Grace Manning leads a program helping land young professionals work at companies like Subaru.
Grace Manning is director of employer and alumni relations at Hopeworks, a nonprofit organization based in Philadelphia and South New Jersey, offering workforce development programs to young adults.
Through training programs, paid internships, and placement services with local employers, Hopeworks helps young, diverse professionals ages 17 to 26 get their foot in corporate America’s door. As director of employer and alumni relations, Manning helps place Hopeworks’ participants (usually 150 at any given time) land work at companies including Subaru, public utility company American Water, and cloud computing firm Akamai.
“I act as, essentially, like a headhunter for our young professionals in our program, and for our partners, I act as kind of a no-fee staffing agency,” she said of her role. In 2021, Manning also developed the nonprofit’s alumni network, which offers support with career advancement and mentorship, salary negotiation, and even planning for homeownership.
“Part of our goal is…we’re putting them into roles, and they’re getting into positions where they work for great companies that have some of those resources. But even then, we have some alumni who work for some pretty large organizations, it can be hard to figure out how to navigate that,” she said. “So [we’re] acting as a continued mentor, career coach for them, to advocate for themselves, and find those spaces.”
Read the full article here.
Join us for the 2nd Annual transformative experience at the H.O.P.E Summit on Friday, March 21, 2025, tailored to empower young professionals - proudly supported by The Campbell’s Company! This event provides tools, insights, and connections to excel in your professional journey. What to expect? Who should attend? A special thank you to our other sponsors: Holman (Mock […]
Throughout February, we honored Black pioneers who have shaped healthcare, GIS, and beyond. In case you missed it, here’s a look at some of the incredible leaders we highlighted: Black history is happening every day, and we’re proud to celebrate these trailblazers paving the way for future generations. Stay tuned for more #BHM highlights on our social media!
February has been a month of incredible achievements for Hopeworks young professionals and alumni! We’re thrilled to celebrate the successes of: Amidst these incredible achievements, we’re also shining a spotlight on Michael Nguyen, a talented young adult whose journey is a testament to growth and perseverance. Michael initially came to Hopeworks looking for a fresh start […]
