KOINONIA FAMILY LIFE INC DBA CAMDEN DREAM CENTER TECHNOLOGY TRAINING SCHOOL

CAMDEN DREAM CENTER IS LEADING EFFORTS TO CREATE DIGITAL EQUITY FOR FAMILIES IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN THE REGION AND ACROSS THE NATION TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING HIGH QUALITY TRAINING PROGRAMS. DEVELOPMING AN EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGY-BASED CAREER TALENT PIPELINE REQUIRES EARLY EXPOSURE TO THE SKILLS NEEDED IN TECHCENTERED OCCUPATIONS. THIS HAS BEEN THE ISSUE IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY IN BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE GRADE-LEVEL LITERACY AND COMPUTING ARE DEFICIENT. TO MITIGATE THIS PROBLEM, WE PARTNER WITH K-12 SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THESE COMMUNITIES TO COMPLEMENT INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE LIETERACY, MATH, AND SCIENCE OUTCOMES USING BEST IN CLASS ENRICHMENT PROGRAM STRATEGIES. THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO REDUCE SUMMER ACADEMIC LOSS STUDENTS EXPERIENCE AT K-8 GRADE LEVELS. AFTER YEARS OF SPONSORING THESE PROGRAMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOLL DISTRICTS AND THE CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND, WE NOW HAVE RELIABLE DATA TO SHOW THE PROGRAM'S EFFICACY IN PREPARING YOUTH FOR CAREERS IN TECH JOBS. SOICAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY ARE CORE DRIVERS IN THIS PROGRAM. JUSTICE IS ABOUT EQUITY THAT RESULTS IN COMMUNITY AGENCY AND EMPOWERMENT. WE WILL ADVOCATE, COMMUNICATE, TRAIN, AND BUILD AGENCY IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE. CURRENT ACTIVE AGREEMENTS: CAMDEN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT; MASTERY HIGH SCHOOL; ROWAN UNIVERSITY; PRINCETON UNIVERSITY; CISCO; COMCAST; COOPER UNIVERSITY HEALTH CARE; NEWARK BOARD OF EDUCATION; NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR; AND FEEDING AMERICA BY WAY OF THE FOOD BANK OF SOUTH JERSEY. PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY BASED EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO HELP ERADICATE HUNGER IN CAMDEN THROUGH A FOOD PANTRY AND RECENTLY, THE FOOD JUSTICE INNOVATION HUB. FUNDED BY FEEDING AMERICA, THE HUB IS DESIGNED TO IMPLEMENT AN URBAN FARM INITIATIVE AND FOSTER FOOD JUSTICE, TEACH YOUTH AGSTEM, AND BUILD PARTNERSHIPS TO TRANSFORM THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM.