James Wynn Takes the Helm, Continuing a Legacy of Service to the Community
Camden NJ, Camden County OEO (Council on Economic Opportunity) stands as a vital force in supporting low-income families and individuals across Camden City and Camden County. The organization provides essential services such as heating and energy assistance, rental support, weatherization, and housing aid. Now under the leadership of James Wynn, who follows the remarkable 56-year tenure of Arnold Byrd, Camden County OEO continues to address critical challenges, including recent cuts to government funding for energy assistance. With a vision for sustainability and community-driven impact, Wynn calls on the public to partner with the organization in expanding its reach, fostering entrepreneurship, and empowering Camden residents to create lasting change.
In an exclusive interview with the nation’s premier faith-based and professional newspaper for winners, Anointed News Journal, we learn about more of the work that OEO is doing from the perspective of James Wynn, a few of his team members, and people in the community that have benefitted from Camden County OEO’s programs in the past.
Collins II:
Who is James Wynn?
Wynn:
I was born and raised in Camden, lived on Morse Street in East Camden most of my life. I attended Camden High School, played sports there, wrestled there, and spent the good part of my professional career since 1999 serving the community. So, I’m a community service worker at heart and mind, and I’m eager and anxious to see the city of Camden thrive.
Collins II:
Now, what is Camden County OEO? And what is the function of the organization?
Wynn:
The full name is Camden County Council on Economic Opportunity. We just had a ROMA training, which is Results Oriented Management and Accountability. In that training, it talks about the history of OEO, or CAP agencies. We’re a Community Action Program, which came out of Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty and, of course, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which gave license to the legislation that brought about the Community Service Block Grants, the foundation of funding for our CAP agencies all over the country.
Our primary goal is to serve the impoverished and underprivileged of our communities—the low-income families and individuals who, quite frankly, make up a large part of Camden City and Camden County.
Collins II:
Now, specifically, your role—you’re replacing Arnold Byrd? I know he’s a legendary community person in Camden and a part of this organization. So, what responsibilities and goals do you have in order to follow someone like that and also put your own imprint on the organization and community?
Wynn:
I don’t know if I can ever put my own imprint on it. Being a CAP agency kind of gives you a structure and a model to follow. So, we can do that, and that’s what I’m focused on right now. Mr. Arnold Byrd, is legendary, as you said. He had been involved with OEO since 1968, served 56 years in this organization, and served as the executive director since 1975. He’s done some amazing things—acquired Head Start, acquired buildings. Right now, Camden County OEO enjoys a real estate portfolio that a lot of for-profit organizations would be jealous of.
We’re in a unique situation where we can use our real estate to help us remain sustainable, where others can’t. We’re less dependent on government grants for that reason. Camden County OEO, of course, is 100% funded by the government, but we have our real estate to back us up and take us through times of trouble. For instance, during COVID-19, when the government was shut down, Camden County OEO was able to use its real estate portfolio to keep people employed. We employ over 50 people throughout the county as of now. Our goal is to grow that to 100 someday.
We don’t know exactly how or when, but we are fortunate to have just received a $2 million grant from the state of New Jersey to do lead education, abatement, and remediation. So, we’re, of course, always looking to grow, always looking at areas to serve where there’s the most need—serving people in low-income situations.
We consistently provide supportive housing, assistance with heating and energy bills, cooling bills, and rental assistance. So, we’re going to stay in that mode, but we’re also looking to do some other things with real estate and helping to create entrepreneurs.
We’ve got an Individual Development Account program that will pay people to save their own money, which I think is excellent. We want to grow that program so that more people become homeowners and business owners in Camden County, particularly in Camden City. But we want those people to be responsible to the community as well and understand that there’s a need for them to give back. So, we’re interested in a number of things to serve low-income populations. But, most importantly, we’re invested in continuing the foundational message of OEO and CAP agencies around the country.
Collins II:
So, The Anointed News Journal has 180,000 readers weekly. In a final word, what would you like to say to the readers of The Anointed News Journal?
Wynn:
What I would like to say is, there are CAP agencies all over the United States, and in Camden County, we’re heavily dependent on government funding. But we also realize that the government sometimes misses the boat in terms of what services to provide.
I’ll give you a, for instance—our weatherization department, our heat and energy assistance department, is going to see funding for our clients cut in half. So, what are those people going to do? In past years, they were used to getting $1,500 to help with their heating and energy bills. Now they’re only going to get $800.
So, my last word to the community would be: find us. Find us online, find us on social media—Camden County OEO. Come to us. Seek out a way that you can help, that you can donate, that you can give back to the organization to help someone in need so that we can continue to do this work. Of course, government funds are very restricted. Sometimes they don’t pay for salaries, or for the rental of buildings and other things we need to continue providing services—but we need to do that anyway. So, we need help from the community to help us do that, to help us be a better agency, to help us be a better support for the community. We need the community’s support.
A Word from Darren Price, Associate Director, Camden County OEO
Collins II:
Who is Darren Price personally and professionally? And what is your position here at Camden County OEO?
Price:
I’m the associate director. I’m certainly a family man. I have a number of interests and hobbies. You know, certainly faith and being God-fearing is paramount for me. It kind of drives all the decisions that I make. I put Him out in front, and then I know that I’m rightly guided. So that’s a big part of who I am.
Professionally, I started out with a master’s in biology. Science guy, but one thing led to another, and I found myself here at OEO. I mean, it’s been a wonderful experience because I started out working in the lab, and then I realized I didn’t like working with equipment. I found out I was actually a people person. Yeah, and so the experience that I’m getting—or the enrichment I’m getting—from interacting with people is fantastic. I’m learning so much about them, but then they give me so much that I’m learning about myself.
Collins II:
Now, your role specifically here with this organization, what do you look to accomplish?
Price:
Well, some of my responsibilities are to make sure that the agency stays legally in compliance with regards to not only the law but also our funding sources. I have to make sure that there’s a marriage between what the agency does and how the agency presents itself, and then satisfying those listed, stated, written documents that the state requires of us.
I’m responsible for the whole aspect of agency oversight. That means insurance, employee issues, and workman’s compensation. There are some human resources issues as well. And then, certainly, making sure that our executive director’s thought process and vision are supported—assisting him in any way I can to make that happen.
Collins II:
What’s next for OEO from your perspective over the next 3 to 6 months?
Price:
Over the next 3 to 6 months, obviously, we’re in a transitional period now, as we lost a long-time tenured leader in Mr. Byrd. But now it’s the new, and we’re looking to take that forward.
There are a number of fronts in which I envision OEO being in the future—anywhere from housing development to job opportunities to job training. We’re just looking to expand who we are on all fronts. Maybe even looking to get more into asset real estate acquisition. But we’re looking to do nothing but progress, grow, and scale everything that we have right now.
Collins II:
What would you like to say to the readers of The Anointed News Journal?
Price:
First, I would like to thank The Anointed News Journal and Chris Collins for the tremendous work that it does. Because you reach so many people, it’s easy to deliver messages.
I would like those listeners to know that Camden County OEO is here. Camden County OEO is that staple agency within the county that can provide multiple services—anywhere from housing to education to food. We can help with food—come see us! We want to be that beacon or that shining light that can provide the needs of the people, particularly in a day and time like this, when the need is so great.
A Word from Angela Randall, Director of Housing and Community Initiatives, Camden County OEO
Collins II:
Who is Miss Angela Randall, personally and professionally?
Randall:
I think it all merges together, professionally and personally, I pride myself on just being a dedicated person who actually helps and tries her best to be supportive to my family, my friends, and my colleagues. But ultimately, I’m just driven with some energy to help others.
Collins II:
So in your day-to-day role, what are some of your duties in helping this organization thrive?
Randall:
So my day-to-day tasks are I supervise, site supervisors as well as case managers who provide homeless prevention services, as well as, career and employment readiness and literacy to youth and young adults. So it’s robust most days, actually. I’m bouncing around, going from site to site, just more or less trying to make certain that staff are supported. We do a lot of team huddles where I can provide some day-to-day training, and that’s mainly because I’ve only been with the organization for several months.
Collins II:
What do you forecast for the next 3 to 6 months at Camden County OEO? What’s your vision as part of the body of the organization.
Randall:
Well, currently, right now, I’m doing a lot of data cleanup as well as just reviewing some of our data over the past six months to a year, just trying to understand what the community has been stating about OEO, as well as what are more of the priority needs. Most times people always say it’s housing, but housing isn’t enough. Is it affordable housing? Or money to pay for housing? So I’m trying to get a clear, in-depth overview of seeing, what does that look like for not just Camden City but Camden County at large, because we do operate countywide.
Collins II:
What would you like to say to the readers of The Anointed News Journal?
Randall:
First and foremost, thank you for the opportunity, and thank you for reading up and seeing what Camden County Council on Economic Opportunity is actually doing for the community. And I would actually like to ask them to support us, collaborate with us. If you’re an agency that is providing anything that helps with the social determinants of life to breed generational wealth for a community, please reach out so that we can connect, collaborate, and primarily help uplift our community.
A Word from Lisa Johnson, Youth Instructor, Camden County OEO, & Home Buyer Through an OEO Program
Collins II:
Who is Lisa Johnson?
Johnson:
Well, currently, Lisa Johnson is a resident of Camden City. I taught for the Camden City School District for 32 years as a teacher, and I retired in 2019. That’s when I began to connect with OEO. After retiring early, I still felt I had a lot to give, and I wanted to give back to the community. So, I applied to OEO, and they had a position called youth instructor. I thought, “Oh, okay, that’s right up my alley. I used to teach.” I applied, and that’s how I became the youth instructor, and I love it.
Collins II:
Alright. And so, you bought a home through the OEO program?
Johnson:
Yes.
Collins II:
What was that experience like, and how beneficial was it?
Johnson:
Well, I started out when one of the employees at OEO told me, “We have a program going on.” I asked, “What kind of program?” And they said, “Do you want a house?” I said, “Sure, I would love to have a house.” So, I went to 538 Broadway. At that time, Mr. Arnold Byrd was the executive director. I applied, I submitted the paperwork, and although it was tedious, it was worth it. It was definitely worth it.
Collins II:
And since then, or even prior, you’ve been able to help the youth—redirect them, give them more structure for success. What are some of the things you do to help the youth in this community?
Johnson:
Well, I provide them with food because sometimes the students come in hungry. As you know personally, when you’re hungry, you’re not going to perform as well as you normally would. So, I provide them with food, and I encourage them. I let them know that they can do it. They can do it.
Collins II:
What would you like to say to the readers of The Anointed News Journal?
Johnson:
Well, I would like to say thank you for the opportunity to talk about my experience with OEO and also receiving a house through OEO. As I told Mr. Byrd, I wrote him a thank you letter for the opportunity to go through the process of obtaining a home. Now, I am currently a full homeowner. I don’t owe anything—I paid off the house.
Collins II:
Oh, wonderful!
Johnson:
So, they can do it. If I could do it, they can do it.
A Word from Reverend Florence Toni Still, a Pillar in the Community Who Has Seen Camden County OEO’s Impact
Collins II:
Who is Reverend Florence Toni Still?
Rev. Still:
I am here the pastor leader for the Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church, as well as I am a native of Camden. I don’t reside here anymore, but I still love the city. My heart is here in the city, in the house of the Lord, and outside in the community.
Collins II:
And today we’re here in Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church that you serve at. But we’re here at a specific event for Camden County OEO. What has your connection to this organization been like through the years?
Rev. Still:
I have also been a recipient of some of their programs in the city of Camden. So through the years they have always been in the community, very visible, helping the community, assisting with the needs of their seniors, the youth, and the poor with their health. And so, I live around the corner from the main office of the OEO, so it was easy to drop in whenever I needed to. Now, through the church, through this ministry we have under our women’s ministry, we do health and wellness. And so, our connection there is to connect back with the partners in the community so that we can help the community grow not only healthy, but as well as their spiritual growth.
Collins II:
Okay, so there seems to be a community partnership with Camden County OEO in some capacity with Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church, and you utilize each other as a resource.
Rev. Still:
Yes, as a resource is great.
Collins II:
So in the next 3 to 6 months, what kind of, initiatives do you foresee for this relationship of Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church and Camden County OEO.
Rev. Still:
So the initiatives that we would see is the programs that they offer that where we can inform our congregants as well as other community members, about what’s available to them through OEO, as well as us going out and assisting in the needs, helping others, maybe to teach them life skills and to navigate and to help people see where their spiritual formation comes from.
Collins II:
What would you like to say to the readers of The Anointed News Journal?
Rev. Still:
To the readers, I would like to say our community is important, our presence is important, and that we should be out there seeing what the needs are so that we can address the needs and to cultivate a better community for all humankind.
In conclusion, Camden County OEO, under the new leadership of James Wynn, remains committed to addressing the needs of low-income families in Camden City and Camden County, continuing the legacy of service established by Arnold Byrd. With a strong focus on sustainability, community partnerships, and expanding business opportunities, the organization is adapting to changing circumstances. As they work to empower residents and ensure long-term community impact, OEO calls on the public to collaborate and support their efforts in creating lasting change for those in need.
By Christopher Collins II