working on it's Back to School Drive as many of it's members struggle with covering the cost for school supplies.

The organization is always looking for more part time and full time volunteers. There are a variety of ways you can help. Every Saturday the organization does it's door to door canvass in Trenton to get an idea of what issues workers are facing and how ESWA can help. On Wednesdays, the organization does it's advocacy sessions for members to help them with electricity shutoffs. On other days, the organization does mail outs, poster design, newspaper design and phoning sessions. In other words, there are multiple ways to help. Even if you have little to no experience volunteering, it is okay, ESWA has both part time and full time organizers that will be there with you to provide you with on the job training.

For more information on how you can get involved, feel free to call the office at 609-695-9562. Or you can stop by the office located at 6 W End Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey seven days a week.

Trentonians Celebrate Their Heritage

TRENTON- City residents and others head downtown for this year's Heritage Day Festival this past Saturday afternoon.

Anwar's Reflections-- a Trentonian affiliate-- attended this years Heritage Day Festival, a cultural event that started more than 30 years ago in the city's Mill Hill District as a pot luck gathering, but then grew into a weekend long event.

The event was suspended for a year in 2010 due to receiving fewer and fewer private donations. However, it returned to Mill Hill Park last year. For coverage of last year's event, click here.

During this year's festivities, vocalist Grace Little and well-known member of the musical group Patti LaBelle and the Bluebells, Sarah Dash, hit the stage and offered the crowd some of their vocals while members of the audience danced and bobbed their heads.


During the event, there were vendors selling shish-kabobs, fried chicken, and the often requested funnel cake to name just a few of the items. Along with food, vendors also sold jewelry, clothing, and t-shirts with biblical scripture graphic design emblazoned on them.

Trenton native and author of 11 books, Wahida Clark, was also one of the vendors selling and promoting her book.

And for the family, there were clowns and bouncers for children to play with. 


From talking with some of the festival's attendees, the consensus was that everyone had a good time and that it was a good opportunity to fellowship and get together as a community. However, of the people I spoke to, some individuals also mentioned that the event could have been marketed better to attract a larger crowd.

Based on my personal impression, I would say the same thing, the turnout seemed smaller this year compared to last year. Two of the individuals I spoke to said that they had no idea that a festival was scheduled and that they just 'stumbled upon' the event as they were going somewhere else, but decided to walk over and see what was happening. City officials did promote the event on the city's website. 

During the festival, my close friend and camera person, Monique Corbin, and I captured the event with video.

Please see videos below:

Activists Seek To Restore City

TRENTON-- Area residents and activists alike convened at City Hall Friday morning to protest violence in the state's capitol city.

During the Restoration of Our City community rally, members of the Fathers and Men United For A Better Trenton and the Men of Hope, and other concerned speakers approached the lectern and expressed their outrage toward the current state of affairs in Trenton, New Jersey.

According to news reports in the Trentonian, there were 24 murders in 2011, and there have already been three murders this year, this comes after a sizable layoff of 108 police officers in September last year. Citizens and activists alike are concerned about this current state of affairs.

One of the speakers, Pastor Paula Cook, said that young men need help because they have been abandoned and neglected by many in our society and as a result these young men are now "killing each other for 26 inch rims and gold chains". During her presentation, she expressed disappointment about too many men not doing their part in raising today's youth. Cook went on to call out and challenge church leaders saying that "gang members recruit more than the church". She said that community leaders need to get involved even if it means going block to block. Cook said the city needs a change.

Rally coordinator Anthony Shellman, said that churches and other community leaders need to be held accountable. He went on to say that a bill is in currently in the Senate called Tamrah's law that if passed will make it mandatory that offenders caught committing a crime with a firearm will be issued a 10 year sentence automatically without parole.

Tamrah Leonard, a 13 year old Trenton resident, was killed in 2009 at a stop the violence rally in North Trenton, during a senseless drive-by shooting.

Please see video footage of the rally below: