One of the major impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is the exposure of the severity of the digital divide and digital literacy issue within our society in 2020. Remember when an entire State sheltered and the in-person interactions at all levels and in all aspects of life scrambled to get online (a.k.a. virtual). This disruption implies that ALL has the required device (e.g., laptops, tablets, etc.) and the Internet access to now function during and in the new post-COVID-19 world. This premise is NOT the case, especially in the underserved communities of Camden NJ. Our primary goal, therefore, is to focus efforts on closing the digital skills gap within Camden’s socioeconomically diverse, high-poverty, and underrepresented communities.

The primary goal of the enrichment program is to improve the scholars’ proficiencies in the domains of STEM. The secondary goal is to support the realization of computer science knowledge transfer and computational thinking to the middle schoolers – prep for the digital way of life.

The Camden Dream CDF Freedom School Program offers a summer 6-week long learning program consisting of literacy, STEM, and essential skills learning, and with the primary goal of preparing K-8 scholars to be well-rounded and ready (i.e., academically, socially, and emotionally) for their next education level and to experience a smooth transition into the next grade.

Noting the severe disparity regarding the participation of under-served and female in technology propelled the Camden Dream Center to embark on a Saturday Coding Program for Girls in grades 5 - 8. As a result, we started in the 2019-20 school year with a cohort of 15 4th-8th grade students and continued with a cohort of 10 in the 2020-21 school year.

The intent is to address the reading literacy challenge in the under-served communities of South Jersey's 7 counties (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem.