Nearly 30 years since the landmark Rutgers/LEAP Initiative transformed education for Camden children and their families through the first LEAP Academy University Public Charter School on Cooper St., the Rutgers University–Camden Community Leadership Center (CLC) has profoundly reshaped both the city's landscape and the lives of its residents.
In its latest Impact Report to stakeholders, the Center traces its origins and details how three decades of university-community partnership have served as a model of educational equity and achievement both in Camden and beyond.
The report “illustrates how sustained university–community partnerships can improve educational outcomes, expand access to higher education, and support civic and economic vitality,” said Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, Distinguished Service Professor, director of the CLC, and founder of the LEAP Social Enterprise Charter School.
The report’s archival photos and narrative illustrate CLC’s evolution from its inception to the present day, including its expansion along the Cooper St. corridor to five LEAP Academy University Charter School campuses, with a sixth one forthcoming.
The Center’s infrastructure has since extended to include the Early Learning Research Academy (ELRA), a research-based early childhood program, and the YES Institute, a tutoring program between Rutgers–Camden and LEAP.
The CLC/LEAP education model, which includes early college access and dual enrollment, has produced more than 1,200 graduates, many of whom have continued their studies at Rutgers–Camden.
The Rutgers University Alfredo & Gloria Bonilla Santiago Endowed Scholarship Fund has helped provide access to higher education for LEAP students since its creation in 2005; to date, the fund has awarded more than $1 million to help students attain their Rutgers degrees.
Among this year’s highlights:
- LEAP’s Early College Program launched its inaugural cohort with the Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden, offering a new academic pathway with this latest university collaboration.
- In October 2025, the Rutgers Innovation Community Hub (RICH) broke ground. This new, state-of-the-art building will house STEM, workforce development, and entrepreneurship courses and will serve as a shared space with Rutgers–Camden students and faculty.
- At the Alfredo Santiago Scholarship Fund induction ceremony held in December 2025, 83 students gained acceptance to Rutgers–Camden.
“Over the past 30 years, our work has contributed meaningfully to Camden’s educational infrastructure and workforce pipeline, and we continue to refine and scale proven practices to serve additional communities,” Bonilla-Santiago said.
To that end, CLC has applied the LEAP model to Puerto Rico, serving more than 4,200 students, and cultivated global partnerships and academic exchange with the Universidad Nacional de Asunción in Paraguay.
For the full report, including student and alumni achievements and research initiatives, please click this link.
