Trenton Health Team (THT) invites the community to join a free online discussion with urban activist Mindy Fullilove exploring how our neighborhoods influence our lives, behaviors and well-being, starting today, Wednesday, February 17, 2021 via Zoom.

Dr. Fullilove, a social psychiatrist and author who grew up in Orange, NJ, examines how the urban environment influences mental health and community. She is co-founder of the University of Orange, a free people’s urbanism school to build public capacity to create more equitable cities.

“We recognize health and well-being depend on more than just access to medical care,” said THT Executive Director Gregory Paulson. “How we grow up, what our neighborhood looks like and where we live have long-term effects on our lives. We want to bring these issues to light, discuss what is happening and then collaborate with our neighbors to improve outcomes in our city.”

To join today’s discussion with Dr. Fullilove, use this link or watch the livestream on the THT Facebook page, @trentonhealthteam. A recording will also be shared on the THT website.

Dr. Fullilove is the first speaker in THT’s “How Spaces Shape Us” series, supported by The Nicholson Foundation, addressing how planning and development interact with race and equity, and affect a community long-term. Dr. Fullilove is a board-certified social psychiatrist, urban activist, and author who explores ties between environment and mental health. Her research examines the mental health effects of environmental processes such as violence, segregation, and urban renewal. She is the author of Root Shock: How Tearing Up City Neighborhoods Hurts America and What We Can Do About It and Main Street: A City’s Heart Connects Us All.

THT will also welcome Endia Beal, a North Carolina artist, educator and author, who uses photography to reveal the often overlooked and unappreciated experiences unique to people of color. She will share personal and contemporary stories of black women working in the corporate space while addressing the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion during another free, online event at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 13, 2021.Click here to join Endia Beal discussion.

The third speaker, Bryan C. Lee, grew up in Trenton and is now an architect, educator, writer and design justice advocate in New Orleans, LA. He believes that, “for nearly every injustice there is an architecture built that sustains and perpetuates it,” and his nonprofit firm, Colloqate Design, is dedicated to expanding community access to design and creating spaces of racial, social and cultural equity. (Event details to come).

Support for the “How Spaces Shape Us” series was provided by a grant from The Nicholson Foundation. The series reflects THT’s shared Vision for a Healthy Trenton incorporating social determinants of health, and defining a “healthy Trenton” as including a healthy environment and housing, vibrant public spaces, a growing economy, access to healthy food, improved safety, equity and social cohesion and quality healthcare.

Paulson said, “We are grateful to The Nicholson Foundation for enabling us to bring these nationally recognized speakers here to share their unique perspectives with our community and help us develop creative solutions that benefit every neighborhood.”