Staff

I am a Jesuit priest who has worked and lived in Camden, New Jersey for more than nine years. I am tremendously hopeful for our youth here in Camden and grateful for the opportunity to work with them.
Awards

• April 2009: The Camden Diocese Msgr. Michael Doyle and Msgr. Robert McDermott Award for Parish and Community Ministry
• September 2008: The Campbell Soup Hometown Hero Award
• March 2007: The Insuring The Future Award and induction into the New Jersey Technology Hall Of Fame
• January 2007: The Camden County Martin Luther King, Jr Freedom Medal
• July 2005: The CTCNET Toni Stone Innovative Award
• February 2003: The Robert T.  Johnson YMCA Commitment To Youth Award

I’m excited to join such a vibrant and committed organization such as Hopeworks. I look forward to working with the team and helping to expand learning opportunities for youth.

After spending the last 15 years as a partner in a video production business in Philadelphia, I am excited to be here at Hopeworks. I hope to bring more video production opportunities to our youth and to our clients.  If you are interested in Web site design  or GIS mapping services, or if you want to know more about how Hopeworks works with the youth of Camden, just give me a call or stop by! I’d love to introduce you to one of the most innovative youth development programs in the nation!

I graduated from high school in 2004 and am a licensed cosmetologist.  I am also attending Camden County College to earn a degree in computer information systems.  I have been engaged with Hopeworks for almost a year and a half now.  I am the lead trainer and the HTS (“Hope Through School”) coordinator.  I enjoy working with the youth to help them in reaching their goals and not giving up.  I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds for me and for the youth at Hopeworks.

I consider myself blessed to support the youth here.  For two years before coming to Hopeworks, I lived in Kensington, a neighborhood in North Philadelphia, and worked with disadvantaged persons and families on issues relating to urban poverty.  For five years, I mentored youth in the juvenile justice system. I hold a bachelor of arts in political science from St. Bonaventure University, and I am originally from western New York.

Proud husband and father of 2 boys — ages 4 and 11mos. Originally from Lindenwold, NJ, I am a byproduct of the University of Virginia and Eastern University, earning a degree in Architecture and Urban Studies, respectively. I am passionate about youth empowerment, Life Skills Development, practical academic education, and non-traditional forms of learning (such as experiential education). I am excited about the opportunity to support youth in achieving their goals and dreams.

Hi, I’m Tarren Anderson. I am from Minnesota, but am now living in Philadelphia. I have degrees in computer science and GIS.  Hopeworks is an interesting and exciting place where I get to blend my GIS and web skills.

I grew up in West Deptford, New Jersey and earned a bachelor’s degree in Germanic Studies at Brigham Young University.  For the last ten years I have worked as a webmaster, graphic artist, and network administrator. I am excited to have this opportunity to work with the youth of Hopeworks.

I am thrilled to work with Hopeworks Youth in the C.R.I.B.! I am originally from Michigan, where I earned a Bachelors of Social Work from Calvin College. From there I moved to Chester, PA and then on to Philadelphia where I received a Masters of Arts in Urban Studies with a concentration in Youth Development at Eastern University. For four years I worked with college students in a program that provided access to higher education to students from the inner-city of Philadelphia. In this position I coordinate trips with students overseas, developed service-learning partnerships, and provided academic coaching, and facilitated community among the students. I am excited to be a member of the Community Responding in Belief at Hopeworks.

I have had a connection to Hopeworks since 2003. From 2003-2005 I was a trainee in the Hope through School program and later worked in the GIS department, making maps, presenting, and surveying. In 2006 I graduated from Dr. Charles E. Brimm Medical Arts High School and have recently graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey where I earned a Bachelors of Arts in Environmental Studies concentrating in Environmental Injustice Issues. Currently I am the Community Responding In Belief (C.R.I.B) Presence and Executive Assistant to Father Jeff Putthoff. I am so excited and grateful to have these opportunities and look forward to interacting with the youth and watching them grow into successful young adults!

Hillary Bridges is from Villanova, Pennsylvania. Hillary recently returned home to the Philadelphia area after completing her Master’s degree in religious studies at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. Before that, she attended Washington University in St. Louis where she majored in Spanish and studied French and Arabic. She is looking very much forward to serving as the Live-in Residential Presence at the C.R.I.B. and to getting to know all of the members of Hopeworks!

Benita Ann Lott graduated from Rutgers, New Brunswick with a B.S. in Accounting and St. John’s University with an MBA in Management. Benita retired last September. She relocated from New York’s midtown east Turtle Bay neighborhood to Camden’s Downtown, discovering that much of the city struggles with drugs, homelessness, and indifference. Upon this discovery, Benita put her newfound time to reversing her impression of the city so beloved by her husband, and applied to work at Hopeworks. Benita enjoys the program’s organization, energy, and focus toward supporting the personal and academic successes of the C.R.I.B. residents.

Annie Churchville, she grew up in King of Prussia and ran track at Upper Merion. While in school for social services at Cabrini College, she worked in a corporate salon for 10 years and moved to Philadelphia about 6 years ago. Annie really enjoy the fact that the residents and staff at the C.R.I.B. have welcomed her so warmly and she really appreciates that everyone has been so helpful. She is really looking forward to being a part of the many great things that Hopeworks has to offer!

Chanelle Clark joined us in December, she is originally from Camden,NJ and received her Bachelors in Criminal Justice from Douglass College at Rutgers University. Chanelle is currently a full-time Corps member serving on the Diplomas Now SAP Team at Overbrook Highschool for City Year Greater Philadelphia. Some of her personal hobbies include reading and listening to music. She is excited to work at the C.R.I.B. because of her love for helping people and she feels this is a great program to help people reach their dreams and have success in life.

Anibal Sanchez aspires to become a professional artist/illustrator one day. Anibal says the following about joining the C.R.I.B. Community at Hopeworks: "I was born and raised in Camden and it’s encouraging to see youth working together toward a common goal. Becoming a part of the C.R.I.B. community is a very exciting endeavor and I look forward to meeting everyone and helping out along the way."