Hopeworks gains valuable insights from Youth Skills and Employment Accelerator
Dan Rhoton from the social enterprise talks about the advantages of becoming part of the Global Business Coalition for Education’s initiative to close the skills gap for young people.
Hopeworks is a social enterprise that gives young adults the skills needed to move from unemployment into jobs that pay living wages.
Thanks to technical training, care, and practical experience in Hopeworks-owned businesses, more than 90% of those who complete the programs in New Jersey and Pennsylvania are still in work a year later.
But CEO Dan Rhoton admits that a challenge has been finding peer organizations – particularly from other areas – that can provide insights and help Hopeworks continue to thrive and grow. He said: “That is always the hardest part because we’re trying to find solutions to really hard problems.”
That changed when the nonprofit joined the Youth Skills and Employment Accelerator, an initiative of the Global Business Coalition for Education. Launched in 2021, the Accelerator has built a growing network of 43 nonprofit organizations across the U.S. – all working together to close the skills gap and connect young people to meaningful careers. The program has positively impacted more than 200,000 youth.
Rhoton said: “Fundamentally, what Hopeworks does is move young adults from chronic unemployment into transformational living wage jobs by training them and then employing them in our technology businesses.” Hopeworks is evolving into a national leader in artificial intelligence upskilling, preparing young adults – particularly those historically excluded from the digital economy – to thrive in the era of AI.
Its Recode Your Future training program provides opportunities in computer-aided design, web design, and data visualization, along with academic support and career readiness coaching. More than 99% of young adults (aged 17-26) entering Hopeworks are unemployed and making less than an average of $400 annually – after completing the program they’re earning $46,000 on average.
Play/span>Video
Rhoton said Hopeworks learned about the Youth Skills and Employment Accelerator from Dell Technologies, which was a launch partner in the initiative. He added: “They not only told us about it but encouraged us to be a part of it. Once we were in the Accelerator, they were with us every step of the way, supporting our participation and our engagement.
“A really key thing that the Accelerator did for us was widening our network. We found were very well known in our area here in the Eastern United States – but there was a whole world out there of ideas, of funders, of partners.
“We got to hear that while our situation is unique, some of the dynamics are very similar. And we were able to get some advice from some folks in a very different location than Hopeworks but who had advice that really resonated right here.
“Another key thing we hoped to gain from the Accelerator program was a forum for ideas – and it really delivered. Who’s doing this better than we are? What can we learn from other key leaders and experts in the field? And how can we build a community of support of folks who are like-minded, other programs of excellence that are trying to move the needle on poverty and workforce development?
“The Accelerator brought us the best and the brightest in a way that really expanded our network and our ability to learn.”
GBC-Education can assist businesses because of our in-house expertise and a vast network of more than 150 companies, nonprofits, experts, and thought leaders which inform our perspective on trends, needs, and challenges in education.
GBC-Education members have access to our advisory services – a wide range of innovative resources and bespoke briefings for their corporate staff. Contact us to find out how we can support your company’s education and impact goals.
Next resource