October has been a wonderful month for Hopeworks. We are happy to share that we now have a full life readiness team! Life readiness is so critical to Hopeworks mission and with a full team of coaches, we’ll be able to be even more effective in helping youth address patterns, set goals, and enhance their skills and professionalism to earn jobs that will lead to a sustainable future!
Join us in welcoming our new life readiness coach, Lawrence Burden. Lawrence comes to us with an incredible array of experience in helping young people change their lives. As Coordinator of Residential Services for Youth Consultation Services, Lawrence managed all aspects of a high touch residential placement for youth. As the Fathers on Track, Program Coordinator for our friends at South Jersey Perinatal Collaborative, Lawrence mastered motivational interviewing and used that expertise to help fathers and families change their lives.
We are also extremely excited to bring Alia Sutton-Bey on board as our new Director of Operations and Youth Development!
Alia brings over two decades of community development and program management experience. Most recently, she led the JEVS AmeriCorps TechServ Scholars program, working directly with some of our own Hopeworks youth, as well as managing the program across multiple locations, including Philadelphia, Camden, and Harrisburg. Prior to working at JEVS, Alia led multiple recreation centers in Philadelphia, managing large, complicated teams and interacting with communities to build programs that support youth and families. Alia has also worked with several nonprofits and schools developing programs to meet the needs of youth they serve, including extensive experience in trauma-informed practice.
Finally, Alia is a strong supporter of cultural and performing arts. She is the founder of the Philadelphia based nonprofit, African Diaspora Arts Collective, INC (ADAC). ADAC is committed to the preservation and education of traditional and contemporary African art forms.
Needless to say, we are lucky to have Alia bring all of her expertise to Hopeworks to help strengthen our programs and create lasting impact!
Several years ago, I was searching for restaurant jobs online with no clear direction, when a friend recommended Hopeworks. This nonprofit social enterprise is dedicated to training young adults in the technology fields that will propel them into living-wage careers. Before learning more about the Hopeworks program, I was skeptical that I would achieve success. […]
Bree can take time to celebrate now, but her journey to success wasn’t always smooth sailing. Despite a long history of healthcare experience, job opportunities dried up, leaving her feeling lost. But Bree was determined to chart a new course, and refused to let setbacks define her. With unwavering dedication and a willingness to ask […]
The work that we do here is centered around elevating the professional and personal lives of our young professionals, breaking the cycle of poverty, and placing amazing young adults in living wage permanent jobs! In the midst of doing that work, we are often recognized by publications, media, and other organizations. We truly appreciate any […]
