RESPOND INC. OUR TIMELINE 1967 1970’s – 1990’s 2000’s Present FOUNDED Respond, Inc. was created in 1967 through a joint venture of residents of the North Camden community and the United Methodist Church in Haddonfield, a nearby suburban town inhabited by many former Camden residents. Wilbert Mitchell was appointed the first Executive Director in which he led the agency throughout its history by providing vision and the hard work necessary to ensure its continued success. The childcare project was incorporated in 1968, with two programs in operation, the first continuing at the State Street church and a second, the Linden Street Day Care Center, opened at 9th and Linden Streets. Together they served 90 children. HOUSING State Street Housing and the Community Elders Council were created in 1972 and 1974. The Summer Youth Career Exploration Program, the Summer Enrichment Camp, the Teen Volunteer Program and Youth Advisory Board followed over the next two decades. A weekly intergenerational workshop at the Elders’ center in partnership with members and staff of the Philadelphia Orchestra was one of the new, comprehensive programs that Respond has provided for children, senior citizens, adults and families. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Respond continues to create economic development and educational initiatives, with the opening of a new job training facility that opened in North Camden in the spring of 2009. The New Worker Job Development Center* is a state-of-the-art vocational training facility for culinary arts, automotive technology, adult education and additional areas for expansion, including an under construction Auto repair Shop. Training in vocational areas is targeted to out-of-school older youth, unemployed and underemployed adults and those returning from the correctional system in a holistic program approach that provides the adult basic education classes during both week day and evening hours. MOVING FORWARD In this 54th year of Respond’s program operation, the agency’s staff and volunteers number more than 250 and Respond has succeeded in building an outstanding example of how people from many diverse backgrounds and all walks of life can work together toward the common goal of an enriched community for all of its citizens. The respect of that community to know its own needs, and the ability to direct that knowledge into viable programs have combined with exceptional support from staff, from all levels of government, foundations, the faith community, local business, industry and private individual donors to make Respond, Inc. the successful organization that it is today. RESPOND INC. 532 State Street, Camden, NJ, 08102 (856) 365-4403 © 2021 Respond, Inc. Designed by Hopeworks Web. Keep Up With Us: