CAMDEN, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Recently expanded LUCY Outreach, or Lifting Up Camden’s Youth, is celebrating a grand reopening, and its founder says she looks forward to more than doubling the number of at-risk and low-income youth and young adults they serve each year.
Now, in addition to their three-story house on Federal Street, the program’s expanded space offers new state-of-the-art, energy-efficient computer labs, performance spaces, a commercial kitchen, a roof deck and more.
LUCY started in 1985 as a small Catholic youth ministry that met in a parking lot and served just a few children. After expansive growth, a new name and some restructuring, the program serves about 500 youth each year, says Executive Director Kristin Prinn.
“But with the new space tripling in size — we were almost 5,000 square feet, this is an additional 10 [thousand], making us 15,000 square feet — we’ll probably jump to 1,000 to 1,200 [youth] within the first year or two," said Prinn.
Prinn says she is still in awe of the support and growth, made possible, in part, by a $2.8 million capital campaign.
Kate Nelson is a volunteer who works with high school students for college and career preparation.
"Many of them are first-generation college students," she said. “They come here not knowing anything about the process, so I felt like I could really help them, because I had helped my children.”
LUCY offers nine youth programs, including summer and daily after-school programs.
Marlene Medina, coordinator of the after-school program, says she’s happy LUCY was around when she was a teenager because it supported her through some difficult times.
"Helped me through high school and with me having no immigration status, just helping me through adulthood, parenthood with my children, giving the opportunity for my children to attend the program as well," Medina said. “Then they gave me the opportunity to be a staff member in this building.”
Related
Program support worker Giang Nguyen is also a LUCY alumnus.
"The best part about it is that it keeps you off the street and it helps you with your social skills. Some of my best friends from school are from LUCY. We went to LUCY together and, as an adult, I still hang out with them," he said.
For Prinn, the best part of serving young people is seeing them return.
"Now to see them getting into home ownership, graduating college, going on to Master’s or PHDs, having an impact in the military, trades, technical programs … just very cool," she said.