TPEF RECEIVES GENEROUS DONATION FROM SUN NATIONAL BANK

TRENTON, NJ – The Trenton Public Education Foundation (TPEF), a non-profit organization that supports students in the Trenton Public Schools by providing resources for enhanced educational opportunities, recently received a $5,000 donation from Sun National Bank.

According to Pamela Pruitt, Chair of the Board Directors for TPEF, donations and partnerships like this with Sun National Bank help support the Foundation’s mission and effort to connect students to local businesses for career exploration and real-world experiences.

"At Sun, we pride ourselves on local people in local markets, making local decision, which means local communities are our top priority," said Mariluz Gonzalez, vice president and director of CRA and Community Development at Sun National Bank. "Creating opportunities for Trenton students is something that all businesses can become a part of and we are excited to be one of the local New Jersey businesses working with TPEF on this program."

Since gaining its non-profit status in 2005, TPEF has been identifying resources to enhance educational opportunities for students in grades K-12 in Trenton Public Schools. These resources are not solely monetary, but come in other forms such as: volunteers as career speakers, mentors, judges for science fairs, interviewers for mock interviews, along with in-kind goods and services for incentive prizes and recognition.  This school year, TPEF has expanded to incorporate many new initiatives and events that will help expose students to the real world experience and hands on sampling real life before they complete high school.

"Strong partnerships, dedication and commitment are what keep this Foundation going and we will build upon this new relationship with Sun Bank and continue to grow and foster a collaborative effort with all of our supporters, because, collectively,  we can provide a brighter future for every child," said Pruitt.

To find out more about how you and your business can support educational opportunities for students in Trenton Public Schools, please contact Valerie Rushmore, executive director of the Trenton Public Education Foundation at 609-777-5663 or info@tpef.org.  You can also visit the foundation’s Web site at www.tpef.org.

High School Students Profit from an Art Master

College of New Jersey Professor Emeritus Wendell Brooks visited recently with art students at Trenton Central High School as part of the Trenton Public Education Foundation (TPEF) Career Prep Speakers Series in the Business Connect program.  As a guest speaker, Brooks provided students in the Art Portfolio Preparation class with some valuable insight into portfolio development and entering the field of Art.

According to Art teacher Maria Grieco-Hicks, some of the students recently participated in National Portfolio Day in Philadelphia where they received feedback on their skill set and gathered information from numerous art and design colleges. “Having Mr. Brooks visit with our students really complimented the classroom learning process and reinforced information from the Portfolio Day,” she said.

During the classroom visit, Brooks provided students with tips on developing their portfolios and touched on how important it was to have a positive vision for their lives.  He said they needed to “use their imaginations and ask, What do I want to be?  Because what your intentions are is where you will put your energy.”  Brooks shared information on his background as a professor and artist in printmaking, and what led him down that path.  He showed the students a compilation of his work from the early days to his more recent work. Brooks also stressed the importance of taking time to prepare, finding ways to deal with doubt, fear and stress, and being disciplined.

Attending students were very engaged and had the opportunity to talk with Brooks about their own works of art.  He advised students not to give away their art work and to learn to place a value on it. He strongly recommended students to keep their pieces for their portfolios.  He also added that they should work toward getting a degree before starting their careers, have faith in their work and stay away from negative people.

TPEF has sponsored many career speakers for the High School previously through its Trenton Youth Communications Program and is extending this opportunity to all Trenton Public Schools.  The Foundation will continue to enhance the learning process by connecting students to the real world by bringing professionals into the classroom and continuing to expand the learning experience out side of the classroom with business site visits, internship opportunities, career exploration and educational trips.  If you would like to partner with the Trenton Public Education Foundation in support of educational initiatives for students, please contact Valerie Rushmore at 609-777-5663 or info@tpef.org.

COMMENTS FROM SOME OF THE STUDENTS:

Stephanie  I realize that Mr. Brooks was really into his art and he never gave up what he wanted to do in life.
Jamaal  Despite my lateness, I felt Mr. Brooks was very inspirational for me. He made me believe that as an African American male, I can actually make it in the art industry.
David    Mr. Brooks was a very good influence and inspired me to think new thoughts and Ideas. He also taught me not to give up on my talents.
Christian  I want to thank Mr. Brooks for coming to our class and telling me that I can achieve anything that I put my mind to.
Darnell   I think it was great for our class to have such a great artist visit us. Mr. Brooks has a lot of wisdom. He helped me realize how great art is! Mr. Brooks told our entire class how to value our art work.
Love  One of the things that made me happy was when Mr. Brooks said we should find a person that believes in you. Because I do have that person, Mrs. Hicks, who will stay with me! Just like Mr. Brooks said and was right, sometimes you want to quit but don’t --if you want something you must go for it no matter what!
Luis  I was happy Mr. Brooks took some time out to come and talk with us. He is a very good artist and I just would like to thank him again for his inspiration.
Maya   Mr. Brooks, thanks for coming and sharing your experiences with us at TCHS. You have motivated a lot of students in our class. You have also inspired me to never give up. I am a high school student with a daughter and still going to school. I plan to attend college after completing my high school education. I am also going to do whatever it takes to get where I want to go. No matter WHAT! Thanks for the inspiration!
Donnell  Thanks for taking the time out of your day to share your art and to tell us what we need to do better in life. I enjoyed you sharing your art work with us.

ABOUT THE GUEST SPEAKER…

Wendell Brooks
Born in Aliceville, Alabama in 1939, Wendell Brooks had been a Professor of Art at The College of New Jersey since 1971 and retired in 2007.  Brooks received his MFA in Printmaking and a BS in Art Education from Indiana University. He has received numerous fellowships, scholarship and grants, including a Grant Award from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Art.

In addition, various colleges, museums, and private collections hold Brooks’ work.  His work has been displayed both nationally and internationally, and for five years, he served on several committees of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.  Wendell Brooks’ work is inspired by explorations in self-discovery, as well as cultural diversity, and is often inspired by African masks and the African culture.

His work has been featured in numerous group and solo exhibitions including Free Within Ourselves - American Artists in the Collection of the National Museum of African Art, and the Smithsonian Institution: National Collection of Fine Art in Washington, D.C.  His work is also in many permanent collections including the Library of Congress, and the Macedonian Center of Contemporary Art in Greece.  Brooks has also been featured in the African American Fine Arts Collection, published by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.