When Trentonians are in the world making a difference, we all stand to benefit from their impact on our communities.

The Princeton-Blairstown Center recently announced that they had appointed Randy D. Stephens to their Board of Trustees. Stephens is a Trenton native and a first-generation college graduate. After graduating from Trenton Catholic High School, Stephens continued his education as a student-athlete at Hofstra University in Hempstead, Long Island. Randy earned a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Cairn University and is a Business Relationship Manager for the New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA).

Per Princeton-Blairstown President and CEO Pam Gregory, “Randy’s experience as a Business Relationship Manager and his leadership journey will help provide PBC with guidance and insight as we evolve as an organization and continue to serve young people, particularly those from Trenton.”

The Princeton-Blairstown Center provides social-emotional learning programs and adventure-based learning to youth from historically marginalized communities. Participants can strengthen their creative problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership skills through experiential education. The Princeton-Blairstown Center is home to 268 acres of wilderness alongside the Delaware River. Through intellectual and hands-on challenges, youth are better prepared to thrive in their personal and academic lives. Some of the skills emphasized through their programming include leadership, teamwork, cooperation, conflict resolution, and more.

For children and young adults, especially in a community like Trenton, social-emotional learning is a critical skill set to help navigate the obstacles of everyday life. According to the American Youth Policy Form research, children in underserved communities are more likely to grapple with damaging environmental factors that can inhibit emotional and social development. For students facing discrimination or other systemic factors, the experience can quickly become isolating. By providing children and young adults with social-emotional learning experiences, we can help close the gap better and offer these communities the tools and resources needed to thrive.

As a native of our community, Randy D. Stephens understands Trenton’s unique set of needs and challenges. As Princeton-Blairstown Center continues to impact and change lives, we look forward to seeing the lives of youth from Trenton and beyond be transformed. If you wish to learn more about PBC and their work, additional information is available on their website here: Princeton-Blairstown Center – Home. Stephens’ appointment to the Board of Trustees is just the beginning, and we cannot wait to see what exciting developments come next for the Princeton-Blairstown Center.

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