Trenton’s Anti-Bullying Efforts Face Challenges Amid Rising

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Despite having one of the strongest anti-bullying laws in the country, Trenton, New Jersey is struggling with growing concerns around bullying, school violence, and student mental health—especially at the middle and high school levels. The tragic 2024 suicide of a 14-year-old student has put renewed pressure on the community to find real, sustainable solutions.

In response, Trenton’s schools have partnered with community and faith leaders through initiatives like the “Focus Group on School and Public Safety.” The group hosts student roundtables and shares feedback directly with the school board and superintendent to ensure student voices are heard.

Yet parents and advocates argue that bureaucratic hurdles, under-resourced schools, and a lack of clear communication often stand in the way of timely action. Reverend José Rodríguez, a leader in Trenton’s Latino community and part of the Focus Group, notes that many immigrant parents are hesitant to report bullying incidents due to language barriers, fear of authorities, or discomfort with formal procedures.

A lot of people in our community don’t report with the schools. Even if the form is in Spanish, parents prefer verbal face-to-face contact, or finding an advocate or clergy to go to,” said Rev. Rodríguez, who also leads the Jericho Project, a faith-based anti-bullying and suicide prevention campaign.
 

The Jericho Project provides peer groups, mentorship, and education for students and families. Rev. Rodríguez emphasizes a holistic and proactive approach:

“We’re trying to break the stigma around mental health… and empower kids so they feel less isolated and ashamed when they are bullied.”
 

While school staff continue to implement restorative practices and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs, leaders like Rodríguez remind us that schools cannot tackle the issue alone.

“The Trenton schools are doing the best they can with the resources they have. But they can only do so much. It takes a village and it has to be a partnership with parents and the community.”        

 Original source published in the Trenton Journal by Nina McPherson on April 8, 2025.