Luis Calderon came to Hopeworks after receiving the disappointing news that he was not going to graduate high school. He struggled a lot throughout high school but it was never because of academic challenges. He had trouble showing up in the midst of the difficulties that were going on at home. He was devastated when he learned just three weeks before graduation that despite passing grades, he did not have enough credits to get his diploma and would have to repeat his senior year of high school. Coming to Hopeworks was an opportunity for him to start fresh and get his GED. He had no intention of returning back to high school and found excitement in being able to learn more about coding while working toward earning his high school diploma. In just two months, Luis not only passed all five sections of the HiSet, earning him his diploma, but also completed the web design training at Hopeworks.
When asked what advice he would give to others, he says “no matter the troubles life throws at you, always push on and that is what I will do for the future.” Being at Hopeworks helped Luis learn to push forward despite his setbacks. Luis plans to enroll in college and study computer programming and engineering.
This month, our partners showed up in a big way to support our young professionals! Aramark Career Exploration DayOur young adults visited Aramark’s Philadelphia HQ for an exciting day of career discovery. From industry panels to hands-on workshops, they gained real-world insights into IT, innovation, and hospitality—and some were already eyeing job openings before the […]
We’re thrilled to announce that tickets are officially on sale for the Hopeworks 25th Anniversary Reception—a special evening honoring the young adults, partners, and community members who have shaped our journey. September 25, 2025Collingswood Ballroom, Collingswood, NJPurchase Tickets Now » This milestone event will include a cocktail reception, awards dinner, and powerful storytelling from the Hopeworks […]
Building a top-performing RCM team from scratch is no easy task, but it's exactly what Pecola King, Hopeworks’ Director of Revenue Cycle Management, has done again and again. When Pecola relocated to Arkansas, she inherited a team with zero billing experience. Within one quarter, she transformed that team into the top-performing RCM unit - hitting every KPI and setting […]
