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A view of the renovated Nick Virgilio Writers House as seen from Jasper Street.
The Nick Virgilio Haiku Association is proud to be Camden’s new center for writers of all ages, honoring Camden’s own Nick Virgilio, world renowned haiku poet. The Writers House serves as a community space and provides educational programs to support literacy, creative writing, and self-expression through the writing of haiku and other verse forms. We partner with Mighty Writers to offer educational opportunities to Camden’s children. Outside our home you will find a Book Ark, which is like a mini library that is open to the public. Look out for a community fridge that’s planned to be coming soon as well!
For over a decade, the Nick Virgilio Haiku Association has been searching for a permanent space to continuously offer educational programs, host events, and nurture poets of all ages and backgrounds. After nearly eight years of development, the Nick Virgilio Writers House is open to the public.
The Nick Virgilio Haiku Association is proud to be Camden’s new center for writers of all ages, honoring Camden’s own Nick Virgilio, world renowned haiku poet. The Writers House serves as a community space and provides educational programs to support literacy, creative writing, and self-expression through the writing of haiku and other verse forms. We partner with Mighty Writers to offer educational opportunities to Camden’s children. Outside our home you will find a Book Ark, which is like a mini library that is open to the public. Look out for a community fridge that’s planned to be coming soon as well!
For over a decade, the Nick Virgilio Haiku Association has been searching for a permanent space to continuously offer educational programs, host events, and nurture poets of all ages and backgrounds. After nearly eight years of development, the Nick Virgilio Writers House is open to the public.
The Nick Virgilio Haiku Association would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the Writers House. Their contributions have made this community space possible.
1801 Broadway, at Broadway and Ferry Avenue adjacent to Sacred Heart Church.
Some street parking is available along Broadway, Ferry Avenue, and Jasper Avenue.
Additional parking is available at 1645 Ferry Avenue (Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority Building), two blocks from the Writers House.
We are located directly along the routes of the 401, 402, 412, 450, and 457 NJ Transit buses. Several buses connect easily to the PATCO at or near the Ferry Ave or Freedom Center stops.
Follow us on Facebook or sign up for our email mailing list to hear about new programs and events as they are announced.
If you would like to visit at another time, please contact us.
We are proud to partner with Philadelphia-based Mighty Writers, who offer after school and evening workshops for Camden kids based out of the Writers House. Mighty Writers’ mission is to get kids to think clearly and write with clarity.
Mighty Writers Camden offers programs for elementary, middle, and high school students. Visit the Mighty Writers Camden page to find out more or sign up your child.
Camden Mighty Writers with Program Manager Vanessa Malave.
Copyright © 2025 Nick VIrgilio Haiku Association. All rights reserved.
Alfred taught English to junior and senior high school students in New Jersey and Massachusetts prior to working for the municipal government of the City of Camden, New Jersey. He began working with the City of Camden Department of Planning & Development, Division of Housing Services, as a Cost Estimator for Property Improvement in 1984.
He spent the next thirty-eight years working in both the Division of Housing Services, and the Finance Department Bureau of Grants Management, helping the City administer state and federally funded affordable housing projects in Camden.
Alfred spent ten years working with the Bureau of Grants Management, where he reviewed and evaluated grant applications and proposals for funding from non-profit and for- profit housing developers. These agencies included St. Joseph’s Carpenter Society, Heart of Camden, Camden County OEO, Habitat for Humanity,
Camden Lutheran Housing, RPM Development and others. He also worked with social service agencies such as Dooley House, Respond Inc., Sikora House, Center for Family Services, and Volunteers of America, that applied for grant funding.
He also played a significant role in the planning and implementation of the Annual Consolidated Plan grant application submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development each year. The Bureau holds an annual grant funding seminar along with public meetings and technical assistance sessions concerning the C-Plan.
Working for the City of Camden Division of Housing Services Alfred also served as the coordinator of the federal funded HOPWA housing Program for 14 years.
HOPWA funds provided safe, affordable, secure, housing for persons with HIV/AIDS, by issuing housing vouchers to their participants. He managed the delivery of services to 80-90 clients a year, covering Camden, Burlington and Gloucester counties.
During his time working for the City of Camden Mr. Dansbury was a member of the CPAC Homeless Network Planning Committee, the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Advisory Committee and United Neighbors of Whitman Park.
Outside of his work with the City of Camden, Alfred worked as an Adjunct Instructor of Reading Skills and Writing Skills at Camden County College, teaching at both the Camden and Blackwood campuses. In 2022 Alfred published,
“The Strength of Courage” a novel he embarked on as a graduate student in Rowan University’s M.A. in Writing program in 2014-2018.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Journalism from Rutgers University, a Master’s of Arts degree in Business Administration from Eastern University, a Master’s of Arts in Education from Eastern Michigan University and a Master’s of Arts in Writing from Rowan University.
