By: Isaiah S. Showell, Follow South Jersey Multimedia Journalist/’What’s Good’ Host
VINELAND, N.J. — Imagine a place where young boys and girls can come and be surrounded by an environment that promotes positive outcomes in their lives because of the positive role models that are present. Well, that’s the best way to describe Eden.
Eden co-owner Brahim Renfroe is elated at how many young boys and girls come to this place instead of occupying the streets.
“People come around and turn up for all types of things but to finally have the turn up for Jesus is what I’ve been really waiting for,” said Renfroe.
Located at 716 E. Landis Avenue in Vineland, Eden is a place where you can hear the name of Jesus Christ being mentioned several times. Ambassadors for Christ is what a lot of the staff at Eden are, and they are comprised of a few organizations: Kings Men, Hope for Hank, and Brighter Paths.
Dr. Amanda Nnachetam is the director of Brighter Paths and Taviaus Wilson is over at Hope for Hank and Kings Men as well. Eden has manifested through all these organizations to help guide the youth towards a positive perspective of life.
“Eden to me is a place where you find comfort,” said Wilson.
Wilson, also known as T-The Bishop, started Hope for Hank, an organization named after his late brother he lost to gun violence. Wilson wants everyone to attend Eden because he believes it’s for everyone, no matter what they look like or where they come from, and being a man of faith, Wilson believes in being the church; not the building but cultivating community at Eden.
Nnachetam is putting the youth and their mental health as top priority because she feels the children in Cumberland County are being underserved. At Eden she takes 10 minutes with all the kids and does a few mindfulness exercises with them.
“Our community is a mental health desert,” said Nnachetam. “I wanted to find a way to teach my people how to be centered and deal with the stress they go under, it releases the stress of life.”
In order to find out when Eden is meeting next, contact Dr. Amanda Nnachetam or Taviaus Wilson. They can be found on Instagram under their names tthebishop_ or brighterpathsnj.
Eden is definitely What’s Good in South Jersey!
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