Rowan University Planning Studio 2025
Clean Air, Green Camden: An Environmental Education Project
In Spring 2025, students from Rowan University’s undergraduate and graduate Planning Studios, offered through the Department of Geography, Planning, and Sustainability, focused on air quality issues and their connection to urban greening initiatives in the City of Camden, NJ. This year’s studio, in collaboration with the Rowan University Community Planning + Visualization Lab and partially sponsored by the EPA, emphasized community education and empowerment. Through public-focused scholarship, including toolkits, case studies, blogs, and YouTube shorts, students translated complex environmental data into accessible and actionable information. The goal was to raise awareness about air quality challenges, highlight the benefits of urban greening, and provide Camden residents with the knowledge and resources to advocate for healthier neighborhoods.
M A J O R O U T P U T S
Community Action Toolkit (Grad Studio)
Final Presentation
Case Study Report (Undergrad Studio)
Coming soon!
Blogs published in South Jersey Climate News
BLOG 1: EMR metal recycling facility fires: A persistent threat to Camden’s air quality by Bradley Leverrett
BLOG 2: Planting hope in Camden: Community fights air pollution and heat with trees by Vin Palmieri
Partners
Sponsors
Faculty Advisor
Mahbubur Meenar, Ph.D.
Geography, Planning, & Sustainability
School of Earth & Environment
Acknowledgment
Alex Darling (Camden Community Partnership, CCP), Jackie Santiago-Vicente (Neighborhood Collaborative Community Gardens, NCCG), Shaneka Boucher (Social Responsibility Through Me, SRTM), Jon Compton & AJ Riggs (Center for Environmental Transformation, CFET), Crystal Wessel & Meredith Pichini (NJ Tree Foundation, NJTF), Ben Saracco (Rowan U. Library), Jason Russack (LifeAire Systems), Dr. Jagadish Torlapati (Rowan U. Civil & Environmental Engineering), Mina Zarfsaz (Rowan U. Art), Dr. Carla Richards (Rowan U. Public Relations)
G R A D U A T E S T U D I O
Team Members (from left): Joe Conte, Makenzie Franco, Vignan Ganji, Hannah Genereux, Bradley Leverrett, Vin Palmieri, & Gabriel Roger
U N D E R G R A D U A T E S T U D I O
Team Members (from left): Noah Bilgrav, Kaitlyn Bradley, Harsh Chavda, Colette Gaeta, Ike Gross (Not pictured), Marquis Hall, Maheen Khan, James King, Matt Mueller, Samantha Ordonez, Collin Petrich, Megan Polifrone, Jude Vernamonti
P H O T O S
Photos captured by the studio members and Dr. Meenar
Tree planting + park cleanup - April 11, 2025
Despite the rain, our tree planting event at Camden’s Liney Ditch Park was a great success! About 25 Rowan students joined community members in this hands-on service learning project. Co-organized by the NJ Tree Foundation, Inc. and the Rowan University Planning Studio, with support from an EPA Environmental Education grant and the Dept. of Geography, Planning, and Sustainability, we planted 17 trees and collected over a dozen bags of trash. This semester, our studio is focusing on air pollution and urban greening in Camden, and studio members are proud to contribute to a healthier, greener city. A special thanks to Vincent Palmieri for serving as a vital liaison between the studio and NJTF!
Class activities, field trip, focus groups