Two more Hopeworks alumni -- Pabel Arizaga and Chris Newbill -- are continuing their professional journey with full time positions at American Water, right here in Camden!
After serving time in the military, Pabel returned home and tried finding employment that fit him, but the jobs did not work out. Ready for a change, Pabel heard about Hopeworks from his mom and his sister and decided to give it a try. Coming to Hopeworks, Pabel worked hard to complete the training, and became a leader on the GIS team, even earning his drone pilot certification as he worked on projects for American Water, Comcast, and other customers. Now, he is taking those skills to American Water as a full time GIS Technician!
Chris found out about Hopeworks through his mom and sister as well. He came to Hopeworks because he was feeling directionless and did not know what his next step would be. Chris did not have the easiest time when he first joined Hopeworks. He described his first few weeks as frustrating, discouraging, and overwhelming. He even admits to being ready to quit at one point. He decided to stick with it because, as he shared, “I realized somewhere along the way that I could not just keep quitting on things.”
Chris has made the most of his time at Hopeworks. He moved from trainee to an intern in our GIS department, where he demonstrated such a high level of skill that he was offered a full time position at Hopeworks working on our American Water contract. Now, he is using those same skills -- at a much higher pay rate -- at American Water, working on their GIS Team.
Congratulations to both Chris and Pabel on their huge growth!
Helping disadvantaged young adults in the U.S. to overcome barriers to economic opportunity and secured sustained long-term employment Hopeworks was founded in New Jersey in 1999 to help young adults overcome barriers to economic opportunity and build sustainable futures. Most participants do not have college degrees, and 99% of them are unemployed when they join […]
$1.2M Commitment from The Hg Foundation Enables Hopeworks’ Expansion into Two New Cities The Hg Foundation, a grant-giving charity focused on improving tech education and skills, today announced a new $1.2 million partnership with Hopeworks, a U.S. social enterprise that supports young adults into long-term living wage careers. The partnership will enable Hopeworks to expand its […]
Check out our Camden office full of energy, creativity, and hustle at our Pop-Up Shop Lunch Event! Our incredible young adults showcased and sold their original art, handmade jewelry, delicious food desserts, and so much more. From eye-catching booths to mouthwatering treats, every table told a story of passion, talent, and entrepreneurship. Proud to support […]
