NEW YORK, November 27, 2012 – Camden, New Jersey has seen its fair share of negative publicity. Poverty and crime have dominated the headlines for as long as many residents can remember. Still, stories of hope and positivity are waiting to be told. The “Say Something Nice About Camden” campaign aims to tell those stories, toward changing perceptions of a city that is primed to rebuild.

Immortalized by poet Walt Whitman as “a city invincible,” Camden has a rich legacy on which its foundation was laid—and there are signs a renaissance is already in motion. Businesses large and small are investing in Camden via urban renewal projects, and the prospect of economic growth is now rooted in reality.

The “Say Something Nice About Camden” initiative begins on December 3, 2012 with a regional billboard campaign and the launch of SaySomethingNiceAboutCamden.org, where users will be encouraged to share positive experiences and feedback about the city.

The campaign’s primary goal is to spotlight the positive storylines currently unfolding in Camden—storylines that too often have been eclipsed in the media. Additionally, the campaign aims to raise awareness about the recent influx of investment in the city’s infrastructure, and to promote future development plans.

“Camden’s anchor institutions are currently investing several hundreds of millions of dollars into new development, and these investments will be setting the foundation for economic growth in Camden for the next few decades,” says Joseph Myers, COO of Cooper’s Ferry Partnership. “These strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors play a critical role in making Camden a more attractive city to live, work, visit, and invest.”

The city has also received $1.2 million dollars in federal grant money over the past year to be allocated toward health education in schools and the further development of an already robust community gardening program. “The federal grant money will be utilized over a three-year period and was awarded for Camden’s accomplishments, which are worthy of recognition,” says Michael Devlin, Executive Director of the Camden Children’s Garden. “Camden residents are pulling themselves up by their boot straps to grow hope through community gardening, nutrition education and now entrepreneurial gardening!”

Contacts

Jennifer Barton, Founder
[email protected]

Jeff Iorio, Media Liaison
[email protected]
(973) 868-9535