From Exploring Family Computer to Programming: Camden Dream Center Helped Train HerThe Nonprofit Is One of 28 Getting Grants from the Camden Education Fund

By NEILL BOROWSKI

Published July 31, 2025 at 11:58 AM

Last updated July 31, 2025 at 11:58 AM

CAMDEN – Zamijah Shakeur-Tompkins, who began programming on her family computer as a young child, later joined the nonprofit Camden Dream Center as a city middle-school student to learn several coding languages.

In her early work on the old computer at home, she said she discovered a “whole world that isn't the internet.”

Shakeur-Tompkins, 20, is today a Howard University computer sciences major with the ultimate goal of owning her own cybersecurity firm. She also works at the Dream Center, teaching students as young as she once was.

“She started in middle school. Now she's helping middle school students. That's powerful,” said Pastor Keith Davis, president and CEO of the Dream Center, which for several years has received grants from the Camden Education Fund and this year will get $40,000.

The Dream Center was one of 28 local nonprofits receiving a total of $475,000 from the CEF Youth-Serving Organization competitive grant program. Representatives of the nonprofits gathered at a meeting and mixer on Wednesday in Camden at the Brotherhood of United Firefighters Inc. hall.

You are filling the need, the gaps that students have in Camden, CEF Chief Program Officer Jonathan Garr told the group. 

This year's focus for the program is on social-emotional learning, mental health, academics and community service, according to the CEF.

“We’re excited to once again provide much-needed support for youth organizations that create vital opportunities for Camden students,” said CEF Chief Executive Officer Giana Campbell, who added that the work of the nonprofits is “all aimed at helping students navigate challenges and thrive.”

Another city nonprofit getting a top $40,000 grant is B.O.S.S. Mentoring, for youths from 8 to 18.

“It allows our program to be sustained,” the nonprofit's board chair, Veda Cloud, said at the event. B.O.S.S., which stands for “Boys of Sustainable Strength,” focuses on empowering youth through one-on-one mentoring and other programs.

Programs at B.O.S.S. include financial literacy, academic support and cultural exploration.

Pastor Davis, whose church is the Evangelism Today Christian Church in Camden, said the Camden Dream Center goes much further than teaching students computer skills. Literacy, science and mathematics are also emphasized. 

Davis said many students have reading skills two to three grades below their current grade in school. Raising their reading levels comes before plunging deeply into math.

“If you can't read,” he said, you cannot comprehend the numbers in a way that makes sense.

Former Dream Center student Shakeur-Tompkins is an example of a student who excelled. The Fairview resident graduated from Camden County Technical School in Gloucester Township and, with her high school diploma, she also received an associate degree from Camden County College for studies in her junior and senior years of high school.

Two of her programming specialties are Python and Scratch, which is a programming language used to teach coding to children.

She has interned at Princeton University, through the Dream Center, and at the Capital One financial company. She also has worked on a programming project with Cisco Systems Inc.

Besides the Dream Center and B.O.S.S. Mentoring, the other grant recipients are:

$40,000 grant

Movimiento Tricolor 

$20,000 grants

Camden Rep

Daelight Foundation

First Timers Society

Free All Minds Academy

I Dare to Care

Pasha Arts

Rising Leaders Global

Social Responsibility Through Me

Symphony in C

The Neighborhood Center

The Work Group / New Jersey Youth Corps Camden

WHYY

Women of the Dream 

$10,000 grants

A Hand to Hold

Camden Bible Tabernacle

CAUSE

Centerville Youth Athletic Association

Minority Allied Lenders

Raise the Bar

Wholesome Riches 

$5,000 grants

Adolescent Achievers

Center for Environmental Transformation

LUCY Outreach

McCoys Stop the Hunger Food and Mobile Pantry

Mighty Writers

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