Our 2025 Pitch Competition and Holiday Bazaar was held last month, and the results were nothing short of inspiring! Five entrepreneurs presented their businesses to a panel of industry leaders, demonstrating the confidence, innovation, and real-world skills they’ve developed through Hopeworks. The competition ended in a thrilling tie between Zakirah Boyd and Michaela Goins - congratulations to both winners! We also want to celebrate Isabella Cartagena, Zadirah Boyd, and Kymir Smith for participating as well.
After the competition, our Holiday Bazaar brought the energy featuring young adult entrepreneurs selling food, clothing, art, and more! Thank you to everyone who came out and made the day so meaningful. We’re especially grateful to our alumni panelists - Willem Schrieks, Lily McCullough, Yasmine Abdou, and Charlene Newbill - our judges - Grace Manning, Michelle Miller, Wil Reynolds, and Lily McCullough - and our sponsors: Block, Citizens, and VoIP Doctors.
Your support helps our entrepreneurs grow their ideas, expand their opportunities, and build lasting futures.
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 […]
The nonprofit provides paid training, career support and real work to help 17- to-26-year-olds move into full-time jobs averaging $43K a year. In a bright room at Hopeworks Kensington, young adults sit at computers learning to code, build websites and prepare for careers many once thought were out of reach. Some come in unsure of […]
