Yanlexis Arizaga started the Hopeworks program because she was highly motivated to find work. Being her mother’s right hand woman, she felt the pressure as the oldest daughter in a Hispanic household to support her family both inside and outside of the house. Yanlexis also grew up in a home where she worried about the physical and emotional safety of herself as well as the safety of her mother and siblings. Yanlexis has displayed great resilience and continues to turn her adversity into motivation for success.
For Yanlexis, being at Hopeworks has not only been about earning money to support her family, but also about taking steps toward independence so that she has control over her life and what happens to her. Yanlexis learned about Hopeworks through the Superintendent of Camden Schools, Paymon Rouhanifard. In addition to finishing the training, she is also a student in the Entrepreneurship class as one of her many dreams is to have her own business. Upon finishing the training, Yanlexis was just hired as an intern at Urban Promise as a Technology Instructor. She hopes to have the opportunity to teach art at Urban Promise as well. Her dream and purpose in life is to lead and create. Yanlexis strives to have the financial security and creative independence that will help her tell her story and motivate others through her artwork.
Portrait by Yanlexis, done with acrylic and spray paint.
Inspired by Billie Holiday’s Lady Day album cover.
December has been a month of reflection and celebration at Hopeworks as we wrap up a year filled with growth, achievement, and collaboration. Our young professionals have made incredible strides in December alone, landing impactful roles with organizations such as PCS, the City of Camden, the City of Philadelphia, and the IRS! As we look […]
We’re proud to reflect on the incredible work our social enterprises have done with national brands and local organizations alike. This year, we’ve partnered with some amazing clients, including PHL Airport, Subaru, and The City of Philadelphia, providing our young professionals with opportunities to develop skills and grow their careers. These client facing projects have not only […]
This year, our young professionals took a deep dive into the world of tech, and they came up with new skills and fresh perspectives! At Elsevier, they got the scoop from experts in fields like software engineering, data science, UX, and quality assurance. After that, they rolled up their sleeves for hands-on workshops that gave them […]
