The Rutgers/LEAP Office of Pre College Programs has released its first issue of the Rutgers/LEAP Pre College Journal, a biannual publication that reports on the work and achievement of LEAP Academy students preparing for college. 

Under the umbrella of the Center for Strategic Urban Community Leadership the Pre College Office, works closely with colleges, corporations, and community organizations to establish opportunities for LEAP students and to get them prepared for their college careers. 

In this issue, LEAP students traveled across the country to participate in leadership conferences like the National Hispanic Institute and Princeton Model Congress, school activities like 21st Century after school programs and writing contests provided students with fun and exciting opportunities, and over 20 LEAP seniors became the first (but not the last) in their class to be accepted to 4-year college programs. 

Please click on the link below to read more about the great work being done in the Rutgers/LEAP Office of Pre College Programs.

Former Governor Florio visits LEAP Academy University Charter School
February 8, 2007, former Governor Jim Florio stopped by LEAP Academy University Charter School to discuss politics and law with a social studies class. He talked to students about his life experience, first as a child from a low-income family, then as a governor and educator in New Jersey. He described the essential role of a good education in his own life and in general. He also discussed issues of personal interest to him as a politician and New Jersey resident: law and environmental issues. His presentation was enthusiastically received by the students, who participated with questions of their own. They asked why inequalities exist among educational experiences in New Jersey regions—why do some children attend well-funded schools, while others cannot. And, following that theme, how can a state as rich as New Jersey allow poor areas, such as Camden, to exist.
(Click here to see pictures)


The Schumann Fund for New Jersey recently granted $100,000 to the Center (CSUCL) to provide support for the Parents Training Academy, as part of the CSUCL's efforts in building philanthropic support for the Early Learning Research Academy (ELRA). Schuman's $100,000 gift will support the Parents' Training component of the initiative. With these funds, ELRA staff will be able to design, Pilot, and deliver training modules to better prepare parents to address the needs of infants and toddlers, and providing them with the tools to maximize the involvement with the children's education and develop their leadership as partners in the educational process.

Play Ground Donation
LEAP is thrilled to announce the very generous donation by Linda Rohrer, of $150,000 for a new LEAP Academy playground. It will be developed on the open land advanced to the elementary school, and will be a welcome addition to exiting facilities. Rohrer, a trustees of the William G. Rohrer Charitable Foundation, is the daughter of the late William Rohrer, who developed the Foundation to fund local causes. He was a strong supporter of community improvement and education-both of which are reflected in this latest grant. The playground will be a great benefit to the children of LEAP.


Verizon Grant for $22,000 supports LEAP Library
The Verizon Foundation recently awarded LEAP a grant of $22,000 to improve and update the library. Funds will be used to purchase necessary supplies, including books, and enhance the learning experience of all LEAP students. To find out how you can contribute to LEAP’s library, please see below.

Mindy Holman, president and CEO of Holman Enterprises and generous benefactor to the LEAP Academy University Charter School, visited the school on October 31st, to spend time with some of the students. She presented a check on behalf Holman Enterprises for the Alfredo Santiago Endowment Scholarship Fund (Click for pictures of the Events )


Empowering Regional Growth
This brief outlines the various education, training, leadership and service programs generated on the Rutgers-Camden campus to transform urban communities.


A Report to President Richard McCormick
The President's report summarizes the findings of an evaluation of Rutgers-Camden's leadership development efforts. Findings were highly positive, indicting that Rutgers is playing a critical role in training and developing the leaders who will move New Jersey's communities forward in the future.

Leading the way for Camden Students (Click for the story )
Since 2002, Knight Foundation has supported Dr. Gloria Bonilla Santiago’s vision of a better kind of education for students in Camden, N.J., a city across the Delaware River from Philadelphia working to overcome huge social, political and economic deficits. Some 15 years ago, she helped open Camden's first charter school — the Rutgers-LEAP Academy. Today, the LEAP Academy’s efforts encompass education for preschoolers through high school (and will soon encompass infant care). Black and Latino children from low-income neighborhoods wear crisp plaid uniforms and study in buildings lining a transformed block of Cooper Street. Parents participate in mandatory classes that teach them how to be involved in their children’s education and in the community. Teachers get leadership development training.



Center for Strategic
Urban Community Leadership
321 Cooper Street Camden, NJ 08102
Telephone: 856-225-6348
Fax: 856-225-6500