Building More Than Events: How Craig “CJ” Burnett Jr. Is Reimagining Trenton Through We Built This City and DreamFest
- Akeya Fortson-Brown
- Jul 13
- 4 min read
Local firefighter, entrepreneur, and community organizer launches a week-long celebration built on the idea that "the city is the venue”
TRENTON, N.J. — While many spend their time complaining about what the city used to be, Craig "CJ" Burnett Jr. has spent his time building the foundation of a brighter future for Trenton.
A firefighter by profession, youth mentor by passion, and entrepreneur by vision, Burnett has invested in his hometown for years. That commitment led him to establish We Built This City (WBTC), a company designed to build platforms and ecosystems that help urban communities thrive.
Committed to accessibility and inclusion, Burnett and We Built This City have collaboratively built a programming infrastructure that engages Trenton's community while stimulating the city's commercial corridor and creative industries. The result is DreamFest, an annual week-long festival designed to showcase everything Trenton has to offer in a positive, safe, and meaningful way.
A FESTIVAL WITH NO FIXED ADDRESS
DreamFest intentionally blurs the lines between business, culture, education, entertainment, and civic engagement. Rather than treating the city's challenges as isolated problems to be solved one at a time, the model demands collaborative solutions to their shared root causes.
The festival’s slogan, "The City Is The Venue," doubles as its founding principle. Rather than funneling thousands of people into a single location, DreamFest disperses them across the city into local restaurants, businesses, creative studios, and community spaces.
"It's less about the model and more about the mission," organizers say, describing the group behind it as collaboration-centered entrepreneurs rather than a single production company.
The festival's lineup reflects that philosophy, with each event designed to plug residents and tourists into a different part of the city of Trenton's culture:
Trenton UEZ Restaurant Week — spotlighting locally owned eateries
DreamFest Flag Football Classic — bringing together firefighters, police officers, businesses, influencers, and community members
DreamFest Community Day — offering residents family-friendly activities, entertainment, and resources
DreamFest Night School — equipping aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools to build businesses of their own
DreamFest Social Hours — energizing the city's nightlife and networking culture
This programming approach has already attracted partnerships to embrace the power of community-driven economic development, including city agencies, local organizations, and private businesses.
For Burnett and We Built This City, DreamFest's first run is just the opening chapter. He envisions the festival evolving into more than an annual event. He imagines DreamFest as a year-round catalyst for collaboration, tourism, entrepreneurship, and community pride.
ABOUT DREAMFEST
DreamFest is an annual festival featuring a variety of activities and events to engage Trenton’s community in a positive, safe, and meaningful way. Built on the belief that “The City Is The Venue”, the festival is set to activate several cornerstone locations in the city, including Downtown Trenton, Cadwalader Park, and the Capital City Sports Complex. “Our goal is to activate Trenton’s cultural, athletic, entrepreneurial, and community spaces to create immersive, collaborative experiences for residents, business owners, and visitors from across the region”, said Williams.
The festival will span the full week of July 13–19, bringing unique experiences that will attract tourists’ attention, call natives who have left the city to make a trip back home, and provide residents with vibrant third spaces to enjoy. Each unique experience is called an “DreamFest Attraction” and serves the purpose of engaging, energizing, and/or entertaining the city.
DreamFest Attractions include the following:
Every Thursday, 6/11–7/9 | 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
A weekly networking series at Much Better Studios. Partners, participants, and community members gather to connect, create content, and build relationships ahead of event week.
July 13–19
Celebrating Trenton’s local food scene in partnership with the Trenton Urban Enterprise Zone. Participating restaurants create exclusive “DreamFest Special” menus served throughout the week.
July 13–19
A citywide fitness challenge encouraging residents to get healthy, healed, and active together through free daily fitness classes, meetups, and wellness experiences.
July 13–16 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
A four-night business education series teaching entrepreneurship and pitching skills to emerging business owners and aspiring creators.
July 18 | 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM
A signature sporting event featuring Trenton’s local brands, businesses, and organizations competing on the field at Capital City Sports Complex. Accompanied by 50+ vendors, food trucks, and special appearances.
July 19 | 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM
A free community celebration at Cadwalader Park featuring a creator vs. creator Dodgeball Tournament, 50+ vendors and food trucks, kids’ activities, and community giveaways. Open to all.
Tickets and event information are available at muchbetterworld.com/dreamfest.
DREAMFEST PARTNERS
Since its public launch, DreamFest 2026 has assembled a coalition of civic and community partners. Official partners include:
Civic & Government Partners:
Trenton Fire & Emergency Services
Trenton Police Department
Founding Organizations:
Much Better Studios — Quayshaun Williams, Founder
The Hustle Lab LLC — Akeya Fortson-Brown, Founder
We Built This City LLC — Craig Burnett Jr., Founder
Just Black Productions — Dante Alston, Founder
Community Business Partners:
Moja Life
3rd Shift
Simply Pure Trenton
Razor Sharp
Dreams To Reality
Warren MultiServices
Skillet Cafe
1911 Smokehouse
Big Easy
Arlee’s Raw Blends
M&K Bistro
Trenton UEZ
Let’s Go Entertainment
Reflections Salon
Tracey’s Kitchen
Jean’s Kitchen
For a comprehensive list of partners, please visit www.muchbetterworld.com/dreamfest
ABOUT WE BUILT THIS CITY LLC
We Built This City LLC is a Trenton-based community development organization founded by Craig Burnett Jr., entrepreneur and City of Trenton firefighter, dedicated to activating civic pride and economic empowerment throughout the city. Learn more at criagburnettjr.com
Comments