The Camden Coalition has announced its newest cohort of 15 National Consumer Scholars for the 2025/2026 term — a powerful and inspiring group of individuals whose personal experiences within the healthcare and social systems now fuel their advocacy for meaningful change.
These Scholars come from across the country, including voices rooted right here in New Jersey, and bring with them a wealth of lived experience. They’ve faced firsthand the challenges of navigating complex care systems, and now they’re stepping forward as leaders, helping to shape better policies and more compassionate care models for others.
Real People. Real Change.
The National Consumer Scholar program, launched by the Camden Coalition, is more than a leadership initiative — it’s a movement. It elevates the voices of people who have lived through systemic gaps in care and empowers them to co-design solutions that work. From housing insecurity and chronic illness to substance use and mental health challenges, these Scholars have seen the shortcomings of our systems and are uniquely positioned to fix them.
By integrating real-life perspectives into the national dialogue, the Coalition ensures that policymaking and advocacy are informed not just by data and professionals, but by the people who live through the outcomes every day.
This aligns with New Jersey’s growing emphasis on community-first health initiatives and equity-centered approaches to care. These Consumer Scholars are advocates, educators, and catalysts — and their work is already influencing how providers, governments, and support networks across the nation approach complex care.
Why Lived Experience Matters in Health and Social Care
For too long, the healthcare and social services landscape has been shaped without sufficient input from the very people it serves. Programs like the Consumer Scholars initiative flip that script, putting experience at the forefront of innovation.
These 15 new leaders are already working on the ground in their communities, and now, through the Camden Coalition’s national platform, they’ll receive training, mentorship, and support to amplify their impact on a broader scale.
From public speaking to policy writing, advocacy campaigns to community engagement, the Scholars will be actively involved in shaping systems to become more equitable, humane, and effective.
For those who want to explore more local programs and stories related to wellness, recovery, and community health initiatives in New Jersey, visit our Health & Wellness section.
The Bigger Picture: Building a System That Listens
This announcement comes at a time when New Jersey — and the nation — is reckoning with the need for healthcare reform that’s not only innovative but also inclusive. The Camden Coalition, based in the heart of South Jersey, has long been at the forefront of this work. Their focus on complex care and cross-sector collaboration has made them a national model for what’s possible when we bring all voices to the table.
By investing in the leadership of those with lived experience, the Coalition is pushing the entire field forward — and proving that solutions are most powerful when they come from the people closest to the problems.
As the 2025/2026 National Consumer Scholar cohort begins its journey, New Jersey can take pride in being a launching pad for transformational change in healthcare and social advocacy — one story, one voice, and one policy at a time.
