In a city high in poverty and crime, Anthony Ways and Nyemah Gillespie are two Camden, NJ natives stepping to rebuild their city. Falsely accused of murder and sentenced to 40 to life Anthony Ways would go on to have his conviction was overturned in 2004 by the New Jersey state Supreme Court. Deeply impacted by his experience Mr. Ways would go on to create a number of successful businesses aimed at improving the quality of life for individuals in his city. Nyemah is the Owner & Director of Dare 2 Dance, LLC. Anthony Ways would enlist the assistance of fellow community leader Nyemah Gillespie to bring one such business to life. DARE Academy is the result of this collaboration, located at 1656 Kaighn Avenue is DARE Academy which houses a collection of programs and organizations curated by local leaders and professionals has become a resource center for the community. DARE Academy’s website makes clear the purpose of these programs and partnerships is “heal, excite, prepare and educate our youth and community.”
Since its inception DARE Academy has become a staple in the community encouraging community engagement and exemplifying leadership. DARE Academy offers a slew of programs providing opportunities for youth to cultivate their talents in a number of disciplines. Dare 2 Dance is a dance school catered to stars ages 3-18 interested in Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop the program lasts for 10 month programs starting in September and concluding in June. I Dare to Care Association provides educational, vocational and therapeutic resources to their participants ages 7-adult young ladies. Participants of Dare 2 Care also explore career opportunities as well as learning conflict resolution skills. The campus is also home to WCMD Media, a multimedia platform and resource that allows for local community members to disseminate information to inform and/or entertain. DARE Academy has even opened up its gates by providing affordable rental options to community members needing spaces for small to large scale events These are just several examples of programs the campus offers to the community.
From community services offering free food to hosting Christmas specials with giveaways and live performances DARE Academy has deeply ingrained inself into the culture of Camden NJ. In the short time since its opening DARE Academy has increased community engagement and learning and maximizing the creative talents of the youth, what’s clear is that Anthony Ways and Nyemah Gillespie are doing their part in shaping a pattern of success in Camden. To find out more about DARE Academy visit dareacadcemy.com where you can get updates on upcoming events as well as get insight on the numerous services and resources that they offer.
