2023 Camden Environmental Summit
The 2023 Camden Environmental Summit, presented by New Jersey American Water, is the only event of its kind in the region. The 2023 Camden Environmental Summit provided an opportunity for community leaders, nonprofit organizations, environmental advocates, green businesses and government officials to unite under a common agenda in-person at the Hilton Garden Inn on the Camden waterfront. Held on Earth Week, the theme for this summit was “Love your Earth.” 

The Camden Collaborative Initiative (CCI) came together to educate one another on the importance and effectiveness of collaboration to address stormwater management, climate resilience, brownfields redevelopment, illegal dumping, health and environmental education. Our goal is to make progress toward improving the quality of life and environment for Camden’s residents.

The Summit featured a keynote address by NJDEP Commissioner LaTourette and remarks from Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen, President of New Jersey American Water Mark McDonough, Congressman Donald Norcross, USEPA Region 2 Administrator Lisa Garcia, EPA Region 2 Senior Advisor for Equity Olivia Glenn, a presentation of the 2023 Camden Environmental Hero Awards, and so much more.

Thank you to the 2023 Camden Environmental Summit Sponsors:

Camden Environmental Summit 2021

On Tuesday, November 23, 2021, the Camden Collaborative Initiative (CCI) hosted the 2021 Camden Environmental Summit to highlight innovative and equitable efforts locally to protect and enhance the environment in Camden, New Jersey.  The Summit was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

​The Summit featured spoken word poetry from a local artist, remarks from the CCI core leadership, two presentations on "The Outlook" as Camden grapples with Climate Change, and a "Hot Topics" panel of experts dealing in Stormwater Utilities, Air Quality, and Illegal Dumping. The Summit also featured environmental activist, MacArthur “genius” grant recipient, and author Catherine Coleman Flowers as the keynote speaker.

​Watch the recording of the 2021 Camden Environmental Summit below:
Congratulations to all of the 2021 Camden Environmental Heroes:
  • Christoff Lindsey
  • Michael Palmquist
  • Camden Lutheran Housing, Inc.
  • Advocate of the Year: Shaneka Boucher
  • Lifetime Achievement Award Winners:
    • Douglas Burns
    • Andrew Johnson
    • Jack Sworaski
    • Mary Toogood
About 2021 Camden Environmental Summit Keynote Speaker, Catherine Coleman Flowers:
Catherine Coleman Flowers is an internationally recognized environmental activist, MacArthur “genius” grant recipient, and author. She has dedicated her life’s work to advocating for environmental justice, primarily equal access to clean water and functional sanitation for communities across the United States.

Founder of the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice (CREEJ), Flowers has spent her career promoting equal access to clean water, air, sanitation, and soil to reduce health and economic disparities in marginalized, rural communities. In addition, Flowers serves as Rural Development Manager for Bryan Stevenson’s Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), is a Board Member for the Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary, and sits on the Board of Directors for the Climate Reality Project and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Flowers is also Co-Chair of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Commission on Accelerating Climate Action and Practitioner in Residence at Duke University.

In 2021, her leadership and fervor in fighting for solutions to these issues led her to one of her most notable appointments yet — Vice Chair of the Biden Administration’s inaugural White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. Flowers was also named Levenick Resident Scholar in Sustainable Leadership at the University of Illinois for the spring 2021 and was awarded an honorary PhD in science from Wesleyan University.
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As the author of Waste: One Woman’s Fight Against America’s Dirty Secret, Flowers shares her inspiring story of advocacy, from childhood to environmental justice champion. She discusses sanitation and its correlation with systemic class, racial, and geographic prejudice that affects people across the United States. She has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bloomberg, The Guardian, and on PBS.

Agenda:

2020 CAMDEN ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMIT

On Tuesday, November 24, 2020, the Camden Collaborative Initiative (CCI) hosted the
2020 Camden Environmental Summit to highlight innovative and equitable efforts locally to protect
and enhance the environment in Camden, New Jersey.  The Summit was held for the first time virtually
due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  More than 250 residents, environmental leaders, advocates, and stakeholders form the public, private, and non-profit participated in the 8th annual Summit, presented
by New Jersey American Water.  The Summit featured author, poet, wildlife biologist and "Black Birdwatcher". Dr. J. Drew Lanham as the keynote speaker.

2019 Camden Environmental Summit

250 people representing a diverse cross-section of the greater Camden community spent the day talking about equity and inclusion in the environmental realm, acknowledging and recognizing the inequities deeply rooted in the development of Camden over time, and seeking out and sharing solutions to overcoming Camden's environmental legacy at the 2019 Camden Environmental Summit, presented by New Jersey American Water. 

One highlight of the day was keynote speaker Carolyn Finney, Ph.D.'s poignant talk about the relationship between people of color and America's great outdoors. Check out her talk below.

Thank you again to our tremendous title sponsor, New Jersey American Water, our principal sponsor, Covanta, our supporting sponsors, Pennoni, the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority, and Advanced Enviro Systems, and our additional contributors, PS&S, Gilmore & Associates, Inc., and Woodard & Curran. 

Congratulations again to our 2019 Environmental Heroes, and thank to you to all of our speakers, exhibitors, and attendees. Please check out the event photos below.

Congratulations to our 2019 Environmental Heroes! 

Dr. Charles E. Brimm Medical Arts High School
Jonathan Compton, Program Director, Center for Environmental Transformation (CFET)
Jessica Franzini, Deputy Director of Government & Community Relations, NJDOT 
VietLead

Please click here, for more information on our 2019 Environmental Heroes

2018 Camden Environmental Summit

2017 Camden Environmental Summit

If you have any questions pertaining to the Camden Environmental Summit, please contact Camden Community Partnership at
856-757-9154 or email camdencollaborative@camdencpinc.com