Our Success

America’s poorest city

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2009 almost 44 million Americans lived in poverty--that is the highest number, with the largest yearly increase, since the Bureau began tracking poverty in 1959. While the current economic conditions have shocked and staggered the nation, in Camden, New Jersey, they have been the pervasive reality for more than 20 years. 

According to the American Community Census Survey, the median household income for Camden is estimated at $27,271 with 38.1% of the population living below the poverty line. Only 58% of the adult population has graduated from high school and fewer than 6% hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. In 2008, according to F.B.I reported data, Camden had one of the highest crime rates in the nation, particularly regarding violent crimes committed per person. 

Despite these challenges, organizations such as UrbanPromise are making significant progress against this cycle of poverty and street violence. UrbanPromise offers a culture of support, guiding and educating youth to become successful community leaders. 

UrbanPromise's Results

UrbanPromise is a Camden-based nonprofit founded in 1988. Its mission is to equip children and young adults with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management, spiritual growth, and Christian leadership. Through afterschool programs, summer camps, exploratory learning, secondary schools, and job training initiatives, UrbanPromise challenges children and youth to develop their academic, social, creative and leadership potential. 

Since 2000, UrbanPromise has employed more than 570 Camden-area teens in the StreetLeader program and more than 2,400 children have attended our afterschool programs and summer camps. The children attending and the teens working in our programs and summer camps have a safe place to go during some of their most vulnerable hours and it is a place where they are surrounded with positive, caring adults who are investing in their future. Not only that, but the teens especially, are plugged into and become carriers of a culture of faith and service, and which sees college as an attainable goal. These programs have made a difference in the lives of our youth.

In Camden, the best numbers suggest that more than 50% of high school students drop out of school. In the StreetLeader program over the last five years, less than 1% of our teens have dropped out of school and 100% of our seniors have graduated. Even more exciting, more than 90% of our graduates have gone on to college.