Take Action

Br. John and Don Jose in a one to one

Power if the ability to act and make lasting change

What you can do individually

In CCOP leaders believe that power is the byproduct of relationship and so every person in the CCOP family is called to have one to one conversations with their own network of people (i.e. frineds, family, neighbors, fellow church members, pastor, etc.) The one to one is real simple it is the art of intentionally sitting down with someone you know, asking specific questions, and listening. 

Here are some questions you can begin asking: 

  • How long have you lived in this community?
  • Is the neighborhood the same now as it was then?
  • What has changed?
  • What are some or your earliest memories of this area?
  • What is something that troubles or concerns you?
  • How does this situation make you feel?
  • Do you know others who feel the same way?
  • What would you do if you had the power or money to make a difference?

 

What you can do in your neighborhood

In addition to the one to one's, CCOP leaders are organized into local organizing committees called LOC's.  Throughout the city of Camden, LOC's meet regularly to reflect collectivly, present research and work reports, receive training, and work to solve the isses that are affecting their own neighborhood.

  • Monthly neighbhorhood meetings
  • Ongoing issue research and analysis
  • House meetings
  • One to one listening campaings
  • Moving local public actions with public and private officials
  • Faith development and connection to current work

Find the Local Organizing Committee near you

Overview of current LOC's (listed by region). If you don't see your neighborhood or church listed below, no worries, CCOP is growing every day and new LOC's, members, and churches are joining all the time.

North Camden: Camden Bible Tabernacle

Cramer Hill: St. Anthony of Padua; Hope Memorial Baptist; & St. Andrew's Episcopal

  • Contact: Br. Jerry Hudson - 856-963-5884
  • Current work: Cramer Hill Community Garden, 2009 Mayoral Forum, Burnt-out abandoned buildings
  • Recent wins: Demolished Abandoned Police Sub Stations and First Community Garden of Cramer Hill

East Camden: St. Joseph's Pro-Cathedral; St. Joseph's Carpentar Society; Romero Center

  • Contact: Rosa Ramirez - 856-964-2776 ext. 504
  • Current work: 2009 Gubernatorial Candidates Forum; Camden Recovery Progress Report

Gateway: Sword of the Spirit Christian Center

  • Contact: Reverend Dr. Bernadette Anderson - 856-342-7729
  • Current work: Kaighn Avenue Clean-up & Graffiti Removal, Lighting in Gateway, Public Safety City Wide
  • Recent Wins: Greater Camden Partnership to include Kaighn Avenue in Clean Streets Program; Local Graffiti Hot Spot Cleaned-up

Bergen Square: St. Bartholomew's

  • Contact: Mary Hicks - 856-365-0873
  • Current Work: Bergen Square's FIRST City Park & Public Safety
  • Recent Wins: City of Camden commitment to build a public park in Bergen Square

Waterfront South: Sacred Heart; Heart of Camden

  • Contact Cassie MacDonald: peacecatcamden@yahoo.com
  • Current Work: Public Safety, Closing Local Drug Hot Spot
  • Recent Win: Local Alleyway used for drug traffic SHUT DOWN!

Fairview: St. Joan of Arc 

  • Contact: Staff livingstonccop@verizon.net
  • Current work: Fairview Listenting Campaign
  • Recent Wins: Pot holes Fixed on some of Fairview's roads

Local Artists: Citywide

Citywide Organizing

 CCOP does not stop at the neighborhood level, we organize to improve the entire city of Camden.  Quarterly all of the LOC's and leaders meet at a Citywide Leadership Assembley to discuss, train, and give reports on their work.  This body, similar to the LOC's, also organizes around issues that affect the entire city. 

Overview of Citywide Organizing work

Issue Areas in General

CCOP follows the IRON RULE: "Don't do for others what they can and should do for themselves".  What this means is that for an issue to become a "citywide issue" an LOC must have done its own work on the issue and found that local power is not enough to make the needed change. The LOC at the next City Wide Leadership Assembly can then propose that the entire organization work on the issue. 

Here are some of our currenty citywide issue campaigns:

Healthcare

  • Collecting Healthcare Testimonies

Public Safety

  • Problem Solving Community Policinig projects across the city

Camden Recovery

Over 500 Camden recovery surveys were filled out and are currently being analyzed by CamConnect

Stay tunned for official survey results publication.

Background: The survey is designed to get opinions and feedback on the State takeover and subsequent recovery period for Camden City.  This period has lasted nearly seven years, so please consider that time frame when responding to these questions.  The information obtained from these surveys will be used by Camden Churches Organized for People (CCOP) to develop a "report card" on the recovery period and to propose changes as needed.

In 2005 CCOP ran this same survey to develop a progress report of the State Takeover.  CCOP leaders are planning to do the same with the results from this survey.  Once all of the responses have been collected and a report card drafted, CCOP leaders plan to present the findings to the candidates running for NJ State Governor and Camden City Mayor in the Fall of 2009.

Housing

CCOP is at the table of SNAAP, (Stabilizing Neighborhoods Addressing Abandoned Properties) This coalition is a collection of community development corporations, local non-profits, and housing advocates. 

Neighborhood Development