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New Jersey Attorney General speaks public service and law enforcement at TCNJ

On Thursday, February 27, New Jersey Attorney General John Hoffman spoke to over 40 members of the campus and local Trenton communities as a part of a new speaker series, “Innovators, Leaders and Inspiring Stories.”

A key member of Governor Christie’s cabinet and in charge of the Department of Law and Public Safety, Hoffman spoke about public service and how he approaches his job as the top law enforcement officer in the state.

Organized by the Center for Community Engaged Learning and Research, which includes the Bonner Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, the event created the opportunity for a small group of faculty, staff and TCNJ community partner organizations to have a close conversation with the Attorney General about their shared interest in preventing juvenile crime in the city.

“At the end of a very long day, it was invigorating to participate in an honest exchange of ideas with a committed group of Bonner Scholars,
other student activists and community leaders,” Hoffman said. “All of them are making a positive impact on Trenton—a city we all love.”

The non-profit partners who attended the event included the executive directors from the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Isles, A Better Way and Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, the Trenton Violence Reduction Strategy (TVRS) Outreach Workers, many who are from Fathers and Men United for a Better Trenton, participated in the conversation. TVRS, a $1.1 million grant developed by a team from TCNJ, the Trenton Police Department, Rutgers University-Camden and the Attorney General’s Office, offers counseling, job training and other aid as an alternative for young people who might otherwise engage in criminal activity.

“I have lived and worked in Trenton communities for 33 years and until now, I don’t ever remember the New Jersey Attorney General sitting down in open dialogue with community members,” said Marty Johnson, founder and CEO of Isles, Inc. in Trenton.  “Hoffman is a breath of fresh air.  Thanks to TCNJ for exposing his new leadership style.”

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