We'll be meeting with Pat in the next week or so to define specific issue briefs topics requested by area non-profit and government staff.

Below are a few potential research questions Pat Donohue wrote up earlier this year:

• Access to Employment for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals: residents with records have a difficult time finding employers that are willing to give them a job or a second chance.
• Protection of Identification Records for Prisoners: individuals who are arrested claim that one local law enforcement agency destroys their identification cards (e.g., drivers licenses) upon their arrest, which causes significant problems upon their re-entry into society and efforts to access services.
• Access to Services by Children of Illegal Immigrants with Developmental Disabilities: some illegal immigrants living in the area have children with developmetnal disabilities and their status appears to prevent them from securing necesssary services.
• Access to Higher Education for Undocumented Immigrants: barriers are preventing children of undocumented residents from entering college after they graduate from high school (expand on draft PolicyOptions Issue Brief on this topic; localize to New Jersey)
• Economic Development & Low-Skill Jobs: there are too few jobs available for Trenton city residents with low to moderate skills and education.
• Economic Development and Colleges/Universities: how could area colleges and universities do more to foster the economic development of Trenton.
• Gang Prevention: too many young people are joining gangs and turning to violent methods for resolving conflicts.
• Parent Participation in Urban Education: more parents could be involved in the education of their children and/or interacting with educators.