Neighborhood Improvement Assoc. -NIA- of New Jersey

Neighborhood Improvement Assoc. -NIA- of New Jersey NIA is a Non-Profit located in Trenton, NJ. This organization was founded in 2003 by Octavia Sutphin To contact us, please visit https://niaofnj.org/contact-us.

NIA was formed to empower community residents through the stimulation of economic growth. The urban communities here in the City of Trenton were and remain today, overwhelmed with a chronic unemployment rate. These communities are overwhelmed with dilapidated housing, neighborhood disinvestment, absentee landlords, and abandoned and boarded-up properties, along with vacant lots. High-crime has pla

gued and devastated good, upstanding residents far too long. Street gangs have become omnipresent and growing stronger by the day. NIA's Illegal Dumping Campaign: Our Illegal Dumping Initiative targets dumping in the local Trenton community. Illegal dumping poses a number of threats to the city, environment, wildlife, and citizens, in addition to creating other long-term issues. As of March 2021, NIA has cleaned up over 45 illegal dumping sites throughout the city. A variety of people volunteer with us: Trenton residents, The College of New Jersey Bonners and students, Rider University Bonners, local politicians and activists, local businesses, Trenton Police, and many others! NIA's Redevelopment Project: The Rutherford-Marion Neighborhood is located in the West Ward of the City of Trenton. The major road intersecting with Rutherford is Prospect on the west and Marion on the east. This area is in crisis mode, involving the continuing viability of a blighted area. The community is overwhelmed with dilapidated housing, neighborhood disinvestment, absentee landlords, abandoned and boarded-up properties along vacant lots that continue to distress the community with the threat of blight and eminent domain. Our goals:
- Create new housing
- Repair, renovate and redevelop existing houses or buildings
- Improve sidewalks, light fixtures, and landscaping
- Hard Structures: Roads, curbs, street furniture
- Create community resources and educational hubs, such as a community center



NIA'S BOARD MEMBERS

- Octavia Sutphin, President
- Aziz Ali Bey, 1st Vice President
- Rachel Cogsville-Lattimer, 2nd Vice President
- Lauren Wasserman, Business Administrator
- Pam Bush-Allen, Managing Member
- LiaRose Chacon, Management Assistant
- Ameen Abdullah, MSNPM, CACD, Counseling Program Director
- Karriem Beyah, Director of Economic Develop. For more information, please visit https://niaofnj.org/about-us.

As we wrap up the Youth Inclusion Initiative Summer Program, we’re proud to celebrate another successful season of learn...
09/01/2025

As we wrap up the Youth Inclusion Initiative Summer Program, we’re proud to celebrate another successful season of learning and exploration. Participants gained valuable exposure to new fields and career paths, while building skills and experiences that will carry forward beyond the summer!

Highlights from this summer include-

- Wildfire education and K-9 Demonstration
- Visiting TCNJ to learn about sustainability and planting mini gardens
- Touring Burlington Recycling Center and participating in DEP activities
- Building and designing their own rain barrels
- Tulpehaking Nature Center for Mitigation Presentation and Marsh Tour
- D&R Canal State Park and Lambertville Station
- Learning about plasma
- Creating and completing a summer-long sensory garden project
- Presenting final projects

Now in its third week, the Youth Inclusion Initiative Summer Program is in full swing! Under the leadership of Superviso...
07/28/2025

Now in its third week, the Youth Inclusion Initiative Summer Program is in full swing! Under the leadership of Supervisor Dawn Stokes and Assistant Supervisor Tracie McCummings, the program has once again elevated its support for participating youth. Through hands-on experiences like shadowing scientists and engineers, participants are deepening their understanding of the environment and exploring exciting career paths!

Octavia Sutphin, President of the Trenton-based Neighborhood Improvement Association:
“This marks the Neighborhood Improvement Association’s third year participating in the Youth Inclusion Initiative Summer Program, and it continues to provide underserved youth with meaningful and transformative experiences. With many eager to return each summer, expanding the program to include year-round opportunities could greatly enhance its long-term impact.”

Thank you to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for providing an incredible program and presenting ou...
08/29/2024

Thank you to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for providing an incredible program and presenting our team with certificates!

CONGRATULATIONS NIA TEAM OF YII 2024! Wrapping up the summer with powerful presentations that showcased our team’s hands...
08/28/2024

CONGRATULATIONS NIA TEAM OF YII 2024!

Wrapping up the summer with powerful presentations that showcased our team’s hands-on experiences. We’re incredibly proud of their dedication and passion for the environment! 🍃

7/30/24 The Neighborhood Improvement Association (NIA) Team made a visit to both Greg Grant and Cadwalader Park….two of ...
08/07/2024

7/30/24 The Neighborhood Improvement Association (NIA) Team made a visit to both Greg Grant and Cadwalader Park….two of Trenton’s well known Parks… The team learned about the benefits that parks provide such as, relaxation and activities for friends & families. In addition, they found that parks are good for the natural habitat as well as, historical preservation.

7/29/24 Team NIA CONTINUES WITH THE CREATION OF THEIR RAIN GARDEN - CLEARING ROCKS, LEVELING GROUND WITH EXCAVATION DIRT...
08/07/2024

7/29/24 Team NIA CONTINUES WITH THE CREATION OF THEIR RAIN GARDEN - CLEARING ROCKS, LEVELING GROUND WITH EXCAVATION DIRT AND POURING IN THE FIRST LAYER(SAND) INTO THE BASIN.

7/25/24 - THE NIA TEAM’S VISIT TO SEDGE ISLAND NATURAL RESOURCE EDUCATION CENTER INCLUDED SEINING. THERE FINDS WERE VARI...
08/07/2024

7/25/24 - THE NIA TEAM’S VISIT TO SEDGE ISLAND NATURAL RESOURCE EDUCATION CENTER INCLUDED SEINING. THERE FINDS WERE VARIOUS FISH AND BLUE CLAW CRABS. THEY ALSO ENJOYED CLAMMING AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY OF TASTING THEIR CATCH.

7/24/24 - The NIA TEAM SPENT THEIR DAY AT STONE TAVERN LAKE WITH FRESHWATER FISHERIES & CONSERVATION POLICE TEAM. THEY E...
07/27/2024

7/24/24 - The NIA TEAM SPENT THEIR DAY AT STONE TAVERN LAKE WITH FRESHWATER FISHERIES & CONSERVATION POLICE TEAM. THEY ENGAGED IN IDENTIFYING FISH, REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS. IN ADDITION, THE TEAM ENJOYED SEINING AND LOOKED FORWARD DISCOVERING THE VARIOUS FISH CAUGHT IN THEIR NETS.

7/23/24 - The NIA TEAM OF YII SPENT THEIR DAY AT THE NJ DIVISION OF FISH & WILDLIFE. THEY WERE GIVEN A TOUR OF THE PEQUE...
07/27/2024

7/23/24 - The NIA TEAM OF YII SPENT THEIR DAY AT THE NJ DIVISION OF FISH & WILDLIFE. THEY WERE GIVEN A TOUR OF THE PEQUEST TROUT HATCHERY AND ENJOYED AN AFTERNOON OF FISHING AT THE EDUCATION POND. TEAM NIA CAUGHT 5 FISH!!! 🐟🐠🎣😃😁

7/22/24 - NIA’s Team continues working on their Rain Garden!
07/27/2024

7/22/24 - NIA’s Team continues working on their Rain Garden!

7/17/24 - THE NIA TEAM SPENT THE DAY AT TRENTON WATER WORKS ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WATER QUALITY, LEAD SERVICE LINES,...
07/27/2024

7/17/24 - THE NIA TEAM SPENT THE DAY AT TRENTON WATER WORKS ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WATER QUALITY, LEAD SERVICE LINES, CAPITAL PROJECTS, POTENTIAL CAREERS AND SO MUCH MORE. MORE THAN THIS, THEY HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING OUR VERY OWN MAYOR REED GUSCIORA. 😊

7/16/24 - THE NIA TEAM OF YII HAD A GREAT DAY AT ROSEDALE PARK AND THE LABORATORY AT THE BUREAU OF FRESHWATER & BIOLOGIC...
07/27/2024

7/16/24 - THE NIA TEAM OF YII HAD A GREAT DAY AT ROSEDALE PARK AND THE LABORATORY AT THE BUREAU OF FRESHWATER & BIOLOGICAL MONITORING. THEY HAD THE PLEASURE OF SHADOWING BIOLOGISTS, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATORS, NATURALISTS, LAB TECHNICIANS AND FIELD STAFF.

Address

P. O BOX 3581
Trenton, NJ
08629

Telephone

+18779276337

Website

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