In many ways, the scene was a familiar one at Hopeworks -- youth and community members, huddled over screens, learning to code and to use technology to change their lives. However, it was different than a normal day at Hopeworks for two key reasons.
First, it wasn’t just Hopeworks youth learning. As we do every year, Hopeworks opened it doors to aspiring coders from 6 to 60 to come and learn to code by participating in workshops led by Hopeworks alumni and volunteers from companies in the area, including EPAM, Subaru, Linode, Rutgers, OceanRingTech, and many others.
Second, coding wasn’t all that was in store for the day. In the afternoon, Hopeworks held its first ever pitch competition, awarding over $3,500 in prizes to Hopeworks alumni who have started their own businesses. The prize money came from the Thomas family, the family of a Hopeworks alumna, in memory of Aaron Thomas. When Aaron Thomas passed away, the family dedicated all donations in his memory to Hopeworks to support youth entrepreneurship. This pitch competition was the first step!
The alumni businesses pitched included marketing and design companies, web design services, and many others! You can see a video of the entire event here!
Check out pictures from the entire day here
We’re turning 25, and it’s time to celebrate! Hopeworks is officially a quarter-century strong, and what a journey it’s been. Here’s what we’ve accomplished in 25 years: Opened two locations, doubling the impact for young adults in need.Helped countless young professionals earn degrees, diplomas, and certifications.Prepared young professionals to land living-wage jobs and build brighter […]
Hitting the 5-year mark is no small feat—it’s a testament to the talent, heart, and unstoppable drive of our amazing team members. These milestones aren’t just numbers; they’re five years of changing lives, building dreams, and shaping brighter futures. Thank you for making every day at Hopeworks a little more extraordinary! Dan Krause - 5 […]
Holman and Subaru go beyond partnership—they lead the way in creating life-changing opportunities for our young professionals! From insightful "Listen and Learn" sessions with their executive teams to mock interview days, panels, and speaking engagements, they’ve helped develop the next generation of young professionals. Special shout out to Subaru who hired our social enterprises for several different services […]
