Hopeworks focuses on trauma-informed care and giving young adults the tools they need to be economically independent. How does skill development contribute to long-term success and stability?
Too often, folks talk about un- or under-employed young adults as a problem to be fixed. By leveraging skill development and our trauma informed approach, Hopeworks sees a different truth -- our young adults across the region - in Camden, in North Philly, in Kensington, and in West Philly for example - are not the problem but the solution to region's biggest problems. Companies are looking to find employees who can take their work to the next level. Neighborhoods are looking for fresh talent and ideas to solve the problems that have bedeviled them for generations.
The "usual suspects" -- government, philanthropists and others -- have had their shot at solving these problems, and haven't done so well. Upskilling young adults helps them get jobs - yes - but it also gives young adults the skills and capability to solve the bigger problems our region and facing; they are well equipped for the task.
What inspired you to get involved – and continue to drive change?
After teaching for 16 years at a juvenile detention center, I thought I had it all figured out. Just help folks get their diplomas, and their lives will change. That all changed when I ran into Marcus, one of the alumni of my school. He had done everything I asked - got out of incarceration, got his diploma, but he still ended up selling drugs because no one would give him a job. I knew then that just teaching wasn't going to do it. We had to build businesses to give folks like Marcus their first job. That is how I ended up at Hopeworks. If it is helpful, here is a video of me telling the whole tale: VOICES Dan Rhoton on Vimeo
How has your background in restorative practices and the juvenile justice field influenced your approach to youth development?
No young adult - and no human ever - should ever be defined by the worst moment of their life. When we talk about "adjudicated young adults" or "youth experiencing homelessness" or anything similar, we miss the biggest part of the young adult in front of us. Working in the juvenile justice field, I saw folks who had been defined by their worst moment defy those expectations again and again.
Hopeworks is expanding into Philadelphia. What was the impetus for the expansion and how is Hopeworks adapting its offerings to meet the needs of the city’s youth?
We opened in December of 2022, and we have a waitlist of over 190 individuals. If anyone ever tells you young adults don't want to work, send them to Hopeworks! Hopeworks has a powerful combination of factors for change -- it has poverty, yes, but also an overabundance of young adults ready to work, and companies ready to hire them. Let's go!
How can communities better support programs like Hopeworks?
Come visit. Once you meet our young adults, you will know what to do.
What advice would you give young people just starting out in their careers?
No one knows what they are doing. Remember that when you hear that voice saying that you don't belong or you don't know. You earned the spot probably more than most of the folks in the room. Now own it.
What is your superpower?
Getting out of the way. There is no vision, speech, or action I could take that is more compelling than putting folks in front of our young adults.
