Hopeworks is excited to announce the creation of the Hopeworks Scholarship Fund.  The goal of the program is to provide five annual $1,000 scholarships to Hopeworks youth who are in college. Each of the scholarships will require a $22,000 funding commitment.  We are excited to announce that the first scholarship has been fully funded!  The scholarship will be competitive and require a written essay from a youth.  All current and former Hopeworks youth who have either completed their personal website, worked in production or held a job with us, are eligible.  This is an exciting moment for us, as our need for a scholarship fund means that we have youth who are successfull in college!  Yeah!  Hope is alive!

Hopeworks is producing a 36 x 24 foldable street map of the City Of Camden.  This is an exciting project that the Hopeworks GIS department is spearheading.  We have created a youth sales team that has sold almost $30,000 in ads for the map!  The team includes Michael Osborne and Rebecca Schelmety who have been meeting with clients and designing the ads. Beginning in June, the map will be distributed at key places throughout Camden.  Stay tuned for more!

Sedale Brown and Mercedes Hedgepeth are two of Hopeworks' Day Trainees who cannot be stopped!  They are both attending Hopeworks full time and also working full time!  This means that both are attending Hopeworks everyday from 9:00am-3:30pm in addition to working a job outside of the time they spend at Hopeworks.  Here is an interview with the two dedicated and fun loving trainees!

Where do you work?  What are your hours?

Sedale: I work at McDonalds in East Camden.  My hours are 10pm-6am, at least 5 days a week and attend Hopeworks from 9-3:30pm each day.

Mercedes: I work at K-Mart in Brooklawn.  My hours are 4pm-10pm, at least 5 days a week and attend Hopeworks from 9-3:30pm each day.

What is the motivation for you to have such demanding commitments?

S: I want to be successful in the future.  I also want to set a good example for the people who look up to me, including my little brothers.  Plus I enjoy the money.

M: My energy and personality keep me going.  I also know where I want to be in the future and how much work it is going to take to get there.

What have you learned about life and yourselves through such a demanding schedule?

S: I have learned that life takes patience and determination.  I will never give up and always keep moving forward.

M: Obtaining your goals and dreams is difficult.

To continue reading this inspiring interview, click here!

March was “Movie Month”  at Hopeworks as 6 trainees completed their own Digital Stories.  After writing, rewriting and re-rewriting again their own personal essays with Literacy Director Shawn Mack, trainees then recorded their essays on tape.  These recordings then became the narration track for each of their films.  Trainees used pictures, music and effects to tell their own powerful and unique stories.  You can check them out at www.hopeworks.org/film.  Congratulations to  Sedale Brown, Mercedes Hedgepeth, Terrill Chandler, Melinda Rios, Angel Santana, and Pat Harris!

Below is a heartfelt article written by Mario Arriola after he received his acceptance letter to Le Moyne College:

When I found out that I was accepted to Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY, it was like I was in a dream; a dream that I never thought was going to happen.  I was excited and nervous at the same time. I felt excited because I am the only person in my family to fulfill any type of post secondary education and I felt nervous because it meant that I am going to have to live away from home. Regardless of the fact that I was, and still am, nervous, the excitement is the thing that is going to help me begin the next chapter in my life, one DREAM at a time.

Deron Bunton started as a Literacy Volunteer at Hopeworks in the latter part of 2008 and quickly became one of the 'regulars', coming every week to provide academic assistance for our trainees. The youth working with Deron enjoy the level of energy and consistency he brings.  His easy going manner, patience, and genuine interest in the lives of youth are evident.  In addition to tutoring each week, Deron was instrumental is adding to the Hopeworks family.  It was “D” who helped us acquire“Mac” and “PC”.  Deron, thank you for your hard work and dedication to the youth of Hopeworks. 

In March, the Hopeworks' Board approved the go-ahead for Stage II of our proposed residential program.  The proposed program is targeted to Hopeworks youth who are 18 to 23 years old.  It will seeks to create a youth community where 8 to 12 youth will live while continuing to work at Hopeworks, attend college and have business internships.  A report is due to the board in September.

Our goal this summer is to create 25 summer jobs for the youth of Camden.  These employees will be working for our GIS and WEB departments.  Hopeworks 3rd Annual Subscription Drive has gotten off to a great start!   If you would like to purchase a subscription or find out more about this opportunity, please check out our link: www.hopeworks.org/jobs and print out a form. Remember, the proceeds of the subscription drive go toward funding summer jobs for our Hope Through School youth.  Also, please consider becoming a seller for the Subscription drive.  Selling ten copies of the subscription will earn you two extra chances to win during the month of June!!

Hopeworks Video crew has been on location throughout the state of New Jersey this month, shooting interviews for a video we are producing for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of New Jersey.  Staff members Sean Dougherty, Rachel Burns, Sabrina Gomez and trainees Angel Santana and Steven Carmichael have taped Bigs and Littles from Atlantic City to Princeton and from Sussex County to Cape May.  Shooting should wrap up this month with the final production to premier in May!

Hopeworks Celebrations
We celebrated St. Patrick's Day in fine style---even having some Green Bread thanks to Father Jeff!

And Tarren's Birthday at Hopeworks:

Patrick Keenan attended the Salesforce.com Administration Essentials course offered in Philadelphia two weeks ago.  This four day learning experience prepares him to assist Father Jeff in customizing and controlling the various functions of Salesforce.com through which we run all of our operations with trainees, clients and donors.

Since January Hopeworks has been working closely with volunteers from the Romero Center.  Volunteers have helped to pass out flyers, clean and reorganize areas of Hopeworks. Thanks to all the Romero Center Volunteers for the gift of their time.

Thank You To All Of The Foundations And Corporations That Support Hopeworks Through Grants And To Our Many Generous Benefactors!

Upcoming Events:

4/8:  Alicia's Birthday!

4/12:  Edwin's Birthday!

4/13: Steven's Birthday!

4/14: Staff Day - No day training; GEB & HTS report at regular time

View Our Latest Client

Merchantville-Pennsauken Water Commission

Keep an eye out for these upcoming sites:

Big Brothers Big Sisters NJ
Goodwill NJ
Center for Non Profits
Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate
House of Prayer
Triad Associates