Cherry Oakley (President)
Cherry chairs the 120 East State Board of Directors. She is the current Executive Director of Support Coordination at Neighbours, Inc, where she leads a team of statewide facilitators that helps New Jerseyans with disabilities. She works closely with government systems, local communities, and service organizations towards values-driven transformation. She has been a founding board member of several nonprofits that focus on the health, healing, and wellness of those marginalized by society or living in urban communities.
Jean Bickal
Jean graduated from Bryn Mawr College, received an MA in history from Emory University and a law degree from Seton Hall Law School. She spent much of her career in the State of NJ Department of Banking & Insurance, retiring as the Assistant Director, Division of Insurance. She is a long-time resident of Trenton’s Mill Hill neighborhood and is active with the Old Mill Hill Society (the neighborhood association). She serves on the City of Trenton’s Landmarks Commission. She is a member of the Capital Singers, a Community Chorus in Trenton and serves as a Trustee and Vice Chair for Finance on the Board of the chorus. She is also an Elder with the First Presbyterian Church of Trenton and is Co-Treasurer of the Church.
Jane Malloy (Treasurer)
Jane Malloy is a lifelong resident of Trenton with a passion for community service.
In 2003, Jane founded Exercise, Eat Always Together (EEAT, Inc), a registered 501c3 that addressed obesity and overweight in children and adolescents.
Outside of her community work, Jane has more than thirty years of foreign and public policy analytical and research experience with the United States Department of State and as a private consultant. She currently runs her own professional writing consultancy, That’s Write, LLC serving both domestic and foreign clientele in a variety of writing and foreign policy services.
She is a trustee of the Trenton Museum Society (TMS) and has served as a volunteer with Project Literacy, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Boys and Girls Club of America, the Special Olympics Committee, the U.S. Department of State Mentor program and Trenton Reads.
Jeffrey Vamos (Vice President)
Jeff is currently the Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville where he has served since April of 2005. He grew up in Elkhart, Indiana, received his BA from Duke University and his M.Div from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. After serving two congregations in Brooklyn, NY, he served the First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto, CA for eleven years. During his ministry there he was deeply immersed in community organizing, work culminating in the creation of a $24 million housing and services center for homeless persons. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC.
Cynthia Vandenberg
Cynthia is a long-time resident of Trenton who specializes in strategic grant writing and communications for non-profits. Recent clients include Bucks County Playhouse and Mercer Street Friends. She is the former Executive Director for the Trenton Film Society and Trenton Film Festival. A mother of two children attending the George School, she is the Clerk for the Parent Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and she has served as a Trustee for the Capital Singers of Trenton.
Mike Whittington
Mike Whittington is the Program Manager for Planning & Placemaking on Isles’ Community Planning & Development Team, where they support projects centering development, community relations, grantor-grantee relations, beautification, and training. Previously, Mike had been employed at Georgetown University and Center for Supportive Schools in various roles supporting community engagement/organizing. Currently, Mike is the Company Manager of Tha Block Trenton Inc. While attending Georgetown University, Mike studied Biochemistry with a Minor in Japanese Language & Culture.
Molly Dykstra
The Reverend Molly Dykstra joined 120 East in April, 2022 to take on the responsibility of Project Leader for the newly formed organization. Previously as FPCT’s temporary pastor for Ministry Resources, she led a series of community outreach efforts that led to creation of 120 East. A native of northwest California, Molly graduated from the University of California at Davis and Princeton Theological Seminary; served congregations in Mexico City, Mexico, in Dubuque, Iowa, and across the former Presbytery of New Brunswick in pastoral ministry, children’s and family ministry, resourcing, leadership development, and early childhood education. She lives with her husband, Robert, a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, and two children.
Michael Goldstein, Consultant
Michael Goldstein is a management consultant who began working with the First Presbyterian Church of Trenton in September, 2021 and played an important role in defining the operating and financing strategy that led to the formation of 120 East.
In 2006, Michael co-founded HHG Development Associates, a Trenton-focused real estate development company that specialized in historic redevelopment, and built the 138-unit Roebling Lofts. He founded and was principal contributor to the website, HiddenTrenton.com, for many years the premiere lifestyle guide to the City of Trenton.
Michael holds an MBA with Distinction from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, and a Sc.B. from Brown University. He lived in the Mill Hill neighborhood of Trenton from 2003 until 2022
Annabelle Radcliffe-Trenner, Architect
Annabelle is trained as a preservation architect in Scotland and at ICCROM in Rome, before moving to the United States in 1988. She has specialized in complicated preservation projects that require an innovative approach and the use of advanced technology. She previously sat on the board of Association of Preservation Technology and continues to lecture all over the world.
120 East State is in the process of recruiting an Advisory Group and a Youth Advisory Group to provide community input into our development. If you would like to serve, please complete the form and Molly will reach out to you…