CAMDEN – As a young child, Kirah Boyd never saw herself earning a living by crocheting.
“There was a friend I had in middle school who pulled out a crochet hook and some yarn,” Boyd said. “I was looking at her, like, ‘What are you doing?’”
But once Boyd picked up the same tools, she said she was, well, hooked. Roughly a decade later, she started her own business, Hooked On Kirah, which she said provides wearable art made using those tools, teaches crochet at senior centers and organizes events showcasing the pastime.
Then there’s Michaela Goins, who also had a moment that helped shape her career path.
“One day, I wore one of my favorite sweaters, and everyone loved it,” Goins said. “They asked me if I sold them. I didn't, but (realized) I could.”
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 […]
