Welcome to the Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force page!

The Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force consists of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students from St. Anthony of Padua School in Camden, New Jersey.  They use principles of community organizing to help make our local park, Von Nieda Park, a safer and more enjoyable place for all to enjoy.  The students meet weekly to prepare for meetings with Camden County and City parks officials, government officials, and other interested community members that take place once a month.

For more information about our Task Force, call Fr. Jud at 856-963-5884.

Recent News

Wednesday, September 19, 2012.  The Task Force gave a presentation to the Paul VI High School senior class on their day of reflection. 

Friday, August 31, 2012.  The Task Force received a citation from Assemblyman Angel Fuentes and the 5th Legislative District of New Jersy for their accomplishments in Von Nieda Park.

Thursday, August 23, 2012.  The Task Force gave a well received presentation at the Mayor's Youth Council meeting in City Hall. Not bad, to get three rounds of applause during a 7-minute presentation.

Friday, July 13, 2012.  The Task Force visited Washington, D.C. to give their powerpoint presentation, "Community Organizing: You're Never Too Young," at the Department of Health and Human Services' Center for Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.  They also got a tour of the U.S. Capitol, and got to meet with staff at the U.S. Institute of Peace.

June 21, 2012 - Our Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force was recognized by the Camden County Board of Freeholders for their achievements in Von Nieda Park.


Freeholder Jeffrey Nash addresses the students.

June 11, 2012  Our Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force was one of just five groups nationwide to receive a Youth Service Challenge award for environmental work, through the Jefferson Awards for Public Service. In just five months, our students have been recognized at the city, county, state and national levels for their efforts.  Good work, students! 

Upcoming Events

Nov. 16 2012 -- Von Nieda Park Community Meeting in the Cramer Hill Community Center, Von Nieda Park.  10 a.m. - 11 a.m.  Contact Fr. Jud at St. Anthony's if you have an agenda item, 856-963-5884.

History

The Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force started as a Civic Engagement class during the 2011 summer session of St. Anthony of Padua School.  Ms. Kate Goodman of CCOP (Camden Churches Organized for People) and Mr. Josh Dupuis, a former Franciscan Volunteer and current faculty member at St. Anthony's.  

Mr. Dupuis teaching Civic Engagement.

In December, 2011, some members of the Civic Engagement class were invited to the organizing committee for the 3rd annual Martin Luther King Day of Community Organizing, held yearly at St. Anthony's.  At that MLK Day of Community Organizing on January 16, the students decided to keep meeting on a regular basis to make changes in our community through the use of community organizing principles.

Through weekly meetings with Fr. Jud, and visits from Mrs. Tk Rodgers of CCOP and Mrs. Lori Chaffers of the Catholic Partnership Schools, the students have learned about community organizing themes such as Change, Power, Vision, Attitude, Analysis, Community, Responsibility, Common Good, Research, and Faith.  Our students represent different faith traditions, and we begin and end our classes with prayer.

One of the key points our students emphasize in their public presentations, and especially on Martin Luther King Day, is the difference between community service and community organizing.  While they see the value of community service, and do community service themselves, they see community organizing as a more powerful vehicle for long-lasting change.  They have forged strong relationships with the city and county leaders responsible for the maintenance, repair, and improvement of the park.  Through monthly research meetings, our students present their needs to the officials, who in turn inform the students of their concerns and expectations.

The students have diligently prepared agendas for the monthly meetings with city and county parks officials.  Their efforts have resulted in changes in the park such as: shorter pickup time for illegally dumped trash and construction debris; repairing and painting of benches; new baseketball nets; new swings; removal of graffiti from the community center walls and signs; removal of stumps and other hazardous objects; and the installation of two community notice boards.  See below for "before and after" pictures.

The biggest change the students have noted is in themselves.  They now have confidence to meet with public officials and chair meetings; belief that public officials will listen to young people; hope for a better Camden; and faith in a future they cannot yet see. 

Having a cooperative principal and teachers, an active community organizing group like CCOP, approachable city and county officials, concerned city and county workers, and a genuinely nice bunch of kids are all ingredients in what's made this work.  Without them, the transformation you see in the pictures below would not be possible.

Before and After

Before
After

Before

After

Before

After

 

Photos, Videos and Links

Making a difference on Make a Difference Day in Camden.

Mum's the word on Make a Difference Day.

Digging it on Make a Difference Day.

Scaaaary front yard on Make a Difference Day.

We made a difference on Make a Difference Day.

Riccardo's making a difference on Make a Difference Day.

Hoagies! on Make a Difference Day.

They made a difference on Make a Difference Day.

Thanks to the Student Leaders for their help in getting PSE&G to repair this utility pole in Von Nieda Park.

Student Leaders don't mind getting a little wet.

Student Leaders composing an e-mail.

|Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force going through the checklist.

Mr. Shahid Rana of Coopers Ferry explaining to our Student Leaders how the infrastructure in Von Nieda Park will be repaired or replaced.

Student Leaders giving Kathleen Udasco of New Jersey American Water some background on their work in Von Nieda Park.

Maurie Smith of Coopers Ferry chats with our Student Leaders after their monthly meeting.

Fr. Jud speaking with the Student Leaders in Von Nieda Park.

Our studnet leaders being interviewed by the Courier Post in Von Nieda Park.

"Who took all the notices out of the Notice Board?" (Turns out it was the county, who repaired the Plexiglas.)

Student Leaders do some last minute preparation on the way to their presentation.

Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force at the Paul VI High School Senior Day at Holy Family Parish.



Enjoying lunch at Holy Family.

Martin Luther King Day reunion.

A nice turnout for our Von Nieda ParkCleanup Day, co-sponsored by the Students Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force and Bikes-R-Us.  In all, 20 people showed up. Not bad for Labor Day weekend.

Picking up the trash, and the recyclables. Von Nieda Park has never looked better.
 Green is in!

Thanks to Bikes-R-Us for collaborating with us, and painting that ugly bench!

Thanks to our helpers from the Catholic Medical Students Association (and a future med student?).

All it needs is some words on it.

Someon's just going along for the ride!

Help!  We're trapped inside a Von Nieda Park Service Day!

Hope is back, in Von Nieda Park!

Take a look at these cans. The hand speaks. The hand of a Student Leader. 

Thanks, Milagros, for feeding us.Congratulations to the Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force, for being recognized by Assemblyman Angel Fuentes and the 5th Legislative District for their work in Von Nieda Park.

For Labor Day weekend, it wasn't a bad turnout for our Von Nieda Park community meeting.

Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force preparing for their monthly Von Nieda Park community meeting.

We didn't win the $500 prize, but our Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force got a nice t-shirt from GenerationOn. 

Thanks to the Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force, and Camden County, we have pedestrian crossing signs on River Road by Von Nieda Park.

Don't you dare not stop for pedestrians!

Some day, one of us will be mayor here!

Our student leaders, ready to present at the Mayor's Youth Council meeting in City Hall.  They got three rounds of applause during a 7-minute presentation.

Student Leaders updating the notice board in Von Nieda Park.

Our student leaders following up on the phone with county officials.
For a story about our student leaders on the White House website, click here.

Problem in Von Nieda Park, August 8: someone dumped trash near Cleveland Avenue.
Problem in Von Nieda Park, August 8: someone broke one of the swings.  (It was reparied shortly afterwards.)

Problem in Von Nieda Park, August 8: someone stole half of the geraniums.

Our student leaders showing a guest how the flowers are flourishing in Von Nieda Park.

The county will be coming to inspect the plexiglas on our notice board, which is popping out of the frame. 


St. Anthony's arrives at the Community Forum on Public Safety in Camden.

The Community Forum on Public Safety in Camden.



Some of our student leaders ready to present at the Community Forum on Public Safety.

After the Community Forum on Public Safety, in downtown Camden. 

For a link to a Philadelphia Inquirer story about the smoking ban in Von Nida Park, quoting one of our student leaders, click here. 
For a link to a story about our student leaders and community organizing, click here. 

Some of the 38 student leaders, city and county officials, and neighbors in attendance at our monthly Von Nieda Park meeting. 

Bikes-R-Us showing their plan for a Sk8tepark.

Carlos of Bikes-R-Us conferring with Fr. Jud after the meeting.

Fr. Jud and Jennie from Azusa Pacific University debriefing the meeting with one of our student co-chairs.

Our task force posing by the dead tree they want removed in Von Nieda Park. 

The Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force circling up for prayer before our big trip to Washington.

Is Fr. Jud's driving that scary?

The first of many walks--on our way to the Metro.

Some last minute preparation for our presentation at Health and Human Services' Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. * (For photos of the group in Washington with a * after the caption, thanks go to Heather Wilson/PICO National Network.)
For more pictures of our students leaders on the PICO website click here.

Most of our students had a chance to present part of our Powerpoint show. *

Our students know that he got his start in community organizing. *

*

Our students made a great impression in Washington.

The conference room was full of Health and Human Services officials and guests. 

*


The conference room was full of Health and Human Services officials and guests. *

Fr. Jud was extremely proud of his students. *

*

Explaining the process for choosing which priorities the students will address. *

Question and answer time is when our students truly shine. *

*

*

Alexia Kelley, Director of Health and Human Services' Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, was our host. *

*

Our students attentively listening to Health and Human Services staff presentations.

*

A visit to the Secretary's Operations Center in the Hubert Humphrey Building. *

The Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force, chaperons, and friends from Health and Human Services. *

*

Lunch at the Longworth Cafeteria.

Thanks to Rep. Robert Andrews' staff for their support.

"Someday, I'll be elected to serve here."

The underground Capitol tunnel.

The Capitol Visitor Center.


Visiting the Rotunda on our Capitol tour.


Ready to start a long walk to the U.S. Institute of Peace.

An oasis on the way to the USIP.

Follow the leader.

Waiting for the rest of the group to catch up.

At the 2-mile mark...

An abandoned house in Washington?

We finally arrived at the U.S. Institute of Peace. 

At the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Our host Andrew at the U.S. Institute of Peace.

At the U.S. Institute of Peace.







Outside the U.S. Institute of Peace. 

One more stop on the Mall--the Lincoln Memorial.



The long walk is almost over.

Hooray for the Metro!


Outside Holy Name College.

Thanks to the friars for a great meal at Holy Name College.
Thanks to the friars for a great meal--and hot chocolate latte--at Holy Name College.

The students truly enjoyed their visit to Holy Name College.

Thanks to our friends at Bikes-R-Us for brightening up the trash barrels in Von Nieda Park to match their building.

Our Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force rehearsing their presentation for Washington, D.C. with guests from the Salvation Arms Service Corps present. 

Getting neighbors involved in watering the flowers we planted in Von Nieda Park.   Carlos and his Bikes-R-Us crew will water the flowers every Tuesday. 

Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force working on their presentation for Washington, D.C.  

Our community organizing students deciding which projects for Von Nieda Park deserve top priority. 
Br. George Leila and Rebecca with our Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force at Rutgers-Camden for the first meeting of the Camden City Integrated Municipal Advisory Council (IMAC) to work on an outdoor smoke-free ordinance for Camden City. Our students have been asked to help in developing a community network to discourage outdoor tobacco use in public places and to decrease exposure to second-hand and third-hand smoke.


Our Summer SOAR program students in the Community Organizing class inspecting Von Nieda Park.

Our Summer SOAR program students in the Community Organizing class point out graffiti on benches in Von Nieda Park that they plan to paint this summer.

Our Summer SOAR program students in the Community Organizing class point out graffiti on a building next to Von Nieda Park that they hope to paint over with murals this summer.

Thanks to Camden County for the flowers for Von Nieda Park.

Our Von Nieda Park days are not just about picking up trash, they're about planting flowers, too!

Planters from Medford Lakes, Wisconsin, and Camden!

Student leader taking a shovel to it.

New in Von Nieda Park--a flower bed!  Thanks to our friends from Medford Lakes for all the help!

Yes, we recycle!

Water bearers from Medford Lakes, Anaheim, California, and La Union, El Salvador.

A unique sprinkling system.

Despite weekly cleanups by the county, this is what we find in less than an hour.

One of our teams distributing refrigerator magnets with the numbers to call if you see people dumping trash in the park, or other infractions.

Peaches!

A great turnout for our fourth Von Nieda Park Cleanup (and flower planting) Day of the year.

How about a nice Hawaiian Punch?

Thanks for the hoagies!

Friends of Francis, and Friends of Von Nieda Park.

An important task at the end of the day--separating the recyclables from the trash!

Click here for a Catholic Star Herald front page story on our Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force.
The Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force arrives at Camden County College in Blackwood.

Our students waiting for the start of the Freeholders meeting.

The Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force is honored by the Camden County Board of Freeholders. 


Vianca explains the difference between community service and community organizing.

Freeholder Jeffrey Nash addresses the students.



Congratulations on winning these awards from the Camden County Board of Freeholders.
His first Rita's!

Relaxing at Rita's after the Freeholder's awards. 

For a story on our Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force on Claudia Vargas' Camden Flow blog, click here and scroll to June 11.
Check out our Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force on the news.    
Our students are interviewed by 6ABC, as they give a tour of Von Nieda Park prior to being awarded the national Jefferson Award for their environmental work.



Camden County Freeholder Jeffrey Nash talking with the Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force about their award-winning work in Von Nieda Park.

The Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force showing where they got the swings replaced, and lowered so younger children can use them.

The Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force showing 6ABC one of the benches they painted in Von Nieda Park.

Maryann Younger of the Jefferson Awards with the Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force, one of five groups in the nation to win an award for their environmental work.

Congratulations to the Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force!

Maryann Younger of the Jefferson Awards presents the $500 award check to Fr. Jud for the Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force.

6th and 7th graders with bench they helped design in our Rain Garden.

Congratulations to four graduating 8th Graders from the Student Von Nieda Park Task Force: Joseph, Lizbeth, Nicole and Vianca.  Good luck in high school!



The Class of 2012 heading into their future. 
A little fun helps the park cleanup go faster.

This ship, which passed by the park, will be in the San Juan Bautista parade.

In the swing of things.

This Plexiglas was broken on April 6, almost two months ago.

Cleaning up Von Nieda Park.

Never too young to clean up the park!


We recycle!

Getting rid of weeds the old-fashioned way...

...and the fossil-fuel burning way.

Our Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force gets 23 people out to clean up the park on a beautiful day.

Click here for a Camden County article and pictures about our Student Leaders' work in Von Nieda Park.


Shahid Rana of Coopers Ferry Partnership, Task Manager for implementing the new changes in Von Nieda Park, goes over the plan with one of our student leaders.



The Students Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force going over the new plans for the park.



The baseball field is going over there!

"Our photographer likes goofy pictures."



Someone who attended our presentation at the Romero Lecture at Rutgers-Camden invited the Students Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force to give a similar presentation in Cherry Hill.



St. Anthony's students with the student council leaders of Resurrection Catholic School.



"Yes, that was me many years ago..."



Explaining the difference between community service and community organizing.



Our Powerpoint presentation.



We spoke to the 6th, 7th and 8th grades.



"Would anyone like to come up and share what you've learned today?"



"What I learned from the St. Anthony's students..."



Thanks to Pat Slater of Christ Our Light Parish for coordinating our visit. 

Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force preparing their Powerpoint presentation to be given at Resurrection Catholic School. 

Camden County installed these signs in Von Nieda Park, thanks to a request from our students. 

Getting ready for Mayor Redd's Camden Clean Campaign in Von Nieda Park.

St. Anthony's students cleaning Von Nieda Park as part of Mayor Redd's Camden Clean Campaign.

For a day, we'll call her Mayor Pinkk.

Mr. Miller and his students raking it in.

St. Anthony's students brown bagging it in Von Nieda Park as part of Mayor Redd's Camden Clean Campaign.

Mr. Miller handing out recycling bracelets.

"Mayor Redd, you missed a spot!"

St. Anthony's art teacher Ms. Baum and four of her students transformed Von Nieda Park in just one day.

Lending a hand, having a ball.

Snake in Von Nieda Park! 

Dream in Von Nieda Park.

St. Anthony's students admiring the notice board their classmates requested--and got--for Von Nieda Park.


St. Anthony's recycles, even in the park.

The benches the way they were--graffiti targets.

My students!

A mayor, a principal, and a future leader.

Is it a bench, or a blank canvas? 
Let's paint!

Believe in Von Nieda Park.

Love in Von Nieda Park.

Love--Believe--Peace in Von Nieda Park.
Peace Art in Von Nieda Park.

Toward the end of a long, hot day in Von Nieda Park.

Hope in Von Nieda Park.

Guess what--we need more paint!

Our art teacher Ms. Baum has Faith in Von Nieda Park.
Peace in Von Nieda Park. 

Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force at the New Jersey Youth Service Awards in Trenton.











Our student leaders explaining the work that won them a New Jersey Youth Service Award, part of the New Jersey Governor's Jerfferson Awards.

Receiving our awards at the New Jersey Youth Service Awards in Trenton.


Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force and other award winners at the New Jersey Youth Service Awards in Trenton.

Congratulations!


The awards were presented at the New Jersey State Museum.  Scaaaaary!


Enjoying their just desserts.


Award winners in the New Jersey State Museum Art Gallery.

We like the food, but the real reason we're so happy is we're so proud of our brother!

Cool cherry cream, pineapple tart...
  A blessing for our Student Leacers' Von Nieda Park Task Force.

9:30 a.m.: "Oh no, graffiti on the Cramer Hill Community Center!"
 Our Students Leaders inspecting where the plexiglas was smashed on our community notice board in Von Nieda Park.

Hard at work on the Von Nieda Park Cleanup Day, sponsored by St. Anthony's and the Cramer Hill Community Development Corporation.

"Garbage or recycling? Garbage!"

After a morning of picking up litter, we couldn't even get to this part of Von Nieda Park.

After a morning of picking up litter, we couldn't even get to this part of Von Nieda Park.

14 of 15 cigarette packs we found were Newports. The Lorillard Corporation just might be hearing from our Student Leaders' Von Nieda Park Task Force.

A morning's work--four big bags of trash, and two of recycling.

Almost as much fun as picking up litter.

St. Anthony Student Leaders--and future ones.

"Can't people read?"

11 a.m.: Thanks, Cramer Hill Community Development Corporation, for your fast work.

"Here we come, walking down the street..."


  We're recycling!

"Please keep Camden clean!" We agree!

Student Leaders need to keep properly pizzated.

Guess what, another pack of Newports!

In our neighborhood, it should say, "Newport litter!"


"We're with Frowny!"

"I'd bend over backwards to chair the next meeting!"
Our student community organizers with Camden City Council President and director of the Camden County Parks Department Mr. Frank Moran.
Congratulations to our student community organizers, and our artist (far right) for getting Camden County to make this refrigerator magnets with numbers to call to report people mistreating Von Nieda Park.

Our Student Leaders Von Nieda Park Task Force enjoying the swings that they got the county to fix.

Great art work!  It was chosen as the design for the Von Nieda Park refrigerator magnets that Camden County and St. Anthony's will distribute.
Our Von Nieda Student Leaders Task Force meet Mr. Russ Testa and Mr. Jack Jezreel.

Manny Delgado of the Cramer Hill CDC (Community Development Corporation) meeting with our students about Von Nieda Park.
 
Thanks to the Student Leaders Von Nieda Park Task Force, the benches are getting painted by the county parks department.
Fr. Jud with two of our students who meet monthly with city and county parks officials. 
For a story on our student leaders working on Von Nieda Park, click here.

Thanks to the Student Leaders Von Nieda Park Task Force, city workers painted over the graffiti on the Cramer Hill Community Center today.

Continuing on the topic of community organizing, at Christian Unity Week.

Another St. Anthony's student presenting at Christian Unity Week.

A wonderful presentation by a St. Anthony's student.

Christian Flower Week.

Bishop Farmer with our St. Anthony of Padua Students at Christian Unity Week.

"We have a dream--that the Martin Luther King Day of Community Organizing will be a huge success!"

Several St. Anthony's students were in attendance at our 3rd Annual Martin Luther King Day of Community Organizing, geared toward 7th-12th graders.

Student leader at the mic on our tour of the neighborhood.
For a story in the Catholic Star Herald click here. 

Grace before lunch.

At right, Orlando Munoz and Iraida Afanador of the City of Camden answering questions.

Current leaders, and a future one.

"How does it feel to be a leader?"

Kristen with our three student leaders for the Martin Luther King Day of Community Organizing. 

We're planning for this year's Martin Luther King Day of Community Organizing.

Josh teaching about civic engagement.

Josh teaching about civic engagement.