Jordan Shirer joined Hopeworks about 4 months ago, after hearing about our program, and knew that it would be a great opportunity for him to change his life! After completing his training, internship, and a grueling testing and application process, Jordan has been accepted into the Philly Shipyard Apprenticeship Program for welding! This is an intensive 3-year program where he will learn numerous trade skills. Jordan passed a mechanical aptitude test and was chosen out of 400+ applicants!
“The welding trade is vast and very necessary right now. In 3 years I can see myself possibly in Georgia with my family starting my career. I also have a brother in the military who has encouraged me to transition my career there as well.”
Jordan’s advice to future Hopeworks trainees and interns is to take the program serious and go at your own pace.
“Take it serious, Hopeworks can honestly help you, and you can go anywhere with it, as long as you come in with the determination to be better for yourself. Take your time and don’t rush, you’re young and have time to figure it out.”
Announces new Skilled Trades Workforce Initiative to prepare the next generation of skilled workers Camden, NJ – September 18, 2026 – Hopeworks, a social enterprise advancing economic mobility through technology training and workforce development, is honored to announce a $1 million investment from Scott Bentley and the Switchpoint Foundation, a philanthropic foundation seeking transformational and […]
Camden, NJ — [September 1, 2026] — Hopeworks, a social enterprise advancing economicmobility through technology training and workforce development, today announced theappointment of Yet He, Treasurer and Head of Financial Planning & Analysis at FactSet, to itsBoard of Directors. Yet brings more than two decades of experience across finance, corporate strategy, mergersand acquisitions, capital markets, […]
New facility builds on proven workforce development model, with Dell Technologies supporting expanded access to AI tools and career readiness training NEWARK, N.J. – July 7, 2026 – Hopeworks announced that its newly established space in Newark, New Jersey is now fully open, with programming officially underway to support young adults entering technology and high-growth […]
