Community Day fun floods Cadwalader Park hours after deadly gunplay
TRENTON » Hours after gun violence left a man dead and others wounded, city organizations hosted several backto-school events Saturday benefiting children and families.
Much of Saturday’s fun and games took place at the 100-acre Cadwalader Park in the West Ward, beginning with a basketball tournament.
“This is a positive event for the kids to wrap up summer before going back to school,” said Jaron Randall, 39, whose daughter competes in the West End Little League while his son plays basketball in the TCHS All-Years Scholars program. “Everybody is out here having a good time.”
TCHS All-Years Scholars and Athletics is a nonprofit organization founded by Micah Brooks, who also serves as CEO of the organization. With the organization being in its third season and having 60 participating youth, including boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 17 who are mentored by a team of volunteers who coach and ref, “We are so proud of the program,” Brooks said. “I am proud we can give back to these kids. Without our program they would have nowhere to go and would get in trouble.”
Brooks offers his basketball program to youth free of charge. “I made it free for 10 weeks,” Brooks said of the program that featured weekly basketball practice and training sessions in addition to five-on-five game action this summer. “It ain’t just basketball, they train,” he said. “We want to teach them so they have an idea, so the coaches know they at least worked out during the summer.”
Dr. Fred McDowell, superintendent of the Trenton Public Schools, came to Cadwalader Park on Saturday and watched the youth basketball action.
“We’ve got talented children in Trenton,” he said, “and this is another way for them to show off their talent.”
Jonette Smart, president of Trenton’s NAACP branch, also watched Saturday’s basketball tourney at the 100acre park. “NAACP supports anything our children do that’s positive,” she said. “We need to showcase our young folks.”
“Today is an example of the real Trenton,” at-large Councilman Jerell Blakeley said Saturday while enjoying the free food and festivities at Cadwalader Park. “There are so many events going on today that shows the community we have here.”
“There are so many good people in Trenton that are more concerned about the work than getting applause,” the councilman added. “They are doing it because they see a need. These events exemplify the idea of ‘it takes a village to raise a child,’ and so I tip my hat off, because they are not doing it for attention they are doing it for purpose.”
This weekend of community fun got eclipsed by a spate of gun violence that began Friday night and ended early Saturday with 21-yearold Jakim Allen getting murdered. Three other shooting incidents left other victims with non-life-threatening injuries, but the events at Cadwalader Park on Saturday afternoon brought smiles and laughter and a sense of togetherness that evoked feelings of hope, an air of optimism that better days are ahead.
“This is a side of Trenton that I wish all folks not from Trenton could see,” Blakeley said as the youth basketball action heated up at the park. “We hear so much about the negative, and this is an example of the goodness of Trenton.”
Arzaga Dillard, a retired Trenton Public Schools physical education and health teacher, volunteered his time at the park as he officiated the basketball games, donning his referee shirt and all.
“We are just giving back, giving forward, giving back to the community,” Dillard said. “When these guys get older hopefully they pay it forward. That’s what it’s all about.”
On the other side of the 100-acre park, Fathers and Men United For a Better Trenton hosted its 12th annual anti-violence Community Day event. “Great day, just doing what we do, showin’ love,” said Jason Rogers, chairperson of Fathers and Men United.
“Hotdogs, hamburgers, book bags, it’s all free,” he added. “It’s a free day. We just want our kids to be ready for school, and we want our teachers to be ready to teach them.”
“Everyone is really getting the kids motivated for back to school,” Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora said as he enjoyed Saturday’s festivities at Cadwalader Park. Moments earlier, he jumped into a hop sack and raced against city youth. “They are great kids,” the mayor said. “All the shootings and all, but you still see hope out there and enthusiasm for the city. We just have to keep them engaged and hopefully they will contribute to the city when they are older.”
Fathers and Men United is a group that does prayer vigils and visits with families who are victims of violence, said member Stacy L. Fannin. “We are doing something for the community as positive role models.”
Referencing the “Trenton Makes, the World Takes” slogan, “We need to get back to where Trenton was that city where so much was prosperous,” Fannin said. “I do believe Trenton will be a great city again.”
Trenton Police chaplain and community leader Shirley Gaines came to Cadwalader Park on Saturday to support the West End Little League, which was giving out awards and trophies. “I came out to support, give my donation and get my fish,” she said.
At-large Councilman Santiago Rodriguez also came to show his support for the West End Little League. He recalled his younger days from the 1970s when he used to play softball at Cadwalader Park. “I see future in Trenton community leader Rachel Cogsville-Lattimer receives an appreciation award from the West End Little League during a festive gathering at Cadwalader Park Saturday. Trenton,” he said. “Trenton is a historic city.” He later expressed pride in the West End Little League youth, saying, “They are our future.”
The West End Little League recognized its youth but also acknowledged some top supporters, giving awards to various adults, including Trenton community leader Rachel Cogsville-Lattimer and former Trenton councilwoman Annette Lartigue.
Shiloh Baptist Church on Saturday hosted its annual Back to School Fest, giving away 900 backpacks loaded with school supplies, providing about 180 children with free dental screenings and offering free haircuts, among other festivities at the historic house of worship off Calhoun Street, event volunteers said.