Father Jeff Putthoff, SJ, has lived and worked in Camden, NJ for the last nine years. He is currently the Executive Director of Hopeworks ‘N Camden. Hopeworks is a youth technology portal using the technologies of web site design/development and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to work with youth in Camden New Jersey. Hopeworks is a direct response to the current youth crisis that exists in Camden. In North Camden, where Hopeworks office is, over 50% of the people are under 18, only 25% of adults have a high school diploma and the per capita income is $5700. There is an estimated 70% dropout rate from the public high schools in the city of Camden while 53% of all youth live below the poverty line. These factors combine to make life very challenging for young people. The Hopeworks’ program is a direct response to this situation.

Father Jeff Putthoff, SJ has been a Jesuit priest for 9 years and has been a Jesuit for 20 years. He holds a bachelor’s in philosophy from Saint Louis University, a Masters in English from Loyola Chicago, a Masters of Divinity and a Masters of Theology from Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is currently studying at the University of Pennsylvania for a degree in Organizational Dynamics.