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.
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 […]
The Rutgers Camden Campus Center was transformed into a high-energy hub of professional development last week as Hopeworks hosted its third annual HOPE Summit. Headlined by Truist Bank, the event served as a critical bridge between young adults in the region and some of the most influential employers in the Greater Philadelphia area. The summit is a cornerstone of […]
Headlined by Truist Bank, the event removed access barriers to career readiness, connecting Camden, NJ – March 16, 2026 – On Thursday, March 12, Hopeworks, a social enterprise dedicated toempowering young adults to establish living wage careers, hosted its third annual HOPE Summit at theRutgers Camden Campus Center. Headlined by sponsor Truist Bank, the summit […]
