Camden Community Partnership Hosts 2023 Annual Meeting in Camden

Hundreds of civic and business leaders from around the southern New Jersey region gathered to celebrate and highlight the many programs, projects and policies that are shaping the economic and community landscape in the City of Camden at Camden Community Partnership’s 2023 Annual Meeting on Tuesday, September 26 at the Adventure Aquarium in Camden.

“It is an honor to once again visit the great city of Camden, an iconic New Jersey community and a crucial economic driver not just for South Jersey, but for the state as a whole,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Through our investments in South Jersey’s economic development and infrastructure –including the game-changing Walter Rand Transportation Center Project – we’re proud of our critical contributions to Camden’s ongoing revitalization. As we continue to work alongside our civic and business community partners, we’re confident that this progress is only the beginning of Camden’s journey toward an even more resilient and prosperous future.”

This year’s annual meeting theme was Camden: Resilient and Invincible – highlighting the ways in which government on a state, regional and local level and economic and businesses leaders have come together to enact change and growth in the areas of economic development, education, quality of life, safety and community development, all for the benefit of city residents.

In her welcome address, Camden Community Partnership’s President and CEO Dana L. Redd spoke to this year’s theme and emphasized the importance of partnership and collaboration.

“Camden Community Partnership is honored to once again showcase the critical role that our dynamic partnerships play in strengthening Camden’s resiliency,” said President and CEO Redd. “Our collaboration and targeted investments are spearheading creative and transformative progress that will ensure Camden continues on its pathway to sustained growth in the City, region and beyond.”

The event also included a keynote address from Camden’s Mayor Victor G. Carstarphen, who spoke on the various initiatives that the City and its partners have put in motion to continue to contribute to Camden’s progress.

“Each year, Camden Community Partnership’s Annual Meeting reconnects us with the region’s community, development and business leaders, highlights our collective achievements and provides a look ahead to what is to come,” said Mayor Carstarphen. “Now, more than ever, we need to work together, push through and double down on our investments as our great City is on the precipice of great things. New opportunities are on the horizon and the promise of a bright future is in our grasp.”

Additionally, Mayor Carstarphen recognized the dedicated, tireless work that has been done throughout Camden and touted numerous initiatives, either underway and already completed, that make the City so resilient and invincible – from strengthening Camden’s fiscal standing by establishing sound budget policies, creating programs that ensure accountability of City government and investing nearly $400 million in road improvement projects, to enhancing City parks and open spaces for residents, leveraging state-of-the-art technology and implementing community conscious policing methods that ensure crime remains at all-time lows, and more.

This year’s Annual Meeting also included a special award ceremony by Lara Price, Chief Operating Officer of the Philadelphia 76ers and Vice Chair of Camden Community Partnership’s Board of Directors, of the Camden Hero Award and Camden Small Business of the Year Award. Each year, the Camden Hero Award recognizes a devoted resident, community leader or organization whose unwavering commitment to the City of Camden and its residents has made a lasting impact our city, exemplifying the spirit of resiliency, selflessness and betterment. Similarly, each year the Camden Small Business of the Year Award recognizes an exceptional small business in Camden that has not only excelled in its industry, but has also demonstrated a remarkable commitment to support the broader Camden community and its residents. This year’s award recipients include:

Camden Hero Award – Sheila Roberts

Sheila Roberts is a lifelong Camden resident and has served as the president of the Cooper Lanning Civic Association for more than two decades, serving as a strong voice for the Cooper Plaza neighborhood and advocate for the City of Camden. A retired Camden City Public Schools teacher and graduate of Rutgers University-Camden, Roberts has dedicated her life to supporting the community and the city she loves – she regularly organizes food distributions with the Food Bank of South Jersey and other organizations, and supports local food banks, homeless shelters and community organizations by procuring much needed items to help those in need. Roberts also works to support local Camden youth through her involvement with various youth sports groups and associations, as well as her support of organized youth recreational activities throughout the city. Roberts has generously served on a number of boards and committees over the years - she continues to serve as a committed partner for the Camden Promise Neighborhood Initiative, providing resources and services to local children and families at every stage of life, and has worked with her neighbors to establish a community garden in Cooper Plaza.

Camden Small Business of the Year Award – La Ingrata Camden

Karla Torres and Ernesto Ventura are the owners and founders of La Ingrata, a Mexican restaurant located at 1999 Federal Street in Camden, offering diners a gastronomic journey through the streets of Mexico City and Puebla, honoring the couple’s roots and shared family memories. As a family-owned business, both Torres and Ventura pour their hearts into every dish they create at La Ingrata – believing food is much more than just nourishment, and is also a way to connect with others, share experiences and create lasting memories. Ventura is a graduate of the LUCY Outreach program in Camden and studied culinary arts at Camden County Technical School in Gloucester Township. Over the past year since its opening, La Ingrata has received rave reviews and numerous recognitions, including a feature in the Philadelphia Inquirer and Torres being honored on International Women's Day by The City of Camden. Additionally, La Ingrata has showcased their delicious cuisine at many local and regional events, including Cantina La Martina’s Cemita Festival and Philadelphia’s Italian Market, to name a few. Learn more and follow La Ingrata online: Instagram & Facebook.

To learn more about economic development in Camden and the City’s continued growth, visit Camden Community Partnership’s website at: https://camdencommunitypartnership.com/.

About Camden Community Partnership:

Camden Community Partnership (CCP) was founded in 1984 as a private, non-profit corporation dedicated to planning and implementing high-quality urban redevelopment projects to revitalize the City of Camden. CCP’s initial focus was concentrated on the redevelopment of Camden’s downtown waterfront area – serving as the planner, promoter, and master developer of more than $600 million of private and public investment at the Waterfront. Since then, CCP has expanded their mission to act as the umbrella organization to bring stakeholders together and implement a holistic approach to revitalizing Camden. With a residents-first approach at the core of what we do, CCP focuses on housing, public safety, infrastructure, education, neighborhood initiatives, park and green space development, and facilitates the creation of employment opportunities. Strategic investments in these areas act as a catalyst for future growth and bring a renewed sense of pride in Camden as a vibrant place to live, work and play. Learn more: https://camdencommunitypartnership.com/.