Celebrating and Kicking Off Earth Day and Week in Camden, New Jersey

On Monday, April 17^th at 1:00 PM, the City of Camden, along with Camden County and Camden Community Partnership will kick off Earth Week 2023 at the site of The Phoenix Festival, a large scale public art piece that was commissioned by the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge as a part of the resident-driven effort called A New View Camden which was recognized for its innovative strategy for tackling illegal dumping in the city.  The Phoenix Festival is located at 1401 Federal Street in East Camden.

The Phoenix Festival will serve as the backdrop where Mayor Victor Carstarphen along with New Jersey American Water President Mark McDonough and other dignitaries announce a series of community events and activities happening in the City of Camden in celebration of Earth Week 2023.  Some the of activities to be announced include:

·         PowerCorps and City Clean Up at the Cooper Sprouts Gardens on April 18^th

·         2023 Camden Environmental Summit on April 19^th

·         Tree Planting Project at Westfield and Dudley Streets on April 20th

·         Camden Earth Day Events in North Camden, Stockton Park, Mastery High School, Gateway Park, Morgan Village Middle School and Liney Ditch Park on April 22^nd

·         Camden Community Partnership Earth Day Celebration at The Phoenix Festival on April 22^nd

·         Camden Strong-Clean Camden Campaign Kickoff on April 26^th 

Earth Day in Camden, NJ presents a unique opportunity to raise awareness around protecting the environment while celebrating the unique, robust collaborations across the City of Camden where government, businesses, residents, community based organizations, students, nonprofits, artists, and other civic leaders are engaged in reclaiming spaces and focused on improving the air, land and water resources while removing debris and litter from the community.  While the “official” theme for Earth Day is “Invest in Our Planet,” the city and members of the Camden Collaborative Initiative have chosen the theme “Love Your Earth.”  It is this intention which will serve as the driving force for planned efforts slated for the week.

Camden, NJ continues to maximize it strengths, unique assets and the power of collaboration by marking the 2^nd Anniversary of the public art unveiling of The Phoenix Festival which originally made its debut during the Earth Day Celebration in 2021. Both Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein, “The Myth Makers”, will be onsite this week to maintain and rejuvenate the art during Earth Week. They will be joined by college students, high school students, residents, and businesses as they maintain the artwork and the grounds around it.