The Trenton Historic Development Collaborative (THDC) defined itself and its area of focus based on the thriving African-American community that has lived here for decades and on the rich history of the neighborhood. Since the mid-19th century, the THDC neighborhood has been central to Trenton’s African-American community. A thriving black middle class full of skilled tradesmen, lawyers, and teachers resided in the neighborhood and influenced public policy throughout the city for decades.
The community’s efforts to ensure racial equality for its children came to a head in 1943 when parents of two black school children, Leo Williams and Janet Hedgepeth, successfully sued the city of Trenton for refusing to allow their children to attend the all-white middle school. The Hedgepeth-Williams case was important not only for Trenton’s black community, but also an important precursor to the national civil rights victory in Brown v. Board of Education (1954).
Fast forward to 2006. Shiloh CDC convened and facilitated the Trenton Historic Development Collaborative, a group of more than 20 neighborhood organizations, business, and residents who are committed to revitalizing their community by working to implement a community driven neighborhood revitalization plan encompassing public safety, employment, financial literacy, and recreation. The Wells Fargo Regional Foundation is providing the initial funding for the implementation of this plan.
Trenton Historic Development Collaborative 