Hope in Action
HOPE in ACTION
January 2023
Hope through Housing Celebrates Black History Month
Historian Carter G. Woodson and Minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History in 1915 to highlight and celebrate the achievements of Black Americans. In 1926, the group sponsored Black History Week – choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. This event inspired schools and communities around the nation to organize celebrations and host performances and lectures in addition to establishing their own history clubs.
By the late 1960s, due in part to the civil rights movement and a growing awareness of Black Identity, many college campuses had evolved the week into a month. The month was officially recognized as Black History Month in 1976 by President Gerald Ford. Today, the legacy of Black History Month persists as a time to commemorate the accomplishments and contributions of Black Americans to the nation.
We are grateful for the many Black Americans who are making a difference for residents of all backgrounds across our communities, and we hope you enjoy the stories below celebrating the impact they are making possible!
Sharing a Love for Dancing
It is a weekday afternoon, and the sound of music can be heard coming from the Crestview Terrace Community Center in the City of San Bernardino. Inside, fifteen young girls are eagerly following along as their instructor, Nichole Nichols, leads them through a series of ballet steps.
Nichole has recently joined the Hope through Housing Team as a Services Coordinator and Youth Specialist. In her role, she oversees the teen club, the after-school program, sports training and dance classes at Crestview Terrace.
“It means the world to me to be able to help people, bringing them out of a tough situation and giving them an opportunity for something more,” Nichole said.
Creating a Career Path for Residents in Property Management
National CORE and Hope through Housing have been investing in their employees for more than 30 years, providing opportunities for personal and professional growth, and creating one of the strongest teams in the industry. In 2022, National CORE and Hope through Housing launched CORE Academy offering its extensive in-house property management training to residents of National CORE communities.
CORE Academy is the brainchild of National CORE’s Director of Learning and Development, Angel Rogers. It is a one-of-a-kind training program for property management that introduces National CORE residents to careers in one of the fastest growing industries.
“Property Management is a real, live, amazing business that if you love it – it will take care of you,” Angel said. “My goal was to show people that this is an incredible industry, with incredible people and incredible opportunities.”
Connecting Residents to Opportunities
Hope through Housing continues to expand its programs and services to better serve, supporting its residents on their journey to breaking generational poverty. With the addition of Director of Workforce and Career Development Kimberly Jackson, Hope through Housing is able to strengthen and expand its capacity to work directly with residents to offer support in their search for a new career path.
In her role, Kimberly will be offering additional job fairs, career training resources, developing community partnerships and providing career coaching. She is able to ensure that residents receive guidance and accountability to reach their personal and family goals.
“Those intimate educational sessions make it easier to connect with the residents,” she said. “The ability to exchange stories and motivate is a great start to having a bigger impact.”
Do! Fitness with Uzi!
National CORE is a proud sponsor of the Empire Strykers. For several years, the Strykers has been providing National CORE residents and employees with free tickets to all home games. Every season, Strykers players host soccer clinics and summer camps for our youth and have volunteered with Hope through Housing’s onsite afterschool programs to provide career conversations, special appearances and even as part-time employees for the programs. In 2022, Strykers player Uzi Tayou piloted “DO! Fitness With Uzi” a new program for National CORE residents of all ages to learn more about healthy lifestyles and improve their fitness. This program has been hugely successful and has become a favorite of residents. Uzi will continue as a member of the Hope through Housing team and will continue to expand his program to impact more residents.
The 2023 Building Bright Futures Scholarship Application Process will be opening soon!
Each year, Hope through Housing awards graduating high school seniors and adult learners living in National CORE communities scholarships to help them achieve their dreams through education. These scholarships help recipients pay for college tuition, invest in technology and pay for certification classes that will allow them to engage in better-paying work. Consider supporting our youth and adult learners as they work towards their dreams for the future!
Read about Regina, one of last year’s recipients, who is using her scholarship to earn a degree in psychology.
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