FUTURO and D&R Greenway Land Trust Set Sail For Another Fantastic Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 18, 2024, Bordentown, NJ ~ by Angelica Stern, Trenton Daily
After last year’s exciting maiden voyage, the D&R Greenway Land Trust, in conjunction with the Latin American Legal Defense Fund (LALDEF), have once again returned for this year’s installment of FUTURO kayaking. This day of fun empowered students from the Trenton area to get outdoors, get connected, and make a splash on a day of kayaking fun. Both educational and engaging, students of all ability levels had the opportunity to get on the water and put their newfound skills to the test. After a morning of learning the basics of kayaking, students had a chance to take a scenic and serene tour of Black’s Creek in Bordentown, NJ.
Per Cecy Jimenez-Weeast, Executive Director of LALDEF, “LALDEF thanks D&R for the opportunity to teach our FUTURO students the basics of kayaking. This field trip will allow students to explore the outdoors, develop an appreciation for our community’s natural resources, and end the Summer with this incredible experience. This kayaking trip kicks off the beginning of our FUTURO 2024-2025 program year. This year, we are welcoming 33 students, including newcomers and returning students. This fun activity will allow new students to connect with their peers and our excellent FUTURO Coordinator. Twelve students graduated this year. They are attending TCNJ, Penn State University, Rutgers University, and the University of Chicago, among others.”
Beyond just a fun field trip, the D&R Greenway Land Trust’s kayaking initiative plays a vital role in assuring equitable outdoor access for all residents of the Delaware Watershed. Although Trenton sits directly adjacent to the Delaware River, countless residents of our community do not have access to the resources necessary to take advantage of this natural resource and recreational gem. The D&R Greenway Land Trust’s kayaking program offers participants of all ages the opportunity to engage with the natural world around us and foster an appreciation and care for the great outdoors.
Nancy Faherty, Director of Donor & Community Engagement for D&R Greenway, shared “The mission of D&R Greenway is to preserve and care for land and to inspire a conservation ethic, now and into the future. D&RG’s partnership with the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund is important in many ways. The FUTURO students, empowered and guided by LALDEF’s mentors, understand the impact they make in our communities by bringing new energy to initiatives like protecting our environment.”
Continuing, she noted “The Delaware River watershed provides drinking water to millions of people. Thanks to D&R Greenway and The William Penn Foundation, the students are getting out onto the water to think about this more deeply. They are in good hands with Lisa Bruno, our D&R Greenway’s Kayak Program Manager, and it has become a special part of their annual program.”
Lisa Bruno, the D&R Greenway Kayak Program Manager, chimed in, noting “The annual D&R Greenway/LALDEF kayak trip brings great excitement, fun, and bonding while exploring nature together.”
Regarding what comes next for this year’s FUTURO cohort, Ms. Faherty stated “The FUTURO students will also soon be visiting the Discovery Center at Point Breeze to learn about more of the natural resources along the Delaware River bluffs, as well as the rich history there, as told by Native Americans who have cared about this treasured region for 13,000 years … to the present day. We are hoping they will engage with the historic gardens that provide produce to the local food pantries. Our harvest season will be perfect time to witness what can happen when many people come together with a purpose.”
To learn more about how you can help preserve and protect the Delaware River for generations to enjoy, please visit the D&R Greenway Land Trust’s website, linked here: D&R Greenway. You can also follow along with the D&R Greenway team on Facebook, as well as YouTube. Likewise, to learn more about LALDEF’s extensive programming and resources, please visit their website, linked here: LALDEF. You can also keep up with LALDEF on social media, including Facebook, X, and Instagram. A memorable afternoon for all who attended, this beloved yearly tradition continues to inspire hearts and minds!
D&R Greenway Brings Kayak Education to Trenton’s FUTURO Students
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 15, 2023, Bordentown, NJ ~
D&R Greenway is a proud partner of LALDEF. Students in the FUTURO program emerge as conscientious adults that will become the next generation of leaders.
“D&R Greenway Land Trust and the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund, FUTURO program, are working together to provide young people in Mercer County, particularly the Trenton area, with opportunities to engage with the Delaware River and other important natural resources in our state. LALDEF’s FUTURO program mentors immigrant youth in their final two years of high school, providing them with opportunities that allow them to excel in high school and beyond. LALDEF creates a community of peers and mentors for these students that lasts well into their adult lives. Moreover, LALDEF equips students in the FUTURO program with skills that are essential to be successful in college and to become responsible members of their communities.”
~~Cecilia Jimenez-Weeast, Executive Director of LALDEF, and
Linda Mead, President & CEO of D&R Greenway Land Trust
“The LALDEF trip went well, and we had a beautiful day and we all had fun! I really enjoyed coordinating the program for LALDEF, it brings such excitement to me that we were able to have this opportunity.
~~Lisa Bruno, Coordinator of the Kayak Trip
D&R Greenway Brings Kayak Education to Trenton’s FUTURO Students
Buoy, oh buoy, what an exciting day!
On a sunny Friday morning, a dynamic group of students from Trenton and surrounding communities converged on Bordentown Beach for a day on the water. With kayaks ready and waiting to launch, there was no doubt that an exciting day was ahead. Presented by the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF) and the D&R Greenway Land Trust, this event was a wonderful opportunity to give the community’s youth access to outdoor activities and remind students of the incredible natural beauty hiding just around the corner.
Time in the great outdoors is good for the mind, body, and soul; the same goes for young people in our community. With the stressors of day-to-day life, a day in the sun is exactly what the doctor ordered to lower stress and reconnect to what matters. Especially in a community like Trenton, where it may be more challenging to access these recreational activities, offering these opportunities is critical in assuring that the outdoors is genuinely accessible and equitable to all.
Trenton Daily had the opportunity to speak with Cecelia Jiménez-Weeast, Executive Director of LALDEF, about the kayak program and its impact on participating students. The students represented at the event were members of LALDEF’s Futuro program, an inclusive mentorship program for first- and second-generation immigrant students. Reflecting on the program, she noted, “This is wonderful for our Futuro students – it allows them to do something that they would not be able to without the D&R Greenway Land Trust. It’s new to them.”
Jiménez-Weeast then discussed this program’s value to students: “Some of these kids have part-time jobs; some of them must work because they have to help the parents pay the bills at a younger age. So this is fantastic. What I want them to take out of this is that there are options.” Continuing, she noted, “What is so significant to me is that in serving the Latino community in Trenton, most of them get caught up in routine – we have to work so we can pay the bills, they go from one job to a part-time job, to go home to care of the kids. Doing this allows them to see that there’s something else.”
LALDEF is continually impacting Trenton and beyond, and there’s an opportunity for you to get involved too! Per Cecelia, “We welcome volunteers. Our mission is to protect and promote the rights of immigrants, and we do so through many of our services, such as legal services, education, and the Futuro program. We are connecting our clients to the resources that Mercer County has to offer. I invite you all to get involved.” If you’re ready to support this incredible work, such as the Latinas Unidas program, please check out the LALDEF website here to learn more: Home – LALDEF.
The kayak program, a collaboration with the D&R Greenway Land Trust, has been an excellent opportunity to meet the minds and share resources to benefit our community. Per Jiménez-Weeast, “The collaboration with the D&R Greenway is so valuable for LALDEF and the clients that we serve.”
Linda Mead, D&R Greenway Land Trust President, and CEO, shared, “The mission of D&R Greenway is to preserve and care for land and to inspire a conservation ethic. In doing so, we have always focused on protecting the greenways that keep our watershed healthy. Our kayak education program is a fun way to help people see the importance of this work. One of our goals has been to invite students to join us for an enlightening day … students who may not otherwise get onto the water. We hope they’ll become lifelong protectors of the Delaware River waterways.”
This program is made available to students thanks to the support of the William Penn Foundation and other generous supporters. Per Nancy Faherty, Director of Donor and Community Engagement for the D&R Greenway Land Trust, “We are fortunate to have the support of The William Penn Foundation, as well as individual donors from all walks of life. That’s how days like today happen. The Foundation has worked with D&R Greenway for many years because we keep making progress together! Our work to protect the Delaware River Watershed focuses on education and awareness that starts with the fact that the river provides drinking water for millions of people!” Continuing, she noted, “Inspiring students to learn more about a healthy watershed is vital to the future of our natural world.”
Coming to the table, a handful of youth and adult attendees did not have prior experience in kayaking. However, by the end of the day, the team was ready to be the captain of their ship! A test for both the body and mind, conquering the kayak was a rewarding experience for every participant. Through a series of games and challenges, participants had the chance to master the basics of kayaking, making unforgettable memories with each stroke of the paddle.
One lesson to be learned from this incredible day on the water is that just a bit of time in the sunshine can make all the difference in the days ahead. Allowing our community’s youth to engage in new activities, explore the outdoors, and develop an appreciation for our community’s natural resources is an investment that will continue to impact its participants in the months and years to come. Thanks to the support of LALDEF and the D&R Greenway, Trenton’s youth are empowered to explore and experience the best of our community’s natural resources.
About The Author
BACKGROUND
LALDEF. Established in 2004, the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF) promotes the rights of all immigrants (with a focus on the Latin American community in the Mercer County area); facilitates access to health care, education and legal representation; advocates for the integration of immigrants; and fosters inter-cultural communication to strengthen our communities. LALDEF focuses on the root causes of immigrant marginalization. We seek to empower immigrants to reach self-sufficiency and thrive, by showing them how to navigate the system and find the resources they need. We operate through our values of support, education, and justice. LALDEF offers an array of services in-house and also acts as a conduit referring clients to other agencies. In this work and in our advocacy, the overarching goal is to dismantle barriers that stand in the way of a more fair and just society and to support the incorporation of immigrants in a way that strengthens the social fabric overall.
FUTURO. An inclusive and diverse yough mentoring program for promising first- and second-generation immigrant students.
For more information about LALDEF or Futuro, call or email at (609) 688-0881 | info@laldef.org
D&R Greenway Land Trust is an accredited nonprofit that has reached a new milestone of over 22,000 acres of land preserved throughout central New Jersey since 1989. By protecting land in perpetuity and creating public trails, it gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. The Land Trust’s preserved farms and community gardens provide local organic food for residents of the region—including those most in need. Through strategic land conservation and stewardship, D&R Greenway combats climate change, protects birds and wildlife, and ensures clean drinking water for future generations. D&R Greenway’s mission is centered on connecting land with people from all walks of life.
D&R Greenway’s outdoor trails and labyrinth are open. Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages and www.drgreenway.org to learn about our latest news and other programs and events. D&R Greenway Land Trust, One Preservation Place, Princeton NJ 08540. The best way to reach D&R Greenway staff is by sending an e-mail to info@drgreenway.org or by calling D&R Greenway at 609-924-4646.
