Camden New Jersey is the poorest city in America.  What kind of challenges do Camden’s youth face?

Per Capita Income:                                Camden--$9, 815           US Avg--$21,587

Children Living Below Poverty              Camden—46%                 US Avg—16%

Births to unwed mothers                      Camden—80%                 US Avg—34%

Graduated from High School              Camden—51%                  US Avg—80.4%

Graduate from a 4 Year College        Camden—Less than 1%

“About 30 years ago, a small community of God’s people dreamed a dream.  We dreamed of creating a ministry to inspire a new generation of Camden’s young people to reach their God-given potential—academically astute, hope-filled, visionaries who would be grounded in Christian faith and desiring to make a difference in Camden and the world.”  -Bruce Main

What does Urban Promise do?

Urban promise’s mission is to equip Camden’s children and young adults with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management, spiritual growth and Christian leadership.  This is accomplished through:

The CamdenForward School (K-8) and the UrbanPromise Academy (9-12) use low student/teacher ratios, a family style learning environment, personal accountability, community service and Bible classes to prepare kids for life.  100% of Urban Promise High School students graduate (compared with 51% for the rest of Camden).  75% of the cost for students to attend is subsidized by Urban Promise.

SIX neighborhood based After School and Summer Programs around the city that serve 400 children (ages 6-14) daily, providing over 540 hours of arts and crafts, Bible study, recreation, life skills workshops, academic enrichment classes, off campus enrichment experiences, mentoring and more each year!

Urban Trekkers (outdoor and exploratory program), Urban Boatworks (in partnership with the Camden Shipyard and Maritime Museum), UrbanChef Program, Fine Arts Program and Camden Step Team provide exciting, well-rounded opportunities to students to leave Camden and develop their scientific, athletic, engineering, artistic and kinetic skills.

Serving the city of Camden (roughly 7,200 Volunteer Hours per year)

A StreetLeader Program which provides training, mentoring, paying jobs and leadership opportunities for nearly 100 teens every year.  Streetleader Alumni have graduated from or attend Eastern, Cornell, Princeton, Bennett, Rutgers, Rowan, Virginia, Kean & others.

In addition: Over the past 30 years, over 1,600 college-age interns have devoted a summer or a year of service in the community of Camden.  (Intern alumni have initiated urban ministries in Vancouver, Malawi, Buffalo, Aberdeen and a host of other cities around the world.)

Urban Promise attracts over 800 volunteers every year to serve, love and learn.

Today, graduates of UrbanPromise are teaching in Camden Public Schools, working at the Department of Youth and Family Services as social workers, attending seminaries, studying for Master’s degrees, starting careers in the work-force, and planting urban youth ministries.

“Young people are fulfilling their dreams.  Young people are fulfilling God’s dreams for their lives.” – Bruce Main

What have others said about Urban Promise?

“Without a doubt, UrbanPromise is one of the best urban ministries in the United States.”  --Tony Campolo

“UrbanPromise is on the cutting edge of urban ministry.  The quality of students they send to our university is remarkable and has enriched our academic community.” –Dr. David Black, President Eastern University

What does a typical Work Group day at Urban Promise look like?

Early Morning: Breakfast & Devotions

Late Morning: Summer Camp Assignments (Bible Studies, Arts & Crafts, Music, Sports & Activities, Field Trips & more)

Afternoon: Lunch & Campus and Community Work Projects (IE: construction and renovation, maintenance, landscaping, program support, neighborhood clean-up projects, etc.)

Evening: Dinner & Evening Activities designed to stretch you culturally, interpersonally and spiritually (e.g.: Movie Night with discussion, Social Justice Workshop, Round-table discussion with Camden teenagers and young adults, Cultural, Urban and Historical tours through Metro-Camden, etc.)

Accommodations: We will stay in a dormitory at Rutgers University.

ELIGIBILITY & EXPECTATIONS:

• You must be a current eighth grader, high school student or an adult of any age.

• We expect team members to be:

• Flexible, teachable, responsible, cheerful and willing to follow directions

• Willing to learn from others, and put others first

• Willing to leave your comfort zone, to be stretched, and to grow

• Willing to be in community with others who are different

• Financially:

• You must earn at least $200 of the total trip cost, on your own, through work that is fairly paid for.  You can raise over $200, but not less. 

Support letters do not count toward this $200.

• Preparation:

• Participate in a Team Building Event (May or June, Details: TBA)

• Packing Party and Prayer, Saturday July 30, 6pm @ College Church

• Mission Team Commissioning: Sunday, July 31, 10am

• Optional: Read Why Jesus Crossed the Road by Bruce Main