CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY

Dates: Sunday, February 28 – Saturday, March 6, 2010

Cost: $425.00

Immersion Site:
Camden, New Jersey has placed on the top ten list for “Poorest Cities in the U.S.” for many years.  This reality is further exacerbated by the presence of wealthy suburbs within a ten minute drive of “Camden City”, in Camden County and beyond.

Community Partner:
The Romero Center was born on March 24th, 1998, the 18th anniversary of the martyrdom of Archbishop Oscar Romero, whose ultimate gift for the poor of his country reminds us that we are about "a future that is not our own." The Romero Center began with the intention of bringing the Church community to Camden to experience an enlightened conversion and commitment. They want young people to see that there is both opportunity and challenge in the work of the Church. They want participants to understand their role in bringing about a societal commitment to end poverty and discrimination in our world.

Service:
There are a variety of service sites the group will possibly visit throughout Camden and Philadelphia, including nursing and rehabilitation facilities, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, housing rehab, daycare centers, after-school programs, and work with those who live with HIV and AIDS. Some sites require more physical labor than others; more often than not, most sites are looking for participants to be a ministry of presence for those they are serving.  Participants are encouraged to open themselves up to these experiences and challenge their own comfort zones when choosing worksites for the day.

Accommodations:
Accommodations at the Romero Center are comfortable but simple. Most people sleep in same-sex rooms of 4 (two sets of bunk beds in each room), with a separate communal bathroom for men and women. There is a large community room, where most reflections and activities are held, a smaller chapel in the basement, a kitchen and dining room.