Founded in 1981, Isles, Inc. is a community development and environmental organization based in Trenton, New Jersey. Isles develops cost effective, powerful ways to strengthen people and places in challenging urban settings. Below is a snapshot of 2010 accomplishments. To view Key Success Measures as a pdf, click here.
Revitalize Communities
Isles develops green and healthy affordable homes, facilities, parks & other open spaces.
• Homes weatherized: 144
• Homes with combined lead, energy and structural retrofits: 21
• Units completed with full gut rehabilitations: 4
• Homes signed up for weatherization services: 789
Train and Educate
Isles offers youth and adults a vocational high school (Isles YouthBuild Institute) and green job training (Center for Energy and Environmental Training).
Center for Energy and Environmental Training (CEET):
• Individuals trained: 496
• Course completions (some completed more than 1 course): 662
o Energy Efficiency: 141
o Renewable Energy: 15
o US EPA Lead RRP: 506
• Unemployed/underemployed persons trained for job placement: 95
o CEET overall placement rate: 75%
• Nationally recognized certifications earned through 2010 CEET classes and testing: 536
Isles YouthBuild Institute 2010-2011 School Year:
• Enrollment—Graduation and Life Skills Tracks: 98
• Retention rate: 59%
• Students placed in paid internships: 53
• Students matched in mentoring program: 22
• Students receiving P.A.C.T. (Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training) Certification: 23
• Students graduating with high school diploma or GED: 11
• Students placed in post-secondary education: 5 to date
Build Wealth
Isles offers social enterprise, microbusiness, and other financial and credit building services.
Homeownership and foreclosure counseling:
• First time homeowners counseled: 15
• Families counseled to avoid foreclosure: 175
• Foreclosure resolutions: 51
Microbusiness Training and Lending:
• Entrepreneurs trained: 44
• Microloans: $6,000
• Businesses started or stabilized: 18
Isles Financial Fitness Club (IFFC):
• Employees enrolled in IFFC: 16
Live Green and Healthy
Isles cleans up environmental hazards, supports energy efficiency, and promotes healthy lifestyles.
• Homes tested for lead: 400
• Persons educated about lead poisoning prevention: 200
• Community gardens: 26
• School gardens: 10
• Pounds of food harvested in 29 gardens: 20,153
• Servings of vegetables: 84,200