THE TRENTON MAKES ATHLETIC CENTER AT A GLANCE
Here at the Trenton Makes Athletic Center, we focus on creating student-athletes out of Trenton's youth by providing them a safe space to train and play turf sports on a competitive level, while fostering the overall objective of education comes first. Before any youth member steps foot on our manicured turf field, they must first complete their tutoring session, homework or participate in our "Read, Listen & Challenge" program in the "STARS" STudent Athletes Resource Space.
MEMBER ACTIVITIES
Pre School / Youth / Adult / Senior / Community Programs
Trenton Makes Athletic Center is in the business of changing and shaping lives. The work we do at our Non-Profit Organization is aimed at providing a holistic approach to solving some of Trenton's biggest challenges, primarily the juvenile crime and graduation rates. We make sure our youth members are empowered by creating opportunities for them that produce positive outcomes.
LIL MESSI PRE SCHOOL SOCCER TRAINING PROGRAM AGES 4-6
MON-FRI 8:30 AM-10:30 AM
Introducing the sport of soccer to children at a young age to build character
The "Lil Messi" program is named after professional soccer player Lionel Messi who started training at four years old. Soccer became as important as the air he breathed and resulted in him becoming one of the most famous soccer players today.
BIG BABY PRESCHOOL FLAG FOOTBALL TRAINING PROGRAM AGES 4-6
MON-FRI 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Introducing the sport of Flag Football to children at a young age to build character
The term "Big Baby" is an oxymoron. When most people see a kid that is bigger in size than the other kids of the same age, they sometimes say that kid is "big like a football player", while still acknowledging that the kid is still young. The program's core purpose is geared towards developing a child's love for the game of Football, as well as teaching sportsmanship values that extend far beyond the playing field.
SENIOR HEALTH & FITNESS PROGRAM
MON - FRI 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Seniors Power Walk around our 60'x110' quartered field or participate in the patented "Dance Dance Bzingo" session, an exercise that incorporates the familiar game of bingo with music, movement, and entertainment.
With our organization’s mission always in mind, we strive to find new strategies for dealing with the challenge of finding ways for Trenton's senior residents to stay healthy. Most of the senior housing apartments in Trenton are not outfitted with fitness areas, so we will partner with the Silver Sneakers program to provide senior residents with a dedicated space for them to stay active on a daily bases. This initiative is something that we take very seriously, and our team is working each and every day to make a positive impact. Contact us to learn more about our commitment to this cause.
STUDENT ATHLETE RESOURCE SPACE AND SPORTS TRAINING PROGRAM 4 PM - 6 PM
Homework / Tutoring / Computers / Reading
This resource space is designed for students enrolled in the Trenton school district and play on any of their school's sports teams. Our tutors have parental permission to access each student's PowerSchool online account and class curriculum. The tutors also form relationships with the student's teachers to gain intricate information regarding the student's strengths and weaknesses. This program is also available to youth members who do not play on any of the school's sports teams, however, they only have limited tutoring privileges. Youth members have the option of training in any of the four primary turf sports, soccer, flag football, lacrosse or frisbee.
Before any youth member can begin a training session, they must participate in the "Read, Listen and Challenge" program.
HEALTHY SNACK BAR CARTS
Providing members with healthy choices of snacks and fruit that will help them stay fit and well nourished.
Athletes require a lot of energy and nutrients to stay in shape, so eating healthy while playing competitive sports is important. We have snack bar carts filled with fresh fruit, cold water, and nutrition bars regularly available during youth and preschool training sessions, as well as during the senior fitness program.
SCORE WITH AN ASSIST YOUTH VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
Community engagement is the key to fostering relationships that lasts.
Score with an assist is a program where we offer our youth volunteer services to public and private organizations. We research and market our volunteer services wherever we see a need for help. No job is too big or small for our youth volunteers, as long as they score a friend in the process.
ADULT OPEN PLAY PROGRAM 18+
M - F 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Co-Ed pick up soccer and football for adult members.
During after youth training hours from 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM, the fields will be open for open play. This program provides opportunities for Trenton residents to enjoy the indoor facility after work and get in some well-needed recreation.
T-TOWN SUMMER SATURDAYS AT-RISK YOUTH & COMMUNITY PROGRAM
EVERY OTHER SATURDAY NIGHT IN
MAY THROUGH AUGUST
Creating a safe environment in the summertime for teenagers to socialize with their peers and their community during the high crime midnight hours from 10:00 PM to 2:00 AM.
At the Trenton Makes Athletic Center, we are dedicated to stepping up our efforts in addressing the issues of juvenile crime in the city, and the disconnect between young adults and the community.
OUR MISSION
TO CREATE A PATHWAY TO SUCCESS THROUGH SPORTS, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY.
OUR VISION
TO PROVIDE A SPACE WHERE CHILDREN CAN DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS THAT ARE NECESSARY AND APPARENT IN TODAY'S SOCIETY.
COMING SOON
INDOOR
SPORTS FACILITY
Get in touch with the Trenton Makes Athletic Center to learn more about our work and how you can get involved.
917-721-3686
Founders, Chester and Jazmyn Jones
WHY TRENTON, WHY SOCCER,
WHY NONPROFIT
Community Activism
The founders of the Trenton Makes Athletic Center, Chester and Jazmyn Jones teamed up with community activists who recognized the need for space where competitive soccer is played in the Capital City of Trenton, NJ. As the shift in immigrant families migrate from South America and Latino countries across the world to Trenton New Jersey, the sport of soccer and places to play it becomes a necessity. Most of the historic baseball fields, tennis and basketball courts have been overrun by pick up soccer games and Futsal. As the cities recreations department continues to struggle to disperse what little funds they have for the local basketball, flag football, and tennis programs, soccer is left up to the Trenton YMCA and the Boys Club of America, and the Living Hope Church soccer program that runs for a month during the summer each year.
There is, however, a travel soccer team out of Trenton with a mission to offer the inner-city children with an opportunity to play competitively throughout New Jersey called the Glenn Myernick Foundation or “Mooch Soccer” (moochsoccer.org). Jazmyn and Chester coached the “Mooch” travel soccer team for 3 years while their son Chazz Jones played as a striker. This is a wonderful program and has yielded several successful soccer players from Trenton, however much more is needed. Since Trenton doesn’t have designated soccer fields, the Mooch Soccer home club is located in Robbinsville NJ, and their home games and practices are held at the Community Park in Robbinsville Township.
Chazz Jones has grown to become a premier player on the “Mooch” travel soccer team and was eager to accomplish more, so they paid for his training sessions with the RedBulls RDS program, and the Olympic Development Program “ODP” which were not cheap. Chazz is now a starting senior player for Trenton Catholic Academy “Iron Mikes” located in Hamilton Township and a leading member of the elite MatchFit ECNL soccer club. Chazz is also getting good grades in school and has his eyes on several college recruitment opportunities. Sadly, the same cannot be said for Chazz’s former Mooch soccer teammates who were unable to afford the specialty training that Chazz received.
Creating an indoor sports facility in Trenton as a non-profit allows the ability to offer free quality sports training to youth 6 -17, provide daily exercise to senior residents, and it also, enables the community to utilize a safe recreational space all year round. The facility also becomes an economic engine for the city when sports tournaments are held and invited teams from all over come to visit, shop in the local stores, eat in the local restaurants, and stay in the local hotel.
The overall mission of the TMA Center is to create a pathway to success for Trenton’s youth through sports, education, and community. Essentially, the founders believe that developing more of Trenton's youth into student-athletes is the key to an enriched city, they also believe that creating a safe space for youth to develop life skills that are necessary and apparent in today’s society is paramount.