Editing Camden, New Jersey (section)

== Culture ==
[[File:Coopergrant.jpg|alt=A community sign near Camden's Cooper Grant neighborhood showcasing the cities unofficial tagline "A City Invincible"|thumb|"A City Invincible" sign, the city's official tagline, near Camden's [[Cooper Grant, Camden|Cooper Grant]] neighborhood]]
[[File:USS New Jersey Night.jpg|thumb|The Battleship [[USS New Jersey (BB-62)|''USS New Jersey'']] on the Camden waterfront in 2010]]
Camden's role as an industrial city gave rise to distinct neighborhoods and cultural groups that have affected the growth and decline of the city over the course of the 20th century. Camden is also home to historic landmarks detailing its rich history in literature, music, social work and industry such as the [[Walt Whitman House]],<ref name="NEWS01 2009" /> the Walt Whitman Cultural Arts Center, the Rutgers–Camden Center for the Arts and the [[Camden Children's Garden]]. Others include the Camden County Historical Society, which document the city and surrounding area's history. It was built in 1899 as a place for those who find anything that links to one's heritage and for other educational purposes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About – Camden County Historical Society |url=https://cchsnj.org/about/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=cchsnj.org}}</ref> 

Camden's cultural history has been greatly affected by both its economic and social position over the years. From 1950 to 1970, industry plummeted, resulting in close to 20,000 jobs being lost for Camden residents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome |url=https://1940census.archives.gov/ |access-date=November 28, 2016 |website=1940census.archives.gov}}</ref> This mass unemployment as well as social pressure from neighboring townships caused an exodus of citizens, mostly white. This gap was filled by new African American and Latino citizens and led to a restructuring of Camden's communities. The number of White citizens who left to neighboring towns such as [[Collingswood, New Jersey|Collingswood]] or [[Cherry Hill, New Jersey|Cherry Hill]] left both new and old African American and Latino citizens to re-shape their community. To help in this process, numerous not-for-profit organizations such as Hopeworks or the Neighborhood Center were formed to facilitate Camden's movement into the 21st century.<ref name="AfterTheFall" />
=== Community ===
{{See also|African-Americans in Camden, New Jersey|Hispanic and Latino community of Camden, New Jersey}}
[[The Black Community of Camden, NJ|The Black Community]] has been one of the city's foundations since its founding in 1828 and have contributed heavily to the city's culture. [[Corinne's Place]] is a Black-owned soul food restaurant located in Camden, New Jersey. Corinne Bradley-Powers opened the restaurant on Haddon Avenue in 1989.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Finn |first=Jennifer |date=2022-06-23 |title=Meet the Woman Behind Corinne's Place, Camden's Renowned Soul-Food Spot |url=https://njmonthly.com/articles/eat-drink/corinnes-place-camdens-renowned-soul-food-spot/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=New Jersey Monthly}}</ref> [[The Hispanic and Latino Community of Camden, NJ|The Hispanic and Latino Community]] in the city has increased heavily in the past twenty years, but have had a long history in Camden. Puerto Rican Unity for Progress is a multi-service, community-based organization that is located in Camden and serves the Hispanic community who reside in the city. The organization was established in 1976 and opened its physical location at 437 Broadway Street in Camden in June 1978.

=== Arts and entertainment ===
{{Main|Arts and entertainment in Camden, New Jersey}}

The Arts and Entertainment have always been presence in the city. In the early 20th century, Camden became a hub of music and innovation in entertainment with the presence of the Victor Talking Machine Company (later RCA Victor). It is the birth place of celebrities such as tragic star [[Russ Columbo]]; singer and Broadway actress [[Lola Falana]]. Today, Camden is home to individuals and groups that help bulster the arts in the city.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Janel |title=Neighborhood Center’s Inaugural Camden Youth Arts Festival Serves Multiple Purposes |url=https://www.tapinto.net/towns/camden/sections/giving-back/articles/neighborhood-center-s-inaugural-camden-youth-arts-festival-serves-multiple-purposes |access-date=12 November 2024 |website=Tapinto Camden |publisher=Tapinto Camden}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
[[File:Service-pnp-habshaer-nj-nj0000-nj0010-photos-111470pv.jpg|thumb|Newton Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends]]
Camden has religious institutions including many churches and their associated non-profit organizations and community centers such as the Little Rock Baptist Church in the Parkside section of Camden, First Nazarene Baptist Church, 
Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church, and the Parkside United Methodist Church. Other congregations that are active now are Newton Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, on Haddon Avenue and Cooper Street and the Masjid at 1231 Mechanic St, Camden, NJ 08104.

The first [[Church of Scientology|Scientology church]] was incorporated in December 1953 in Camden by [[L. Ron Hubbard]], his wife [[Mary Sue Hubbard]], and John Galusha.<ref>{{cite book |last=Atack |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Atack |url=https://archive.org/details/pieceofblueskysc00atac |title=A Piece of Blue Sky |publisher=Carol Publishing Group |year=1990 |isbn=978-0-8184-0499-3 |location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Hubbard |first=L. Ron |author-link=L. Ron Hubbard |title=Pulpateer |url=http://literary.lronhubbard.org/page29.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070730052209/http://literary.lronhubbard.org/page29.htm |archive-date=July 30, 2007 |access-date=June 7, 2006 |publisher=Church of Scientology International}}</ref>
[[File:Service-pnp-vrg-04800-04876v.jpg|thumb|Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Broadway and Ferry Ave in Camden]]
Father Michael Doyle, the pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church located in South Camden, has played a large role in Camden's spiritual and social history. In 1971, Doyle was part of the [[The Camden 28|Camden 28]], a group of anti-Vietnam War activists who planned to raid a draft board office in the city. This is noted by many as the start of Doyle's activities as a radical 'Catholic Left'. Following these activities, Monsignor Doyle went on to become the pastor of Sacred Heart Church, remaining known for his poetry and activism.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trethan |first=Phaedra |title=Poet, pacifist, provocateur: Portrait of a priest |url=https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/2016/11/21/poet-pacifist-provocateur-portrait-priest/94076116/ |access-date=October 24, 2019 |website=Courier-Post}}</ref> Monsignor Doyle and the Sacred Heart Church's main mission is to form a connection between the primarily white suburban surrounding areas and the inner-city of Camden.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sacred Heart {{!}} Our Parish |url=http://www.sacredheartcamden.org/test/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220153250/http://www.sacredheartcamden.org/test/ |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |access-date=December 18, 2016 |website=www.sacredheartcamden.org}}</ref>

In 1982, Father Mark Aita of Holy Name of Camden founded the St. Luke's Catholic Medical Services. Aita, a medical doctor and a member of the [[Society of Jesus]], created the first medical system in Camden that did not use rotating primary care physicians. Since its conception, St. Luke's has grown to include Patient Education Classes as well as home medical services, aiding over seven thousand Camden residents.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2011 |title=St. Luke's Catholic Medical Services in North Camden {{!}} Catholic Star Herald |url=http://catholicstarherald.org/st-lukes-catholic-medical-services-in-north-camden/ |access-date=December 18, 2016 |website=catholicstarherald.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=stlukescms |title=St. Luke's Catholic Medical Services |url=http://stlukescms.blogspot.com/ |access-date=December 18, 2016}}</ref>

=== Philanthropy ===
[[File:Cathedral Kitchen in Camden New Jersey.jpg|thumb|Cathedral Kitchen in Camden]]
The city has long had a history of philanthropy and charity, dating back to its founding. The city's founding families were quakers that were very interested in charitable causes like the care of orphans and helping runaway slaves. They were members of the [[Quakers|Society of Friends]] whose members were the likes of William Penn. In 1865, the Society of Friends founded the [[Camden Home for Friendless Children]]. Since that home was segregated, the Society of Friends opened the [[West Jersey Colored Orphanage]] in 1874.

Camden has a variety of non-profit Tax-Exempt Organizations aimed to assist city residents with a wide range of health and social services free or reduced charge to residents. Camden City, having one of the highest rates of poverty in New Jersey, fueled residents and local organizations to develop organizations aimed to provide relief to its citizens. As of the 2000 Census, Camden's income per capita was $9,815. This ranking made Camden the poorest city in the state of New Jersey, as well as one of the poorest cities in the United States.<ref name="Speer 399–408">{{Cite journal |last1=Speer |first1=Paul W. |last2=Ontkush |first2=Mark |last3=Schmitt |first3=Brian |last4=Raman |first4=Padmasini |last5=Jackson |first5=Courtney |last6=Rengert |first6=Kristopher M. |last7=Peterson |first7=N. Andrew |date=September 1, 2003 |title=The intentional exercise of power: community organizing in Camden, New Jersey |journal=Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology |volume=13 |issue=5 |pages=399–408 |doi=10.1002/casp.745 |issn=1099-1298}}</ref> Camden also has one of the highest rates of childhood poverty in the nation.<ref name="Speer 399–408" />