12/03/2026
I had an exciting time yesterday at the Mercer Street Friends Community Schools event at Cadwalader Elementary School in Trenton, where I joined students for reading time and shared the classic story “The Little Engine That Could.” Since March is Read Across America Month, it was especially meaningful to spend time reading with these wonderful students.
This is a special book for me. I read it to my children when they were young, and they read it to their own children. The message of the story is simple but powerful. When we believe in ourselves and support one another, we can overcome challenges and achieve great things.
That same spirit is at the heart of community schools, which help connect students and families with the resources they need to succeed. I was proud to help secure $2 million to expand community schools so that more students and families in our community can benefit from these important services.
Thank you to Bernie Flynn, CEO of Mercer Street Friends, and all of the educators, partners, and volunteers who are helping strengthen our schools and support families throughout our community.
