Today at 11 a.m. at Riletta Twyne Cream Early Childhood Center, Camden, officers from the Camden County Police Department will read to kindergarten students. The visit celebrates another successful year of the Bookmates program in partnership with the Camden City School District and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Southern New Jersey.

“The CCPD has been participating in Bookmates since 2015, and it has become a regular act of mentoring the children and students of our city,” said Chief Gabriel Rodriguez. “Officers who participate in Bookmates are not just helping young students become better readers, they’re helping them build their confidence, and reminding them that police officers are here to help. In the past, the first time a child may have encountered an officer is when something bad happened, now with this program and through our unity policing initiatives, those same children get to see the people behind the badge, and experience positive interactions.”

Commissioner Jennifer Cooley Fleisher, Mayor Victor Carstarphen, State Superintendent Alfonso Llano Jr., and other local leaders will be in attendance as well to talk to students about the importance of reading.

The Camden County Improvement Authority (CCIA) and the City of Camden are partnering to host a First-Time Homebuyer Information Session on Saturday, March 21 from 9:30 a.m. to noon, at the Salvation Army Kroc Center (1865 Harrison Ave, Camden, NJ). Designed for Camden City residents interested in purchasing their first home, attendees will learn about the many down payment assistance opportunities available through state and city programs, along with guidance on the homebuying process and how to qualify for available funding.