The REACH (Research on Engagement, Adjustment, and Community Health) Lab is interested in how social contexts (e.g., families, peer groups, schools, neighborhoods) influence adjustment. We conduct most of our work in and around Trenton, NJ, and try to identify resources that help people and communities thrive. Please take a few minutes to learn more about our current and recent projects and partners.
Using art as a tool for personal and community development
The REACH Lab has partnered with the non-profit organization, Both Hands: The Artlet to examine the impact of a creative arts and youth empowerment program in Trenton. The Both Hands mission is to mentor and empower young people in underserved areas to use art to cultivate communities. A City of Trenton Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funded a recent project that resulted in the short film, For Colored People, By Colored Kids Who Dare to Have a Voice. [See film below.]
Promoting healthy outcomes through peer education
The REACH Lab has partnered with the the Millhill Trenton PEERS program to examine the impact of peer education programs in our local communities. The mission of the PEERS program is to provide Trenton’s vulnerable youth with the information, skills, and support needed to find confidence, develop leadership skills, establish healthy relationships, and avoid violence and risky choices.
Understanding the impact of community engaged learning
The REACH Lab has partnered with TCNJ’s Center for Community Engaged Learning and Research to understand the impact of community engaged learning on students, community members, and other stakeholders. For one project, we are examining TCNJ students’ role in the Trenton Violence Reduction Strategies (TVRS) project, a collaboration between TCNJ, the Trenton Police Department, and local social service providers to reduce violence in Trenton and surrounding communities.