A new chapter in environmental education and community empowerment began in Camden, New Jersey, as local leaders, educators, and community organizations gathered to launch a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-sponsored project.
The kick-off event, held in the heart of Camden on August 29, 2024, was attended by EPA Region II Administrator Olivia Glenn and her team, along with Assemblyman William Spearman, faculty from Rowan University, and key community partners.
This two-year initiative, led by Rowan University in collaboration with Cooper Medical School and community partners, aims to tackle pressing environmental challenges in Camden, an overburdened community facing severe air pollution from a mix of industrial activities, transportation hubs, and highways congested with truck traffic.
The project seeks to address the intersection of climate change, air quality, and urban greening through a comprehensive environmental education program that empowers residents to take action.
The initiative will employ a multifaceted approach, including tree planting, nature-based solutions, and urban gardening, to mitigate air quality issues and foster a healthier, greener city. By focusing on education, the project aims to equip Camden’s residents, particularly youth and educators, with the knowledge and tools needed to advocate for and implement sustainable solutions.
The project’s target audience includes 6th-12th grade students, K-12 teachers from Title I school districts, college students, and community members.
Through a series of activities that encompass the entire environmental education continuum—ranging from awareness and knowledge building to critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, action, and stewardship—the initiative seeks to foster a deep and lasting understanding of environmental issues and solutions.
To learn more about the project, please visit the project webpage.
PROJECT TEAM
Project Director: Mahbubur Meenar, Ph.D.
Core Team Members: Elizabeth Cerceo, MD, Jagadish Torlapati, Ph.D., Qian He, Ph.D., and Ben Saracco, MLS, MAIT
Collaborators: Megan Bucknum, MUEP, Richard Federman, MS, Ted Howell, Ph.D., John Mullen, Ph.D., and Ashley York, Ph.D.
Community partners: Camden Community Partnership, the Center for Environmental Transformation, Neighborhood Collaborative Community Gardens, NJ Tree Foundation, and Social Responsibility Through Me.
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