Ashley Pena & Rosemary Irizarry Hired Full-Time at Ozitus International!

Rosemary and Ashley both came to Hopeworks a few years ago as high school students in a previous program called ‘Hope Through School.’ They both completed Hopeworks training, both earned internships, and quickly became important members of our GIS Team. It was through Hopeworks that Ashley and Rosie became very close friends and wonderful teammates; and coincidentally, just last month, they were both hired full-time, and at the same company!

Rosie is an SAU Analyst at Ozitus International and relies heavily on skills in ArcMap 10.1 that she learned right in our GIS Department at Hopeworks. Rosie says, “Hopeworks gave me a whole new view of the professional world. Hopeworks also taught me how to take care of myself in some of my hardest times.”

Ashley also uses the skills she has learned at Hopeworks in her job at Ozitus, as a Surveillance Technician and GIS Analyst. Ashley says the atmosphere at her new job is different from Hopeworks, but she is ready for the challenge of a new environment, saying “Hopeworks showed me to take opportunities, to reach out and have a voice as an individual and a professional; Hopeworks taught me that just because I may need help, it does not mean I am not capable.”

Although we all miss Ashley and Rosie, we are very excited for their blossoming careers and their interest in staying involved with Hopeworks through our Alumni Network.

August 4, 2025
Purpose. Possibility. Progress. Celebrating 25 Years with Luis Olivieri

How do you build a future rooted in purpose and possibility? For Luis Olivieri, Director of GIS (Geographic Information System) at Hopeworks, it begins by creating real opportunities and watching young adults rise to meet them. In Part 3 of our "25 Years, 3 Voices, 1 Mission" series, Luis reflects on how hands-on GIS work has not only […]

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August 4, 2025
Money, Mentorship & Mock Interviews: Banking on Our Future

This month, we had not one but two amazing volunteer engagements with longtime partners Citizens Bank and TD Bank, and they did not disappoint! These organizations continue to show up in powerful ways to support our young professionals. At Citizens Bank, our young professionals got the inside scoop, teller tips, interview prep, and money knowledge straight from […]

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August 4, 2025
Two Cities, One Mission: Spreading Hopeworks Mission Nationwide

July was a big month for Hopeworks, and we brought our mission coast to coast! In Denver, our very own Paishants DePalma and Pecola King joined the HFMA Annual Conference to dive into the latest trends in healthcare finance. From strategy to innovation, they connected with changemakers shaping the future of healthcare and brought back ideas to strengthen our […]

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