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 to
empowering young adults to establish living wage careers, hosted its third annual HOPE Summit at the
Rutgers Camden Campus Center. Headlined by sponsor Truist Bank, the summit featured interactive
workshops, networking opportunities, complimentary headshots, mock interviews, an engaging panel
with local business leaders, and a Pathways Fair designed to help young adults take the next step toward
meaningful careers.
Building on the momentum of previous HOPE Summits, the 2026 event advanced Hopeworks’ mission of
empowering young adults to overcome barriers and access living-wage careers by connecting them with
the skills, networks, and professional development opportunities needed to thrive in today’s workforce.
Throughout the day, participants engaged with leaders from Truist Bank, Dell Technologies, TD Bank,
Holman, Subaru, The Campbell’s Company, Seer Interactive, Elsevier, and more through sessions on soft
skills like building connections, financial literacy, and negotiating salary with confidence, as well as hard
skills such as UX design, AI, marketing, and more. The event also featured remarks from Hopeworks
leadership, corporate partners, Hopeworks alumni, and industry professionals committed to
streamlining career development for the region’s emerging workforce.
“The HOPE Summit is about opening doors and making sure young adults have the skills, confidence and
connections to walk through them,” said Angel Serrano, Senior Director of Development at Hopeworks.
“When employers, community leaders and young professionals come together in one room, powerful
things happen. We’re proud to partner with such outstanding sponsors to create spaces like this that
turn potential into pathways into careers.”
“At Truist, we believe community investment can and should create tangible outcomes,” said Amy
Barton, Vice President of Commercial Banking at Truist Bank. “Hopeworks is doing that by preparing
young adults for long-term success and bringing employers to the table in a meaningful way. The HOPE
Summit is a powerful example of what it looks like when industry leaders prioritize equity in workforce
development.”
Now in its third year, the HOPE Summit builds on Hopeworks’ longstanding mission to equip young
adults with the tools and support needed to secure long-term, living wage careers. Hopeworks’ model
combines technology training, healing and paid real-world work experience, helping young adults
transition into living-wage jobs. More than 90% of young adults earn high-wage jobs at the end of their
work experience, with a 12-month retention rate of more than 92%.
The 2026 HOPE Summit was made possible by the headline sponsor Truist Bank and other generous
sponsors, including TD Bank, Seer Interactive, Holman, Subaru, Ted and Marcia Wasserman, Dell
Technologies, Fulton Bank, NJM Insurance Group, The Campbell’s Company, and VoIP Doctors.
For more information about Hopeworks, please visit www.hopeworks.org and follow Hopeworks on
LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X.
About Hopeworks
Hopeworks is a social enterprise that uses technology, healing, and entrepreneurship to transform
lives. Hopeworks’ unique mix of training and real-world experience is what leads to extraordinary
results. The approach, combined with high-demand, high-wage technical training and paid work
experience is helping to build a workforce that can not only get the job, but keep it, transforming
their lives and the lives of their families.
To provide this experience, Hopeworks runs real businesses, providing technology solutions for
businesses in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Revenue Cycle Management, and web design.
These businesses help generate over 250 jobs a year, and lead to high-wage, permanent
opportunities for young adults in multiple industries.
Hopeworks’ unique combination has led to extraordinary results, with over 90% of young adults
earning high-wage jobs at the end of their work experience with Hopeworks, and a 12-month
retention rate of over 92% at those jobs. 99% of young adults entering Hopeworks are unemployed
and after going through the training program, they have the opportunity to make a livable and
comfortable wage, earning over $43,000 annually.
Media Contact:
Red Thread PR on behalf of Hopeworks
Rachel Ornstein: Rachel@redthreadpr.com
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 […]
CAMDEN – Angel Serrano recalls the candid comment from a corporate manager after conducting a mock interview at a Hopeworks HOPE Summit, which offers career guidance for young people. “Wow, that was impressive,” the manager said of the young person just encountered. Serrano, senior director of development for the nonprofit Hopeworks, told TAPinto Camden in an […]
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