Camden hopes to create "Children's Zone"
Tuesday, July 13th, 2010
By: Elizabeth Fiedler
efiedler@whyy.org
A Camden neighborhood is hoping to look more like Harlem. Today, officials, Rowan University, and an area nonprofit announced they'll use $50,000 in private money and assistance from the state – to figure out how to replicate the Harlem Children's Zone.
Outside Lanning Square Elementary School Camden's struggle is on full display. Across the street are boarded-up houses, and even the school is marked with graffiti.
Inside, people are talking about the Harlem Children's Zone project which takes a holistic approach to helping children succeed by rebuilding the community. There are in-school, after-school, social-service, health and community-building programs…and workshops for the parents.
Richard Stagliano is CEO of the Center for Family Services – the nonprofit that's working on replicating the Harlem project in Camden.
"We've never been able to do a project at scale in one community to say every child in this community from birth through college will have opportunities – will be cared for, will have the services and supports in their family that they need to have that child succeed," Stagliano says.
The group hopes to receive $500,000 from the US Department of Education to get a Camden Children's Zone off the ground.