LUCY Outreach (Lifting up Camden’s Youth) Holds Ribbon Cutting for 10,000 sq. ft. LUCY Center
Expansion benefits over 1,500 youth & families annually

CAMDEN, NJ – – LUCY (Lifting Up Camden’s Youth) Outreach recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of its LUCY Youth Center – a 10,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility in East Camden.  The new building is a game-changer for LUCY – the nonprofit now has the ability to serve triple the number of Camden City youth and families annually: from 500 to 1,500 within the first two years.

LUCY offers multi-lingual, culturally responsive services to at risk and low-income Camden City youth and young adults ages 7-28, and their families. Ninety four percent of LUCY participants live at or below the poverty line, attend underperforming schools, and have limited access to higher education and fair wage employment opportunities.

Built alongside LUCY’s existing three-floor house, the LUCY Youth Center, features an open floor plan with a modern/hip feel. Highlights include spacious program rooms separated by age group for each LUCY program, expanded office space for additional program staff, a commercial kitchen open to community members, and Comcast LIFT Zone for use by community. Other features of the ADA-compliant Center include a roof deck, two computer labs and flex rooms for anticipated growth.

Additionally, LUCY’s existing building will be converted into LUCY’s Alumni/Guardians’ space. A first-ever therapy room for group, individual, and family therapy, as well as psych evaluations, medication management, and sports physicals will be available.

“It’s beyond powerful to think that what started as a small Catholic youth group, without a meeting space, gathering in a parking lot, has grown into the Camden City’s premier youth development center for children and teens, developing the next generation of Camden’s leaders,” said Kristin Prinn, Executive Director & Founder, LUCY Outreach.

When designing the building, LUCY took great measures to promote energy efficiency and a cleaner/greener environment. Gregory La Vardera, project architect, notes that the new addition includes the latest energy efficiency features such as LED lighting and motion sensing occupancy controls, along with extra insulation to keep the building comfortable for occupants and reduce long-term operating expense.

The LUCY Youth Center was funded by a capital campaign launched in 2020 with the goal of raising
$2.8 million for the rehabilitation of the existing building on Federal Street, along with the construction and furnishing of a 10,000-square foot addition.

“Due to significant board engagement and the support of the community, generous individuals, corporations, and foundations, along with state entities, our dream became a reality, and we are eternally grateful to everyone who has been on this journey with us!” said Rick Braun, Board Chair, LUCY Outreach.

LUCY offers 9 impactful and engaging programs spanning ages 7-28: daily afterschool, college & career academy, LUCY littles, youth night, youth leadership advisory board, Haven (LGBTQ+ support group), alumni support services, summer programming including two service immersion trips to the U.S./Mexico Border and Camp Bright Feathers, and LUCY bikeshare program.

About LUCY
In 1985, thanks to the vision of then-pastor Monsignor Robert McDermott, the St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral Youth Ministry began to provide Camden teens with year-round education and social opportunities outside of school.  In 2008, the program underwent a restructuring to address the particular challenges faced by Camden’s youth:  teen delinquency, gang and drug involvement, substance use disorder in the home, and teen pregnancy.  The restructuring created new comprehensive and innovative programs along with a new name, LUCY Outreach, an acronym for “Lifting up Camden’s Youth” coined by the teens themselves.  As of April 2016, LUCY transitioned from a Parish initiative to LUCY Outreach, a New Jersey nonprofit corporation with its 501(c)(3) designation received in October 2016 positioning LUCY for growth and development.  For more information about LUCY or to make a donation, visit www.lucyoutreach.org.