What an incredible day at the 2024 Hopeworks Pitch Competition!
We started with an inspiring alumni panel, where Natalie Nieves, Caloua Lowe, Anthony Cole, and Jared Bradshaw shared their experiences as entrepreneurs and the valuable lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Next, six local young entrepreneurs took the stage to pitch their small businesses to a panel of judges.
Congratulations to Yasmine Abdou (The Devils Within Art), our 1st place winner, and Kamiah Gray (Klever Odds & Ends), who earned 2nd place and the Audience Choice Award. Your dedication and hard work were inspiring! A grand total of $8,000 was awarded in cash prizes to our six pitchers.
The day wrapped up with a holiday bazaar featuring over 20 local vendors, where the community came together to shop and support small businesses.
A huge thank you to our judges— Felicia Rinier, Scott Bentley, Ryan T., Wil Reynolds, and Natalie Nieves—and to our sponsors — Block, Citizens, WASSERMAN PROPERTIES LLC, and Primepoint HR & Payroll making this event possible and investing in local entrepreneurs.
Special thanks to Brad Aronson, whose guidance and dedication through our entrepreneurship program ensures our young entrepreneurs are ready to shine on such an important stage.
This year’s competition was our biggest yet—a true celebration of community and the power of local entrepreneurs.
Yasmine's Business: https://lnkd.in/erj_at6c
Kamiah's Business: https://lnkd.in/eNQpa8tP
Gus’s Business: https://www.instagram.com/gus.with.a.camera/
Christian’s Business: https://www.instagram.com/chase215__/
Dalia’s Business: https://www.linkedin.com/in/migdalia-olavarria-869236302/
Destine’s Business: https://www.linkedin.com/in/destine-penn-b01172309/
Hopeworks talent is everywhere! This month, Isabella, Amad, Kaydaysia, and Frank turned training into transformation with new roles at Resintech, Paramount Philly, and Chubb. These wins aren’t just job offers, they’re the start of real careers, built on purpose, skill, and drive. Interested in hiring Hopeworks talent? Contact Riscee Langhorne, Director of Workforce Solutions below!
This month, Hopeworks brought home not one, not two, but three incredible awards! We’re honored to be recognized by Camden Community Partnership with the Community Impact Award, Rutgers Business School of Camden with the Community Partner Award, and the Pinelands Preservation Alliance with the Catalyst of Change Award. Thank you to the great orgs who recognize hope and hard work! Follow us to keep up!
Big thanks to NBCUniversal’s#CreativeImpactLab and Big Picture Alliance for producing a powerful new commercial highlighting Hopeworks' Social Enterprise - Hopeworks Technology Solutions. We support clients while also transforming lives. The commercial showcases our young professionals driving real business results through RCM, Web Development, AI, GIS, and Data Services, all while launching their careers and creating lasting community impact. Click here […]
