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Trenton, NJ – Exciting news! Today, HomeWorks Trenton embarks on a transformative journey by breaking ground on a facility dedicated to equipping high school girls in Trenton with the confidence and tools to achieve economic freedom and become leaders in their communities. HomeWorks is combining the boarding school experience with public schools for high school girls thriving against social marginalization. High school girls attending Trenton’s public and charter schools reside overnight at the HomeWorks residence Sundays to Fridays while still attending their public schools. Set to open in Fall 2025, this state-of-the-art facility will serve as a hub for academic and leadership enrichment programs, actively supporting the Trenton community.
HomeWorks is thrilled to announce a landmark gift from a visionary supporter, the Lumena Foundation. This transformative gift of $2.1 million, the largest in the organization’s history, will significantly enhance HomeWorks Trenton’s ability to expand its reach and enrich its unique blend of residential, academic and identity-driven leadership development programs. “Lumena Foundation searches for sources of light. Think of us as a venture fund without capitalism. We seek, find, and invest in inspired organizations and individuals committed to securing the rights, autonomy, and choices of all women. By investing in a permanent home for HomeWorks, we’re saying a loud "YES!" to identity-driven leadership for the young women of Trenton," says Michaela Finley, Lumena Foundation Co-Founder & Co-Director.
Rooted in the conviction that every girl deserves access to quality education and a community where they feel seen, heard and valued for who they are as Black and Brown girls, HomeWorks Trenton provides a secure, after-school residential program for students navigating systemic barriers. HomeWorks Trenton prepares young women to excel in high school, college, and beyond through academic tutoring, leadership development, identity-driven workshops, and community involvement.
"Today’s groundbreaking signifies more than just a new building; it embodies the dreams, power, and strength of the young women we work alongside," stated Natalie Tung, HomeWorks Trenton’s Co-Founder and Executive Director. “This building will not only serve as an anchor, allowing us to more closely collaborate with our scholars, parents, and leaders in the Trenton community, but also catapult our organization — which originally started as a class project at Princeton University in 2016 — into a model we hope to scale across the country and world.”
Homeworks Groundbreaking Speakers Greatest Hits Video, YourTownTube
The new facility, designed by Joshua Zinder Architecture + Design, will feature dorm rooms and study spaces, as well as a teaching kitchen, outdoor learning space, teen lounge, laundry room, office space, and community areas thoughtfully designed to nurture learning, leadership, and personal growth. The groundbreaking event on November 10 united local leaders including County Exec Dan Benson, Commissioner Samuel Frisby, Mayor Reed Gusciora, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, West Ward Councilwoman Teska Frisby, scholars, families, and community supporters, all driven by a shared vision of equity and empowerment.
At the heart of HomeWorks Trenton's growth and success, the Campaign for HomeWorks House seeks to raise $7 million. This initiative will support revitalizing the newly acquired property at 1212 Edgewood Avenue and help address any existing debts. By accomplishing these goals, HomeWorks Trenton can strengthen its presence in the Trenton community and continue its commitment to sustained progress in line with our strategic plan for program and educational expansion. By investing in the futures of these young women, HomeWorks Trenton and its supporters are fostering a new generation of young leaders and advocates who will have a positive impact on their communities and beyond.
For further information, media inquiries, or partnership opportunities, please contact:
Natalie Tung, Co-Founder & Executive Director
HomeWorks Trenton
About HomeWorks Trenton:Founded in 2016, HomeWorks Trenton is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides a free, community-based after-school residential program that supports high school girls in marginalized communities, started in Trenton, NJ. HomeWorks elevates public education by replicating the benefits of a boarding school experience without the bureaucracy, high costs, and scalability issues while keeping scholars in their home community.
About Lumena Foundation:
Lumena invests in nonprofit organizations and individuals that advance women’s right to self-determination through trust-based, multi-year grants. Lumena envisions a future where all women in America have equal, inalienable, and permanent rights to live with complete autonomy. To learn more, visit www.lumenafoundation.org.
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