Hopeworks is beginning a process of 360-degree feedback. “360-degree feedback” is a human resources term for an individual performance evaluation based on feedback solicited not only from an employee’s supervisors but also from her or his peers and subordinates. The first round of 360′s has been coordinated through a partnership with Worklab Consulting (www.worklab.com).
Thanks to the Alcatel Lucent Foundation and the Comcast Foundation for their support of Hopeworks! Both foundations awarded grants to Hopeworks to continue to create hope and transformation here in Camden. We are most grateful for the gift of these indispensable funds.
Through a creative partnership between Saint Joseph’s University and Hopeworks, Hopeworks staff may enroll in graduate courses at St. Joseph’s University. Under this exciting new partnership, the staff of Hopeworks may enroll in any graduate program at St. Joseph’s and may earn both master’s degrees and doctorates. Hopeworks staff, Yesenia Nieves and Patrick Keenan are the first two staff to take advantage of this learning opportunity. We look forward to the many ways this endeavor will make us stronger.
Hopeworks is proud to present the 2011 Winter Digital Story Film Festival. Our film festivals feature short stories recorded, dubbed, and edited by the youth of Hopeworks, with a range of themes, including the lives and hobbies of the youth and current topics. The festival will take place on Wednesday, February 2nd from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Gordon Theater at Rutgers University in Camden. Download our flyer for more information.
This past month we had to say “good-bye” to JPEG, a dear friend and cat at Hopeworks. When we took him to the vet, he found a lot of fluid in his chest and drained it. We brought JPEG home and kept an eye on him, but his condition grew worse. Although the fluid could have been drained again, JPEG’s health had deteriorated so much that it would have been no use. He did not die as much as continue on to another of his nine lives. On a Sunday afternoon, he passed quietly into feline heaven. A ceremony at Hopeworks was held in his honor. For more than five years, JPEG roamed our building, kept trainees on task and surveyed the scenes. We will miss him.
The second round of poker night kicked off at the CRIB in December. Day trainees and Hope Through School trainees alike joined, and had a great time guessing one another’s poker faces. Youth from St. Joe’s Pro-Cathedral joined the gathering and tried their hands at cards. Experienced players and novices alike were present. There were so many participants, that we opened a second table for beginners. Look for more poker nights in the future.
This Advent, Hopeworks ‘N Camden and artist Mickey McGrath have produced a series of Advent reflections on video, with one of the videos featuring Hopeworks youth and Father Jeff. As a starting point, Brother Mickey showed one of his paintings and explained its symbolism. We then asked people who live or work here in Camden to reflect on the painting in the context of the season of Advent and of their life and work in Camden. The videos feature Bishop Joseph Galante, Bruce Main, president of Urban Promise in Camden, and two students; Father Jeff Putthoff of Hopeworks and two trainees; and others! See the videos at http://www.youtube.com/hopeworks.
Friends, former trainees, clients, grantors, and lots of first-time visitors stopped by Hopeworks during our annual Holiday Open House. The C.R.I.B. was beautifully decorated, and fresh baked cookies, cakes and pies had everyone stopping by the kitchen table over and over again. Thanks to everyone for helping us to celebrate Christmas here in North Camden. Happy New Year!
Community is a top priority of Hopeworks ‘N Camden and the Community Responding in Belief Residence. This priority has led to great success, and, because of this, we find it necessary to extend our sense of community beyond our walls and into the surrounding area. We established the State Street Fellowship for this purpose. Our goal is first to reach out to the nine-block-area around Hopeworks. We want to create bonds with our neighbors, learn what they believe are the major needs and problems of their community, and invite them to events at Hopeworks and the C.R.I.B. to create a sense of community with them. We will incorporate the facts about each parcel, such as who lives there and how they can benefit from Hopeworks, into a map of the project area.
The State Street Fellowship started in September 2010. So far it has been a success: we have interacted with residents, held community meetings, and collected data from residents about neighborhood issues. We have had several successful community events. Seventy neighbors participated in the fun and the face painting at the Halloween Bash at the C.R.I.B. More than ten neighbors attended a single community meeting. The State Street Fellowship has given us the opportunity to connect with our neighbors and to gain their trust, an important element in building relationships and bringing a community together.
In the year 2011, I am hoping for more of Camden’s youth who are ready for the challenge of working toward their DREAMS to join our program. I am also looking forward to having a group of trainees who can be trainers and leaders for our up-and-coming youth. In my opinion, being an example for someone is one of the best ways to learn. We hope to have a building full of examples!
For 2011, I hope to continue to work with our great youth production staff. I also look forward to all the new faces I’ll meet over the course of the whole year. I believe our GIS and web work will continue to serve the community, and our new projects will push the limits of our ability. With the addition of the C.R.I.B. this year, I know that 2011 will be a great year for the production department and for the whole Hopeworks organization.
Lots of hope and excitement to look forward to in 2011, from thousands of tulips reappearing on State Street in the spring, to Hopeworks youth graduating from Camden County and transferring to four-year colleges, to a home full of Hopeworks youth living in the C.R.I.B. However, no DREAM is bigger than the collective D.R.E.A.M.S. (Dynamic Realizable Efforts to Attain And Maintain Success) of all the youth who have yet to step inside Hopeworks and step up to the future that is waiting for them!
During 2011, our formation program will launch new activities and a new curriculum designed to improve the leadership and work readiness of our youth. We are committed to ensuring that every Hopeworks youth is prepared to move into the C.R.I.B. with the attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge necessary to succeed. Even if a youth never moves into the residential community, they are still a part of our community, which responds with belief to every youth’s dream. Therefore, our vision for 2011 is to generate excitement and energy around the youth as leaders and as employees who add value. This exciement will help them to achieve their individual dreams and our collective dreams. In future newsletters, please look for more exciting details about our formation program.
In the realm of web design and web apps, 2010 saw many advancements and innovations, and I’m hoping 2011 will be no different. Why? Because it will allow the youth on the web production team and me to supply even better web management solutions. It will also give the youth an opportunity to work with new technologies and to enhance their skill sets. I’m also looking forward to all the new clients and trainees we’ll have the chance to work with throughout the coming year.
Last month, the staff of Hopeworks enjoyed its first staff Christmas party! At Benihana’s in Cherry Hill, chopsticks, sushi, and fun were the call of the night. Our chef, Peter, kept us entertained with his tricks and cooking techniques as he made our meals. It was a lovely evening together with all the people who make the daily work of Hopeworks run as well as it does.
             
 
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