Marian Jones

Marian outside of White House after attending 1st Town Hall with President Obama

Marian Jones, leader from St. Bartholomew's and the Soul of Camden, explains, "Our church lies in one of the older areas of Camden. The majority of the neighborhood, composed largely of elderly and children, receives some form of public assistance, and is probably one of the lowest income groups of Camden. The result is a wide variety of perspectives and opinions but we all agree that something must be done about public safety. Everyone is hurt by the vacant homes, open air drug markets, and the violence. The challenge is engaging people to begin taking the steps to make a difference, which is done through one-to-ones. By listening to someone you find out what's important and what he/she would be willing to take a stand for. This takes patience but I've learned that as you encourage people to attend a meeting with an official or meet with neighbors, they begin to find their voice, momentum builds and before you know it you have a lot of people and you're tackling big issues." Similar to Teresa speaking to victims of crime, Marian feels the only way to engage people is to find out what matters most to them, and then ask what he/she is willing to do about it; which results in a wide variety of people coming together regardless of background, viewpoint, or experience.