Koinonia Family Life Inc

KOINONIA FAMILY LIFE, INC., WAS CREATED AS A NON-FOR-PROFIT COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, FOR THE PURPOSE OF REBUILDING AND REVITALIZING COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION AND COUNSELING DESIGNED TO MEET SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF FAMILIES IN CAMDEN.

CAMDEN DREAM CENTER AND THE CHILDRENS DEFENSE FUND (CDF) SHARE CORE MISSION-CRITICAL OBJECTIVES: THAT IS TO SERVE CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS IN COMMUNITIES WHERE QUALITY ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING IS LIMITED, COST-PROHIBITIVE, OR NON-EXISTENT. THE CAMDEN DREAM CENTER HAS ADOPTED A LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND APPROACH. CAMDEN DREAM CENTER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAMDEN SCHOOL DISTRICT, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY AND CISCO NETWORKING ACADEMY OPENED THE FIRST CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND FREEDOM SCHOOLS PROGRAM IN CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.CAMDEN DREAM CDF FREEDOM SCHOOL IS A PROGRAM THAT ENHANCES CHILDRENS MOTIVATION TO READ AND GENERATES POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD LEARNING, WHILE CONNECTING THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO APPROPRIATE RESOURCES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE CAMDEN DREAM CDF FREEDOM SCHOOL IS A 6-WEEK INTEGRATED READING CURRICULUM SUMMER PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON UNDERSERVED YOUTH IN CAMDEN'S LOW-INCOME AREAS TO DEVELOP A CAPACITY AND LOVE FOR READING, ENCOURAGE POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD LEARNING AND IMPROVE PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT THROUGH: 1) HIGH QUALITY ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT; 2) PARENT/FAMILY INVOLVEMENT; 3) SOCIAL ACTION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT;4) INTERGENERATIONAL SERVANT LEADERSHIP; AND 5) NUTRITION, HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH.

THE CAMDEN DREAM CENTER TECHNOLOGY TRAINING SCHOOL IS A CISCO PARTNER, WHICH IS A GLOBAL EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT TEACHES STUDENTS HOW TO DESIGN, BUILD, TROUBLESHOOT AND SECURE COMPUTER NETWORKS FOR INCREASED ACCESS TO CAREER AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN COMMUNICTIES AROUND THE WORLD. UNDER THE ACADMY'S TRAINING PROGRAM, THE CDC TECHNOLOGY TRAINING SCHOOL DELIVERS CISCO COURSES AT ITS CAMPUS IN CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY. THE CISCO NETWORKING ACADEMY OFFERS ICT COURSES THAT ALIGN WITH REAL-WORLD WORKFORCE DEMANDS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR EXCITING CAREERS IN ICT. STUDENTS ARE PREPARED FOR A +, CCENT, CCNA, CCNA SECURITY AND CCNP CERTIFICATIONS. WE OFFER COURSEWORK DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH CISCO COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THESE COURSES ARE: INTRO TO INTERNET OF EVERYTHING, INTRO TO CYBERSECURITY; NDG LINUX ESSENTIALS, BE YOUR OWN BOSS: ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND GET CONNECTED. WE BECAME AN ACADEMY SUPPORT CENTER (ASC) AND INSTRUCTOR TRAINING CENTER. WE SUPPORT 18 OTHER ACADEMIES THAT SERVES MORE THAN 1,000 STUDENTS ALL OF WHOM WILL NEED JOBS ONCE THEY'VE COMPLETED THE TRAININGS. THOUGH MUCH OF THEIR CLASSES WERE AFFECTED BY COVID-19 IN 2021. IN 2021, THE ORGANIZATION ADDED A REGISTERED APPRENTICEHSIP PROGRAM TO IT'S TRAINING PORTFOLIO. THIS PROGRAM SEEKS TO TRAIN AND EMPLOY COMMUNITY INDIVIDUALS, BUT ALSO TO ALIGN THE TRAINING WITH THE HIRING NEEDS OF THE ORGANIZATION'S EMPLOYER PARTNERS. THE GREATEST CHALLENGE IN 2021 WAS TO RECRAFT HOW TO DELIVER OUR SERVICES IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY. WHILE THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC PRESENTED AN UNUSUAL SET OF CHALLENGES, THE LEADERSHIP TEAM MOVED TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER SERVICES VIRTUALLY WHICH EXPANDED CAPABILITIES THROUGH ONLINE SERVICES.

THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO PROVIDE FOOD PANTRY SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY 400-500 FAMILIES DURING 2021. THE ORGANIZATION HAS 15-20 VOLUNTEERS WHO PUT IN OVER 1,800 HOURS OF SERVICE DURING THE YEAR. ALL OF THE FOOD RECEIVED FROM LOCAL SUPERMARKETS AND GROCERY CHAINS ARE DONATED.