On Wednesday, June 14, the Camden Collaborative Initiative (CCI) hosted the 2017 Camden Environmental Summit at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. Presented by New Jersey American Water, the fifth annual Summit, formerly known as the Camden SMART Forum, attracted more than 200 environmental leaders, advocates and stakeholders representing community-based, public, private and non-profit organizations at the local, state, regional and national levels.

From left to right: Jessica Franzini, Moderator of the Voices of Camden’s Aspiring Green Leaders panel; New Jersey American Water Director of Communications and External Affairs Denise Venuti Free, one of the Summit’s featured speakers and title sponsors; Camden City Council President and Camden County Parks Director Francisco “Frank” Moran; 2017 Environmental Hero recipient and Voices of Camden’s Aspiring Green Leaders panelist Paige Prado of American Water’s Contract Services Group and PowerCorps Alum; Voices of Camden’s Aspiring Green Leaders panelist Dimitrius Eliza, senior at LEAP Academy University Charter School; Voices of Camden’s Aspiring Green Leaders panelist Marion Roberts, senior at LEAP Academy University Charter School; Voices of Camden’s Aspiring Green Leaders panelist Robert Gibbs of the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority and PowerCorps Alum; former New Jersey Governor James Florio; Camden Mayor Dana L. Redd; and Caroline Gray of Cooper’s Ferry Partnership.

The Summit highlighted best practices in environmental leadership and Camden’s efforts to improve quality of life for city residents through sustainable and equitable practices. The CCI received additional support for the Summit from Covanta Camden, T&M Associates, the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority.

The Summit kicked off with remarks from New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Deputy Commissioner David Glass and New Jersey American Water Director of Communications and External Affairs Denise Venuti Free.

“Environmental stewardship is the backbone of what we do as water providers. As such, we are immensely proud of our service to and partnership with the City of Camden and the Camden Collaborative Initiative for their efforts to secure a sustainable future for this growing community,” said Free.

The Summit continued with Mayor Dana L. Redd’s annual Sustainability Address, where she highlighted the work being championed by the CCI and its impact on the City of Camden.

“As Camden continues to rise, we recognize the key role that sustainability plays in our growth and development,” said Mayor Redd. “Since 2013, the Camden Collaborative Initiative has spearheaded critical efforts, such as facilitating the City’s Sustainable Jersey Silver certification, to ensure that our environmental legacy is positive and that our youth inherit a healthy, vibrant, thriving City. Like the aspiring green leaders featured at today’s Summit, the more than seventy member organizations of the CCI are powerful examples of changemakers in our City.”

Following the address, Mayor Redd and Camden City Council President and Camden County Parks Director Francisco “Frank” Moran were proud to recognize the recipients of Camden’s 2017 Environmental Hero Awards. This year’s award recipients included Camden business and CCI Waste and Recycling working group member Covanta Camden, Camden advocate and CCI member Joann Held, Camden County Office of Environmental Affairs employee and CCI Waste and Recycling working group member Chuck Giacobbe, and Camden resident and American Water’s Contract Services Group employee Paige Prado.

The 25-year-old Prado is the youngest Environmental Hero and exemplifies the mission and values of the Camden Collaborative Initiative. Formerly a standout member of the first PowerCorps Camden cohort, she was recently hired by American Water’s Contract Services Group as a full-time utility laborer. She continues to give back to her community and PowerCorps as a mentor and motivator for new PowerCorps cohorts. Prado was also featured in the Voices of Camden’s Aspiring Green Leaders panel, which followed the awards ceremony and showcased four young Camden residents making a difference in their City today.

“I have been a Camden resident all of my life but I never felt as proud to be a resident as I do now,” said Prado. “During my years with PowerCorps Camden, I learned a variety of personal and professional development skills which gave me the tools I needed to further my professional career with American Water’s Contract Services Group. Without PowerCorps and the Camden Collaborative Initiative, I would not have the same career opportunities that I have today.”

The Summit also featured Don’t Waste Our Open Space, a panel crafted to spotlight the CCI’s continued efforts to address illegal dumping in Camden. Participants included City Council President and County Parks Director Moran and featured PowerCorps Camden members who unveiled Camden Reports – a website through which Camden residents and visitors can anonymously report illegal dumping and combined sewer flooding (www.camdenreports.com).

“We refuse to tolerate illegal dumping in our City’s parks and open spaces. Camden Reports provides residents with a tool to partner with the CCI to address dumping and other public hazards such as flooding,” Council President Moran explained. “Together, we will continue to transform our City’s environment, capitalizing on our incredible natural assets and beauty.”

The Camden Environmental Summit was hosted by the Camden Collaborative Initiative (CCI) – a voluntary, solutions-oriented partnership between more than 70 governmental, non-profit, private and community-based agencies formed to plan and implement innovative strategies to improve the environment and the quality of life of Camden's residents. Launched in 2013 by the City of Camden, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Cooper's Ferry Partnership, the CCMUA and joined by the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, the CCI is comprised of seven working groups that focus on air quality, environmental justice, brownfields, waste and recycling, health and wellness, stormwater management and environmental education.

CCI serves as a model for proactive, voluntary, urban environmental enhancement partnerships. Since its creation, CCI has transformed a five-acre contaminated waterfront parcel into a public park, cleaned and secured the state of New Jersey’s largest urban illegal dumping hotspot, engaged thirty Camden City high school students in the Green Jobs Summer Ambassadors Program, constructed 50 green infrastructure projects that capture 62 million gallons of stormwater runoff every year and facilitated the City’s Sustainable Jersey Silver certification.

For more information on the 2017 Camden Environmental Summit or CCI, please visit www.camdencollaborative.com.