Learning Community in New Jersey

Community can be defined in many ways. Some consider ethnicity, race, gender, or background to be dominant factors in defining a community. Thirteen Carson-Newman students traveled from Jefferson City, TN to Camden, New Jersey and spent their spring break redefining their view of community. In 2004 the city of Camden was ranked the most dangerous city in the nation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and has since consistently held high rates of murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and auto theft. According to United States Census, Camden High School has a 50% dropout rate, and at least one third of the homes in Camden live below the poverty line.



Brittany Allen, a C-N junior, heard the statistics of Camden and the social injustices that went along with such a city before deciding to spend her Spring Break there. "I thought and prayed about it, and I was in! I wanted to learn more," said Allen. Allen packed her bags eager to learn more about social injustice, Catholicism, and the northeast of the United States. Looking back over her expectations for the trip Allen says she "didn't realize how much of a community building experience this was going to be." Dave McNeely, the youth and college minister at First Baptist Church, and student leader, Lauren Bailey, a senior Philosophy and Social Entrepreneurship major, led the Carson-Newman group. This S.P.O.T.S. trip was sponsored by First Baptist Church.

After being in Camden for less than 48 hours, the team quickly discovered the reason they were called to such a place over their spring break. The team experienced something far greater than they could ever imagine: true community. For one of their many ministries, the team planted potatoes at the Romero Center, a retreat and Social Justice Education Center in Camden. As they were planting the potatoes, along with members of the community and other groups visiting the city, a group of peace walkers approached the scene. They were walking from Massachusetts to Washington, D.C and the Romero Center was holding a dinner in their honor. A group of Buddhist Monks was among the peace walkers, and the team witnessed these monks walking for peace as they came to the potato planting sight. As student leader Bailey watched the peace walkers she experienced feelings of community like she had never before.

"It was really cool. We were all really impacted, and didn't feel out of place at all," said Bailey. At the dinner table on that evening people of very different backgrounds filled the seats. Along with the Carson-Newman team were also Irish, Buddhist Monks (Asian), Caucasian, African-American, Jamaican, and Navaho people. However, as Allen describes the emotions the team was feeling as they talked with these people, there were no differences among them. "It was amazing to see how all of these people came together and could learn so much from one another," said Allen.

The team also worked with other ministries in the area. Bailey described the people of Camden and the impact the team was able to have by stating, "The whole city is in poverty but they are all very hopeful...we were able to learn a lot about social injustice and we broke down a lot of stereotypes."

Danielle Cardnell, a C-N junior, was assigned to work at the Frances House. A woman named Sue overshadowed the amount of disease, hopelessness, and neglect in the Frances House. According to Cardnell, Sue has been running the Frances House, a ministry for people affected by HIV/AIDS, since 1988. Cardnell said she "passed no judgment and is not afraid of the virus."

"Most of the people who come who have HIV/AIDS have no family or their families did not want them in their lives because of their illness. This was a place where they weren't treated like lepers or people who were different," said Cardnell.

After spending time listening to the stories of the Camden people who came into the Frances House, Cardnell and the other C-N students present were able to witness a love beyond comprehension, a love most only dream of having toward others. This love was witnessed through the many volunteers, especially Sue.

"Sue just radiated love. She had this pure, real, unconditional love for people whose families did not even love them. And I know that she had this love for them the moment she met them. She was inspiring," said Cardnell.

Also, by the ministry of presence the C-N students let these people know that someone does care about them.

"I feel gratitude for all of the blessings I have and sadness that any person has to do without the basic necessities of life. Mostly though, I feel hope that if we work together to help the poor and needy and love each other we can change our world for the better," summarized Cardnell.