You can’t always anticipate every opportunity that may come your way, but when it does, how you respond to it it is up to you. I’ve been connected to Hopeworks for nearly four years now, going through the training, internship, and finally becoming an alumni - working at professional jobs while completing my education. I’ve gotten to see how Hopeworks has grown and expanded and I witnessed the impact Hopeworks has had, not only on the youth that they serve, but the community. When approached with the position for Alumni Coordinator, I was taken aback initially because I was intimidated by having to live up to the amazing job my predecessor had done and worried about matching the drive it took for him to build the alumni council to where it is today.
My position as Alumni Coordinator will involve reaching out to and maintaining contact with individuals who came through Hopeworks, completed their internship, and entered the professional world of their choosing. In addition to communication upkeep, I will be planning our alumni related events including the monthly alumni dinner and the quarterly alumni events. The dinners and events will not only allow Hopeworks to continue to support and encourage the continued growth of our alumni, but also provide a space for alumni to remain in touch with one another and stay up-to-date on how they are all progressing in their respective fields, and be a resource for each other and for current trainees and interns. I am looking forward to officially working alongside the outstanding staff and phenomenal youth as well as Hopeworks amazing alumni.
In this series, Michelle Cheang, director of Catalyze, sat down with alumni and current participants of Catalyze-supported career-connected learning programs. Through in-depth conversations, Michelle and the learners discuss their experiences, growth and career goals. In the following videos, we'll hear directly from EJ Garcia, a learner at Hopeworks, about how he has developed his career […]
This episode of The Water Online Show focuses on the water industry's workforce shortage. Hopeworks, a training organization, is addressing this challenge by partnering with utilities like American Water. Hopeworks identifies employer needs, trains young professionals, and places them in well-suited roles. This innovative approach is helping to bridge the skills gap and ensure a […]
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 […]
