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| Agency Mission and CAP Promise |
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The agency's mission is to provide services that improve the quality of life and promote self-sufficiency.
CAP Promise: Community Action changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.
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| Contact Information |
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Rivers Edge Campus
(Headquarters)
110 Cohansey Street
Bridgeton, NJ
08302
(856) 451-6330
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The name Gateway Community Action Partnership reflects our expanded coverage area, but more importantly, it signifies what we are all about. We are a gateway to success for individuals and families in our community and we achieve those results through actions done in partnership within that very community we serve. So please take a minute to read our newsletter and learn more about our successes and struggles as we serve a Gateway to Community Action in Partnership with others for everyone's benefit!
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Bridgeton Youth: Helping To Feed, Learning To Lead
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Bridgeton at-risk residents need food. Bridgeton needs youth willing to become the future leaders of our community. Gateway Community Action Partnership, through the funding of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is currently operating a pilot program that addresses both.
In the "Bridgeton Youth: Helping to Feed, Learning to Lead" program, teenagers are going door-to-door in the city to provide information about federal programs that provide free food to children and adolescents during the summer and where to get the food. The goal is to more than double the number of residents who applied last year to 2,000. The actions of the teenagers, dressed in their white or green T-shirts displaying the program name, increase the chance that residents will receive the nutrition they need. They are also helping with meals at feeding sites.
While the nutritional aspect is extremely important, developing the youth as leaders is a key aspect of the program. Through their daily activities, the guidance of adult team leaders, and team building activities, the youth are learning new skills, gaining confidence and becoming aware of the issues facing their community.
As part of the program, the youth spent a weekend in June at Camp Okanickon in Medford receiving training in leadership and community organizing.
There is interest in expanding this program to other communities in New Jersey.
Albert B. Kelly, Gateway's President and CEO and the Mayor of Bridgeton, addressed the youth on the first day of the program, stressing the importance of this initiative.
"I want to show the state that this is something we are taking seriously," Kelly said. "We all know people in our community who do not have enough food to eat. They go to school hoping to get decent meals. But when school is out, they don't have that opportunity. We want to be sure they get decent meals. People outside of Bridgeton believe in what we are trying to do here. I want you to believe in it, also."
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Above, participants in the "Bridgeton Youth: Helping to Feed, Learning to Lead" program get direction from Albert B. Kelly, President and CEO of Gateway and Mayor of Bridgeton. A film crew was there to capture the moment. Also, one of the adult leaders is interviewed. They are creating a video for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which is funding the program. Below, Bridgeton youth canvas neighborhoods.
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Bridgeton Youth: Helping to Feed, Learning to Lead team with Albert B. Kelly, President and CEO of Gateway Community Action Partnership.
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Dr. Datar, Senior Associate Dean Of Harvard Business School, Visits Mill Creek Urban Farm
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Dr. Srikant M. Datar (photo on left) takes a tour of the farm. In photo on right, Dr. Datar with Albert B. Kelly, Gateway's President and CEO, and Marcus Weaver, Gateway's Director of Food and Agricultural Programs.
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Dr. Srikant M. Datar, Senior Associate Dean of Harvard Business School, visited the Mill Creek Urban Farm this past spring after becoming aware of the innovative approach of the farm and its work with disabled individuals: specifically those on the Autism Spectrum.
Dr. Datar was accompanied by Nish Parikh, CEO of WebTeam Corporation, who as an 'Agent of Change' for the autism community, has collaborated with advocacy groups, special education technologists, legislators, pediatric psychologists, ABA therapists and other best minds in child development to improve systems, invent new approaches, and create solutions driven by big data.
Dr. Datar was very impressed with the entire operation and felt it was a most innovative and positive initiative that provides three critical elements for success: The environmental impact of the hydroponic growing system, training and employment of vulnerable populations, and the need to provide healthy food for all members of our society.
From its earliest planning stages, the Mill Creek Urban Farm was always going to be more than a place to grow peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and salad greens. It had to serve the community. The farm, on four acres of land on Mill Street in Bridgeton, has done that in various ways.
Working with the disabled is one of them. Gateway has arrangements with organizations that work with individuals with disabilities and other special needs. Some of the participants get job and life skills experience that may lead to employment. For others, it is an opportunity to enjoy new surroundings and meet new people in a productive and stimulating atmosphere.
"This is spectacular, absolutely spectacular," Dr. Datar said. "This is really fabulous work. I think if the focus here were only agricultural, it would be a phenomenal thing. It if were only the work with vulnerable populations, it would be a phenomenal thing. But to have both, it makes it special."
Marcus Weaver, Gateway's
Director of Food and Agricultural Programs,gave an informative two-hour tour and responded to dozens of questions regarding the training and potential of program replication in other areas of the world. The information that Weaver provided, along with Power Points, a program overview and business plan from Arthur & Friends will be presented to this fall's students in the Master Program at Harvard Business School's Innovation Lab.
Albert B. Kelly, Gateway's President and CEO, said the visit is a testament to the innovative work being done at the farm.
"It's very exciting to have someone from Harvard come to Bridgeton our farm. Very exciting," Kelly said. "It tells me that people are recognizing the work being done here and it is very worthwhile."
Dr. Datar is the Arthur Lowes Dickinson Professor of Business Administration, the Faculty Chair of the Harvard Innovation Lab, and Senior Associate Dean for University Affairs at Harvard Business School. A Chartered Accountant, he holds two masters degrees and a Ph.D. from Stanford University.
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Holly City FSC Conducting Children's Undergarment Collection Drive
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Gateway Community Action Partnership's Holly City Family Success Center, 21 East Main St., Millville, is conducting a children's undergarment collection drive through August 15.
The center is seeking new, packaged socks, undergarments and t-shirts for school age children. Donations can be dropped off at the center location during business hours. Donations will be distributed on August 26 at the Holly City Family Success Center's Sixth Annual Back to School event at Oakview Apartments.
For additional information or to coordinate donation drop-off, call 856-327-1510 or 856-765-0205.
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Gateway Announces New Directors In Early Learning Centers
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From Bonnie Eggenburg, Gateway's Vice President of Early Head Start and Head Start:
Please join me in congratulating Britney Akilli, Gloria Gonzalez and Carl Muraoka in their new roles as Directors!
Britney Akilli, formerly the Head Start Education Coordinator, is now the Cheryl Chadwick Infant-Toddler Center Director, leading the center to a new level of high quality infant-toddler services.
Gloria Gonzalez, formerly the Family Partnership Coordinator, is leading the Gateway Early Learning Center in Sicklerville, working to ensure full enrollment in our EHS-CCP program.
Carl Muraoka, formerly the temporary Director, is now firmly in place at the Cheryl Chadwick Early Learning Center and the River's Edge Head Start center, ensuring that all of our preschool children are ready for school.
All three directors, along with Shirley Woody, our ACCC Early Learning Center Director, will be working side by side to ensure that our child care centers are model centers for providing high quality centers in the Gateway Community Action Partnership communities.
Congratulations on your positions!
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Gateway CAP Head Start And Early Head Start Now Enrolling
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Mercer County Head Start staff (above) and River's Edge (Bridgeton) Head Start staff (below) prepare to recruit in their areas.
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Gateway Head Start and Early Head Start programs are now enrolling. Services are provided free of charge to qualifying families. Our Head Start program is a full-day program, serving families with children 3 years of age prior to Oct. 1. Head Start provides individualized education programs, health/nutrition/family services and breakfast/lunch/snack. Our Early Head Start program provides the same services to infants and toddlers ages 0-3. We also have a home-based program. For more information, call: Mercer County (609) 393-5655; Atlantic/Cape May counties (609) 385-1822; North Philadelphia (215) 278-2212; Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem (856) 497-6691. Or by e-mail at recruitment@gatewaycap.org.
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A Warm Welcome To Gateway Community Action Partnership's Newest Employees
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Welcome to Gateway CAP's New Hires!
Stephanie Gonzalez, Early Head Start
Ljumije Jonuzi, Atlantic Cape Early Learning Center
Jajaira Carillo, WIC
Yahaira Alvarez, WIC
Mary Couch, Head Start
Rose Cramer, Head Start
Pamela Ornberg, Head Start
Jaquetta Johnson, Head Start
Tiesha Williams-Coursey, Head Start
Brandon Troutman, Head Start
Rhonda Danna, Head Start
Destinee Erhart, Early Head Start
Samantha Jones, Urban Farm Specialist
Jasmin Pacheco, Head Start
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Support Gateway CAP By Shopping At AmazonSmile
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| You can support Gateway's mission "to provide services that improve the quality of life and promote self-sufficiency" while shopping at Amazon's "AmazonSmile" during this holiday season or any time of year. Please click on the link below the next time you shop. More information about the program follows the link. Thank you. Click Here To Donate To Gateway Through AmazonSmile!
What is AmazonSmile?
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Gateway Community Action Partnership every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at
smile.amazon.com, you'll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to Gateway.
How do I shop at AmazonSmile?
To shop at AmazonSmile simply click on the link above or go to
smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to
smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile.
Which products on AmazonSmile are eligible for charitable donations?
Tens of millions of products on AmazonSmile are eligible for donations. You will see eligible products marked "Eligible for AmazonSmile donation" on their product detail pages. Recurring Subscribe-and-Save purchases and subscription renewals are not currently eligible.
Can I use my existing Amazon.com account on AmazonSmile?
Yes, you use the same account on Amazon.com and AmazonSmile. Your shopping cart, Wish List, wedding or baby registry, and other account settings are also the same.
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A
round Gateway Community Action Partnership ... News and Notes
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Youth from Summer In The City, a program of the Diocese of Camden, volunteered at Gateway Community Action Partnership in June. The youth are helped out in Early Head Start, the Cheryl Chadwick Early Learning Center and at the Mill Creek Urban Farm.
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Internet Essentials
, a program offered by Comcast, gives income-eligible families access to the Internet for $9.95 a month with no activation fee, equipment fees or price increases. Having the Internet enables children to do homework, type reports or do research and enables the parents to e-mail teachers as well as look for jobs, pay bills or find doctors.
Gateway Community Action Partnership is working with Comcast to inform families of the program. Internet Essentials is available to households that have children eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program. They must reside in a Comcast service area and must not have subscribed to Comcast Internet in the last 90 days or have overdue Comcast bills. Also, low-cost computers are being offered for $149.99 and free training is accessible if needed. To get more information or to sign up, visit www.internetessentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376. ... Gateway operates the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC) in Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic and Salem counties. The program provides supplemental foods, nutrition education, lactation support, immunization education and health care referrals to income-eligible pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children up to age 5. Gateway WIC serves more than 23,000 clients annually through flexible hours through its eight (8) offices and a full-service, health screening mobile office. WIC is an equal opportunity program. If you believe you have been discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, age, sex or handicap, write immediately to: USDA, Director-Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC, 20250 - 9410. For additional information on the Gateway WIC program or nearest office location and hours of operation, call the Gateway WIC program at 856-451-5600 or 856-225-5050. ... Gateway's Head Start program is once again sponsoring the Child Care Food Program. This program is designed to provide meals to children receiving services in Head Start centers located throughout Atlantic, Cape May, Mercer, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties. Meals are available at no separate charge to all children 12 and under enrolled in the Child Care Food Program and are served without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, age or sex.
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The Cheryl Chadwick Early Learning Center held its end of the year celebration in June. Face painting and snow cones were among the things enjoyed by the children.
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Sincerely,
Michael Cudemo
Gateway Community Action Partnership
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