Mayor Gusciora & Senator Cory Booker Tour Local Community Organizations

Trenton, N.J. — Mayor Gusciora today welcomed United States Senator Cory Booker to Trenton as he visited two of the City’s incredibly impactful community organizations: the Greater Mount Zion Community Development Corporation (GMZCDC) located on Pennington Avenue, and Salvation & Social Justice located on W. Front Street.

Together, Senator Booker & Mayor Gusciora visited Greater Mount Zion’s food pantry- just as food items were being distributed to local community members. From there, they toured GMZCDC’s planned Birthing Center on Pennington Avenue- Back in Our Hands- located just down & across the street from the construction site of the future home of the state of New Jersey’s Maternal & Infant Health Innovation Authority (NJMIHIA). The facility will become an additional option for mothers who are low-risk & want to avoid a hospital birth- in addition to offering prenatal & post-natal services, lactation assistance, fitness classes, programs for fathers & children, and other wellness options.

Following this tour, Senator Booker & Mayor Gusciora visited Salvation & Social Justice’s recently re-opened Mercer County Restorative Justice Hub on W. Front Street. The Hub is an accessible, youth-centered space serving young people aged 12-26 & providing supportive services to those who may be experiencing conflicts, exposure to community violence, school or court involvement, and emotional stress. The Hub provides restorative conflict response services, youth mentorship, leadership development, as well as fitness & wellness programming.

Meeting with Salvation & Social Justice Founder & Greater Mount Zion AME Church Pastor Rev. Charles Boyer, Senator Booker & Mayor Gusciora discussed these programs’ operations, successes, and their statewide & national outreach.

Mayor Gusciora stated, “These programs demonstrate both the unique challenges facing our City and the incredible power & dedication of our community to face them head-on. Trenton has produced these spectacular examples of transformative impact- examples that Senator Booker will help take far beyond our City limits.”