EDUCATION
Camden Campaign for Children’s Literacy
Since 2001, this group of health care professionals and teachers from public, parochial and private schools, and preschool programs, as well as leaders in churches, social service agencies and community organizations, develops literacy-related programming for children and establishes links with adult literacy programs for parents who would like to learn to read or improve reading skills.
Contact: Ingrid Campbell
ingridc@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6739
SPARC (Science Preparation Alliance of Rutgers and Camden)
Middle and high school students from across the City of Camden receive intensive exposure to the science and health care disciplines through this program, which also supports science instruction at the Charles E. Brimm Medical High School. Rutgers partners with the internationally acclaimed Coriell Institute for Medical Research on this initiative.
Contact: Dr. William Whitlow
sparc@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6544
BizEd Program
An intensive two-week summer program for top high school students from Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties, this Rutgers School of Business initiative immerses teens in the principles of business and leadership through the engagement of faculty, guest speakers, field trips, and case studies.
Contact: Samantha Collier
scollier@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6710
Center for the Arts
Hundreds of children and teens from across southern New Jersey nurture their appreciation of the arts through a variety of innovative education programs developed by the Rutgers–Camden Center for the Arts. These innovative Arts Education programs are offered in the schools, at Rutgers, or through distance learning. They build skills and abilities within various arts disciplines; foster self-awareness of individual artistic assets; augment knowledge of the arts in historical and cultural context; and much more. The RCCA also conducts projects that integrate arts into the Camden City neighborhoods.
Contact: Noreen Scott Garrity
ngarrity@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6306
Rutgers Future Scholars
As part of a university-wide initiative, the Rutgers Future Scholars work with students from the Camden School District starting in the summer before they enter the eighth grade. The children become part of a unique pre-college culture of university programming, events, support, and mentoring that continues through their high school years. Students who successfully complete the pre-college initiative and are admitted to Rutgers will receive a scholarship covering the cost of their tuition for four years funded through a range of grants and donations.
Contact: Nyeema Watson
ncwatson@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-2885
Professional Development Pathways Initiative for Early Childhood Educators
Founded in 2001 as an initiative in Camden to provide improved early childhood education (ECE) training for childcare staff at all levels, the PDPI now is the only early childhood preparation program to provide comprehensive training, credentialing and degree programs from entry-level to master’s degree professionals, and is the only ECE training and credentialing entity within New Jersey fully integrated as part of a University ECE degree program.
Contact: Ingrid Campbell
ingridc@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6739
LEAP (Leadership, Education, And Partnership) Academy University Charter School
Serving 840 Camden children in grades pre-K through 12, LEAP works with Rutgers–Camden to make a profound impact on the children of our host city. Rutgers provides a host of critical services for this charter school, including security, grant administration, and information technology infrastructure.
Contact: Wanda Garcia
wandag@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6093
STARR (Sports Teaching Adolescents Responsibility and Resiliency)
Started in 1995 by two Rutgers professors who sought to foster the development of young Camden teenagers through sports, community service, academic enrichment, and the opportunity to form meaningful relationships with caring consistent adults. Today, the program serves hundreds of Camden teens and includes such initiatives as an annual summer trip to Vermont and a voter registration program for Camden citizens during this summer.
Contact: Dr. Robert Atkins
robert.atkins@rutgers.edu
856-225-6483
Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project
Top Rutgers law students are trained to spend a full semester teaching the U.S. Constitution to Camden high school students in an effort to make the Constitution “come alive” for young people.
Contact: Prof. Jill Friedman
jillfrie@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6263
Parents Academy for School Reform
Offered through the Rutgers–Camden Community Leadership Center, this initiative helps parents become more effective participants in the overall educational development of their children by increasing parenting skills and designing a training framework that sustains parental engagement in public schools.
Contact: Stephanie Rogers
swr@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6902
Teacher Development and Performance Institute
Offered through the Rutgers–Camden Community Leadership Center, this initiative improves overall school performance and student achievement through professional development and capacity building for faculty and school administrators. Since 2000, TDPI has served 27 schools and 178 teachers and administrators.
Contact: Wanda Garcia
wandag@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6348
Street Law Project
Rutgers law students provide practical law-related education to hundreds of disadvantaged young people each semester in schools, detention centers, shelters, and elsewhere in Camden and its vicinity.
Contact: Prof. Jill Friedman
jillfrie@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6263
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Office of Economic Development
The Office of Economic Development seeks to develop opportunities to engage new audiences in the growth of our host city, and to increase Rutgers–Camden’s services to the State of New Jersey and the City of Camden.
Contact: Greg Gamble
gambleg@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6532
Rutgers–Camden Regional Small Business Development Center
As part of a statewide network, this Rutgers–Camden center helps new and potential small business owners to grow enterprises in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem counties through free and low-cost programs.
Contact: Gary Rago
rago@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6221
Rutgers Camden Technology Campus, Inc.
This business incubator is attracting new businesses to Camden where, upon “graduating” from the incubator, Rutgers encourages them to remain in the city or in New Jersey. The incubator serves dozens of emerging companies that are creating well-paying jobs.
Contact: Suzanne Zammit
suzannez@camden.rutgers.edu
856-479-9010
Rutgers Institute for Management and Executive Development
Rutgers IMED provides various educational opportunities to the businesses and individuals of Camden and the surrounding area. Focusing on management education Rutgers IMED provides online workforce development in association with New Jersey One-Stop Career center to provide training to the unemployed.
Contact: Ray Compari
rcompari@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6685
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Project
Offered through the Rutgers School of Law–Camden, this project provides free assistance for low-income residents seeking help in filing New Jersey and federal tax returns.
Contact: Prof. Pam Mertsock-Wolfe
pmertsoc@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6406
LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY
Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs
Connecting Rutgers throughout southern New Jersey, the Rand Institute engages Rutgers–Camden faculty and students with public administrators, elected officials, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders to address the real-world challenges that shape the lives of state citizens. The Rand Institute offers high-quality policy research; timely technical assistance; and neutral convening of stakeholders and citizens.
Contact: Dr. Gwendolyn Harris
glharris@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6566
Children’s Justice Clinic
An initiative of the Rutgers School of Law–Camden, this holistic lawyering program uses multiple strategies and interdisciplinary approaches to resolve problems for Camden youth facing juvenile delinquency charges. Rutgers law students primarily provide legal representation in juvenile court hearings.
Contact: Prof. Sandra Simkins
ssimkins@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6425
Child and Family Advocacy Clinic
This Rutgers–Camden legal clinic represents children in child abuse and neglect cases in Family Court in Camden, and represent children in administrative hearings and proceedings regarding public benefits, education, immigration, medical and mental health issues.
Contact: Prof. Meredith Schalick
schalick@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-2321
Civil Practice Clinic
A range of legal support services for Camden residents is offered through this Rutgers School of Law–Camden program.
Contact: Prof. Joanne Gottesman
jgottesm@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6448
Domestic Violence Clinic
The Domestic Violence Clinic provides legal advice and representation to people seeking domestic violence restraining orders in Camden County and occasionally in Burlington and Gloucester counties.
Contact: Prof. Victoria Chase
vlchase@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-2773
Pro Bono Bankruptcy Project
In this program, Rutgers–Camden law students partner with practicing bankruptcy attorneys to prepare filings in Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, giving clients a fresh start.
Contact: Prof. Pam Mertsock-Wolfe
pmertsoc@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6406
Pro Bono Financial Literacy Project
Through this project, Rutgers law students visit Camden high schools and other sites to teach children and teens about credit, debt, and budgeting.
Contact: Prof. Jill Friedman
jillfrie@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6263
Pro Bono Immigration Project
Rutgers Law students and volunteer attorneys provide immigration advice on selected evenings at St. Joseph's Pro-Cathedral in Camden during the fall and spring semesters on an in-person basis only (no advice is available over telephone or email).
Contact: Prof. Jill Friedman
jillfrie@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6263
Pro Bono Mediation Project
Trained Rutgers law students help to facilitate dispute resolutions.
Contact: Prof. Pam Mertsock-Wolfe
pmertsoc@camden.rutgers.edu
856-225-6406
Federal Prisoner Reentry Pro Bono Project
Launched in conjunction with United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, this Rutgers School of Law–Camden works closely with the United States Office of Probation to identify potential clients with civil legal issues that prevent successful re-integration into society.
Contact: Prof.William McLaughlin
prisoner-reentry@camlaw.rutgers.edu
856-225- 225-6413
Opportunity Reconnect
Supported by a grant from the Nicholson Foundation, this reentry center in Camden serves ex-offenders being released from state prisons in New Jersey. The one-stop reentry center helps those who were formerly incarcerated to successfully navigate the various systems and agencies.
Contact: Joseph Cassissi
cassissi@camden.rutgers.edu
856-583-1414
Camden Corporation Watch
Rutgers collaborates closely with the city’s law enforcement agencies, including the Camden Police Department, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, to promote interagency cooperation.