Wednesday, December 10th

10:00 - 3:00

TAKE A TOUR! MEET OUR YOUTH!
TRY OUR HOMEMADE BREAD, CAKES AND COOKIES!
Stop by to connect with old and new staff,learn about recent achievements and new projects, and enjoy homemade treats.

On November 14th Hopeworks was honored to be recognized as the Charity Spotlight at a Business Clubs of America Hospitality Breakfast in Philadelphia.   Father Jeff and and our senior production trainee, Wesley Perez, spoke about Hopeworks and the work that is accomplished here every day.  The talk was met with great enthusiasm, encouragement, and support.  Hopeworks made a proud presence at  the event with six Hopeworks youth, five staff members, one Board member, and one literacy volunteer mingling with BCA members and talking about Hopeworks.  Everyone thought it was a great opportunity to network with successful business people who were interested in what we are doing and the achievements of our youth. Thank you BCA for this opportunity!

Janina's Scores Surge!

Janina's hard work is creating amazing results.  In the three months since she started at Hopeworks, she has gained 3.8 grade levels in computative math. She has worked very hard to accomplish this, putting in extra hours in literacy and then studying at home. She has exemplified our learning to learn motto, and we are SO proud of here. Click here (info@hopeworks.org) to congratulate Janina!

New Christus Academy Group

Hopeworks recently welcomed a new group from Christus Lutheran Academy to begin technology training.  Geehem, A'shanti, Malcolm and Brendan are all moving along quickly.  Everyone has completed Internet Basics, earning 3 college credits, and three have completed our Photoshop curriculum already! We are excited to welcome them to the Hopeworks family!

Wesley's Graduates From Camden Day

On November 19th Wesley graduated from Camden Day Program, a residential group home program in Camden. Hopeworks youth and staff showed their support by attending the ceremony.  During Wesley's speech, he talked about how much he appreciated the connection that Camden Day made for him to Hopeworks.  His counselor warned Father Jeff that with Wesley's ambition and talents he will soon take over as Executive Director at Hopeworks. On January 21st, he begins his first college class and Camden Catholic.  There were tears in his mother's eyes when they announced his college plans at the graduation.

In our unending exploration of the “Cloud,” Hopeworks is beginning to explore open source solutions involving Linux and Google Apps.  On December 29th, youth will be learning about Linux with the challenging and exciting task of resurrecting “older” computers that they will reconfigure with Linux and take home.  For those of you now familiar with Linux, the operating systems is robust, fast and efficient. Computers with Linux are great cost savers and allow users the full advantage of the Internet.  We are excited for this training and especially grateful to Chris Larsen and all at IT Evolution for making it possible!

One of Hopeworks youth, Sil, uses poetry as an alternative means for expressing his feelings and emotions.  He has shared some with Hopeworks:

I walk this road alone because I chose to.....world shattered...heart ravaged by  

devastation....my mind knows not the depths of peace or the tranquility that lies within...I was told that once upon a time my transgressions were paid in full that my sins were paid for in full...that these same sins lay at the bottom of a sea of glass.... If this is so...then why..why do my memories still haunt me are these things that I myself haven't forgiven..myself for...? Is it my fault...that I am not able to forget...Is it my fault that the things I have buried in the depths of that sea have somehow made it to the surface? Is it my fault that I can't shake my past...I look at those sins as vast and numerous as the stars in the sky laying on the surface of that sea...smile and let go walking away from them knowing that I am forgiven...

Everyone at Hopeworks contributed to making the Hopeworks' Thanksgiving Feast a memorable, filling, and refreshing time.  The meal began with everyone sharing what they are grateful for.  The emotional words brought lots of smiles and tears to the many different members of the Hopeworks family.  At the end of the meal, bellies were full and the leftover food was donated to a nearby shelter for homeless men.  It was clearly evident that Hopeworks is more than just a place where people come to learn and work.  It is a community full of belief, support, and hope. 

Last year marked a landmark achievement for Hopeworks. We created the first map of Camden in 20 years.  Hopeworks is proud to announce that it is beginning to work on the 2009 version of the Camden Street map. The sales team of Wesley, Sil, and Anthony are currently taking advertising orders for the map. Click here to learn more. 

The second floor at Hopeworks is really filling up!  Anthony, Sil, and Chris passed the production test this month and have all moved from the training room to the second floor. They are now working on their template training and will soon be helping the GIS and Web Directors on client work.   Sil says that he is excited to be upstairs and to continue building on the skills that he learned in training. We would like to congratulate all three young men on this awesome accomplishment!

Mtaya

MSMI

Grace of God

Hopeworks launching new Website!

We are getting ready to launch our new Hopeworks web site! Keep your eyes open and check for updates!

A new Hopeworks

College Tour Video is released

Sean Dougherty and Father Jeff visited four Hopeworks youth attending college in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.  Click here to watch the video!

Hopeworks represented

at GIS conference

GEB Team members Nefertiti Bryant and Adriana Castro accompanied GIS Director Tarren Anderson to a "GIS Day" event hosted by Burlington County College.  Nefertiti and Adriana spoke about the projects they managed to a crowd of GIS professionals and students. Tarren also presented on Hopeworks’ GIS program and some of the other projects currently in the works.  Along with giving their presentation, the Hopeworks delegation was treated to several other presentations by GIS professionals ranging from 3D modeling to oblique photography.  It was a great experience for all involved.  Many thanks to the hosts at Burlington County for a great GIS Day experience.

Volunteers Needed!

Hopeworks is looking for literacy volunteers!  If you are interested in volunteering in our Hope Through School program (Mon-Thurs 3:45-6:00), contact Shawn Mack, Literacy Director at 856.365.4673 or visit our website at www.hopeworks.org.

Flash from the Past

Leigh Ann, Hopeworks past Literacy Director, is currently teaching in Methacton, PA.  She still cherishes her Hopeworks' connection.  She was photographed by the Philadelphia Inquirer while celebrating the monumental Barack Obama Presidential victory and wearing her Hopeworks T-shirt.

Our Literacy Director, Shawn Mack, attended the NJEA Conference

Shawn participated in the Technology Integration Showcase which had two sections that specifically related to current strands of education at Hopeworks: Google Applications: A Case Study and Voice Thread: Digital Storytelling Made Easy and Fun.

Father Jeff and Patrick enjoyed the Salesforce Conference in San Francisco

FJ and Patrick attended the 2008 DreamForce Conference hosted by Salesforce.com in San Francisco where they explored new and exciting ways to use Salesforce in our Youth Development projects.  Hopeworks has been using Salesforce for a little more than one year, and the possibilities for expanding it's effectiveness continues to grow.

Special Visitor, Kerry Benson from the PFM Group

Mr. Benson, the Chief Information Officer at the PFM Group, shared lunch and words of wisdom with Hopeworks' youth.  He talked about planting "Seeds for Success" in seven different aspect of our lives.  Youth enjoyed the fact that they could relate to Mr. Benson and his childhood in Brooklyn.  Thank you for spending time with us, Mr. Benson!

Holiday Donation to Hopeworks

Please consider a gift to Hopeworks during this Holiday season.  Make a gift donation in someone's name or ask friends to support us.  Click here for a link to our donation page.

Thank You to All of the

Foundations and Corporations

that Support Hopeworks through Grants and to Our Many Generous Benefactors!

Mellon Bank
Maryland Province of Jesuits

Lutheran Synod Grant

Philadelphia Foundation

PSE&G

Commerce Bank
Citizens Bank

Knight Foundation

CPAC

Will and Jada Smith Foundation

Anonymous Supporters

Keep an eye out for these upcoming sites:

PRUP
Food Bank of Delaware
Rhoderunners Construction
Resurrection Rye
Camden Firehouse
Camden Printworks
Elizabeth Seton Academy
Pat Peters
Father McKenna Center
Mother of God House of Prayer
New Jersey Academy of Aquatic Sciences
Center for Non Profits
Premiere Bookeeping