In September 2017, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Trenton Central High School West, and The College of New Jersey’s (TCNJ) Center for Community Engaged Learning and Research (CELR Center) launched a BTE program for 50 youth in Trenton, New Jersey. Throughout the three-year program, the partners provided a variety of academic enrichment, career exploration, and higher education preparation opportunities, including:
- Wednesday Workshops—45 minutes of planned activities 3 Wednesdays a month. Topics covered included team building, academic planning, academic skills-building, career planning and skill building, and others.
- Wednesday Trips—field trips one Wednesday a month, which included visits to Johnson & Johnson facilities, cultural activities, and service trips.
- Special Events—Celebrations, information sessions, and special “institutes” that allowed for a deep dive into topics for students.
- Tutoring—Optional weekly tutoring time offered by Bonner Scholars, TCNJ students committed to community service as part of their college curriculum.
