Camden's Jennifer Brown Recognized with Virtua Health's WE Award for Outstanding Community Service

Jennifer Brown, a Camden resident, was awarded the Virtua WE Award for Outstanding Community Service. Jennifer thrives at her current position with the Virtua Health Care System, driving Virtua's pediatric mobile van that provides a wide variety of health services to children from infancy to age six in underserved communities. Jennifer also drives Virtua's Eat Well Mobile Grocery Store, a store-on-wheels that brings fresh produce and groceries at below-market prices to food-insecure neighborhoods.

This success story was possible in part due to HUD's placed-based work in Camden. In 2016, HUD awarded Camden, New Jersey, a $13.2 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant, that revitalized the Mt. Ephraim South neighborhood and the dilapidated Clement T. Branch Village housing development, where Jennifer lived since she was a teenager. The Choice Neighborhoods funding turned the old, distressed public housing development into Branch Village, that provide over 200 homes for Camden families and seniors. Jennifer now lives in one of the new townhomes and believes that housing stability played a role in finding her fulfilling career. Virtua Health is a partner in Camden's Choice Neighborhoods Program and hires qualified residents.

Jennifer earned a degree in Medical Billing and Coding and explored multiple career options before she found her dream job, working with parents and children, and serving her community. Having a stable home when she was pursuing her studies without a stable income, allowed Jennifer to achieve her dreams and ultimately become an essential part of the South Jersey community.

"Living at Branch Village has been a blessing to me," said Jennifer. "When I was down and out, didn't have a job, and was going to school, it was such a blessing to know that I had a place to live even if I didn't have an income at the time."

Jennifer is grateful to Daniela Cerullo, Choice Neighborhoods People Program Manager, and Ms. Lashema Moore, Choice Neighborhoods Case Manager, who helped her along the way. Jennifer is also eager to drive Virtua's pediatric services van to new neighborhoods. South Jersey residents can request the van by visiting https://www.virtua.org/mobilepeds.

###