Prison Record Defines Past But Not Always Future
Samyria Parker is a Black female born and raised in Camden, New Jersey, a city with a population of about 71,000, where about 28% live in poverty, according to the U.S. Census. Ms. Parker is one of those 28 percent.
During her youth, Parker got involved in illegal drugs which led to her serving a prison sentence. While behind the prison bars, she took her first culinary class to learn how to prepare food for herself and for the public.
Fortunately for Parker, her drug-based criminal behavior never involved violence to any person or property, just illegal personal drug use and low-level distribution. When arrested, she offered no resistance to law enforcement.
In 2022, Camden created the Camden Food Fund (CFF) to increase local access to fresh, affordable food. The CFF is supported financially by an area “charitable foundation” – tax exempt organizations under state and federal laws since their activities are limited to charitable causes such as decreasing poverty, providing food and services to poor people and many, many other services to low income people; like churches, foundations pay no tax on their income while donors receive a tax deduction for their cash and property gifts to the foundation (which must first be approved by the Federal IRS as a “501c3 charitable, tax exempt organization).
As a new foundation, the Camden Food Fund decided that its limited assets enabled the Fund to award four loans, ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 to “food entrepreneurs” (existing or hopeful small business owners) to support the growth in restaurants available to the public in the Camden area.
After Parker was released from prison, she heard about the Camden Food Fund, applied for a loan and was approved. In addition to upgrading her kitchen equipment, Parker plans to renovate the patio in back for outdoor dining.
Said Parker, “While a prison inmate, I discovered I have a passion for cooking. And the food fund is enabling me to follow my passion.”
Another good fortune for Parker was finding a organization willing to give her a second chance to lead a productive and happy adult life as the owner of the “Breakfast Palace” in East Camden.
Since the loan must eventually be repaid (possibly including an undisclosed, low amount of interest), Parker has a daily incentive to stay away from illegal drugs to devote her full business attention to creating a tasty food environment leading to happy customers and profits to support herself, any employees and repay the CFF loan.
Parker makes it a point to speak frankly about having served prison time for a narcotics offense. “The past does not define you,” she said.
If the Editor ever finds himself in the Camden area, he will definitely head to the Breakfast Palace and congratulate Ms. Parker in person for her determination to move ahead within her optimistic future.
This career story challenge is based on an article written by Kevin Riordan, a Staff Writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper, published 2/17/25.
