In the spring, I’ll be doing an internship at UrbanPromise in Camden, New Jersey. I’ve known about and been around UrbanPromise for a number of years now, but I’ve never worked there. It’s an opportunity that I am truly and absolutely excited about. Beyond being excited about it, though, I am honored by the opportunity.
Camden is the poorest city in America and has the highest homicide rate as well. More children are illiterate, hungry and without resources and more adults are unemployed and under-resourced than anywhere else. It was into this context that UrbanPromise was born. What started as a summer camp run out of a Baptist church in 1988 has spawned into a multi-dimensional community development organization – focusing specifically on the children of Camden. Their motto is “Building a City of Promise – One Child at a Time.”
Their focus on education and empowerment is breathtaking to me. I attended their annual banquet this past week while in Yardley and found myself tearing up as the children explained what UrbanPromise was for them. One girl commented that “Urban became the tree that we could hang our dreams on.” I found tears rolling down my face. A safe place for kids to dream and learn how to become the dream they inhabit. A place where their dreams and wishes are encouraged and resourced.
I am sure that I will pontificate more about the beauty that I see in the students when I’m there – and the ways that I’m sure they will completely exhaust me as well. For now, I want to introduce you to Camden and to UrbanPromise.
ABC’s 20/20 did a special on Camden last winter. The article on the special is here – and a short clip of the video is here. Below is a video that UrbanPromise made for their banquet last year. I hope it gives you a snapshot of the hope that exists in that place, despite crushing statistics.
