Trenton Public Schools and Amerigroup are looking for volunteers for this week’s Trenton Sweep.
The goal of the volunteer project is to clear trash off of the streets and connect with community members. Zhakier Seville, the Parent Liaison with Trenton Board of Education and Trenton Public Schools, is currently placed with Trenton Restorative Academy, a transitional middle school program inside Daylight Twilight Alternative High School. She is looking to connect Trenton communities through community service.
“My first thought as someone who grew up in this community is that I didn’t even know that the other side of Trenton existed as a kid. So I’m hoping that the Street Clean will provide an opportunity for students and parents to engage with the community outside of their immediate social group,” Seville said.
Since she started the position in February of 2022, she has wanted to make a positive impact in the community.
“One of the strategies I used to kind of figure out what I can do to engage parents was going out into the community to see what resources were available, what partnerships were established, and what people’s interest in education were,” Seville said.
She has done other programs like Voter registration with students, redesigning billboards, a create unique morning announcements. Seville explained that she likes to see the kids engaged to then engage parents with their children’s schooling.
“I think a good way to go about that is to get the students engaged. When the students are engaged they go back to parents and they want to talk about things are going on at school and… the idea is that that will make the parents more willing and excited,” Seville said.
With other events on hold, this was one of the events that Seville and the Trenton Board of Education could follow through with. They hope that it will improve community engagement throughout the city.
“I hope this will give residents the option to make new friends, the option to make new experiences. I’ve invited a lot of city leadership, educational leadership and different schools, businesses and organizations in the community who support locals in hopes that we get some some parent community networking time,” Seville said.
The Trenton Sweep is scheduled for May 21st from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sign-up will begin at 9 a.m. will go through 9:30 a.m. Volunteers will meet at 244 Perry street behind the Fire Headquarters on Allen Street, and anyone who comes will get a free t-shirt and food.
