idealist.org

Founded in 1981, Isles, Inc., is a nationally recognized community development and environmental organization created to foster more self-reliant families in healthy, sustainable communities. Each year, Isles directly reaches more than 10,000 central New Jersey residents through: affordable housing development, environmental health and education, financial literacy training, community gardening, at-risk youth job training, homeownership counseling, community organizing, and regional planning.

Unlike conventional responses to urban problems—i.e., single-service programs for housing, the environment, education, or health—Isles operates a range of activities that recognize the interdependence of physical, economic, health, and social development strategies to address the problems of distressed communities. Isles’ approach is unique because it addresses critical, immediate needs with an eye towards the long-term impact; combines the best of locally based, community development with broader regionally minded strategies; and promotes self-reliance over service.