HOPEWORKS 'N CAMDEN - Expanding the Futures of Youth

Title: GIS Education for Jobs and Community Development

Author: Matthew Grove Organization: Hopeworks 'N Camden

Co-Author: Jeff Putthoff Organization: Hopeworks 'N Camden

ABSTRACT

Hopeworks 'N Camden is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to using technology as a means to youth empowerment and community development. Hopeworks focuses on youth ages 14-23 who are either in high school or current dropouts, teaching the basics and complexities of GIS using ArcGIS, ArcPad, and ArcIMS. In addition, the trainees collect information about the community in which they live (locations of vacant housing, streetlights, street trees, etc.), providing a service to other organizations working in the City of Camden, New Jersey. This presentation addresses the specifics of creating and running such a program for at-risk youth.