Winter Wrap Up!

Winter is at it's end and it has been a busy season (as always!) here at the Hope Center for Kids. To kick off the month of February, we were so excited to have several of our staff take some of the youth to see the Mary Poppins on Broadway show at the Orpheum Theater! They loved the show!

Everyone was elated when Q Smith and Michael Dean Morgan from the cast came to Hope on the 9^th to visit with some of the ladies at Hope. It was fascinating to see the transformation in the youth as Q and Michael led the group in various activities to help them first learn how to use movement to express adjectives and next to learn to focus with a game called “zip zap zop”. After warming up and gaining some confidence, Q and Michael taught everyone the first part of the “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” actions that go with the song in the musical. Everyone had a great time laughing and learning the moves.

Before they had to leave to get ready for their performance that night, Q and Michael sat down with the girls and talked with them and answered their questions. They learned how Omaha native Q got into music from singing at her church choir when she was younger, and how Michael loved being in musicals because he enjoys telling stories and feels like his “job” is more playing than anything. They closed out the time with Q singing “Amazing Grace” for the group and taking a group picture. Check out our facebook page for more photos and a video of the girls practicing their moves.

For Valentine's day, some of the older girls enjoyed a special night out. They had some great discussions and learned a great deal about marriage and relationships. Everyone at the Hope Center had a big Valentine's Day party at Hope Skate and got to celebrate and skate!

On February 18^th, the Hope Center members were out of school, and some of the youth staff helped to host the quarterly Lunch & Learn. We were so pleased to meet and reconnect with everyone that came to visit! Also in February, a small group of students went and visited Northwest Missouri State. They toured the historical campus and got a peek into the dorms, stores, and daily life around campus. They enjoyed learning about the school. One youth shared, “The school seems to be a close community of people who all knew each other.”

For more pictures from throughout the month, log onto our Facebook page. You can see pictures from Q and Michael's visit, the Valentine’s party, the college visit, our black history month presentations, and our book buddies program.

If you have not been down in a while, our next Lunch and Learn is scheduled for Monday, May 2^nd. Please come and join us! Invite a friend along as well, to hear about the Hope Center's work!

Making History

Throughout Black History Month, our staff talked with the children and youth about the figures we remember from history and how their children and grandchildren will be remembering people from their generation. Our members answered the questions of "What would you do if you were president?" and "I want to make black history by..." and the following were some of their responses:

"I want to make black history by..."

• being the best NBA player that ever lived in my time and by being an all American athlete. -5th grade
• making the streets look good by... fixing the pot holes in the street and fix the bumpy roads. looking good and tell people to throw their trash away instead of littering. tell people to stop shooting and doing drugs and smoking. - 5th grade
  
• being the first black woman president. -7th grade
• when I get older I want to be a lawyer to help people to be safe by keeping them staying in school. -3rd grade
• I would write a book when I get older, about 67. About my life and what I went through and how I got through my troubles. why that happened. if anyone helped me get through them. -4th grade
  
• being a person / entrepreneur who helped many other determined black men and women start their own businesses and help them with the skills to keep their businesses running. -11th grade
• I will praise the Lord and go to church every Sunday and go to school everyday and get to the Hope Center safely so we can pray! -3rd grade
• President to sell money. I will be good and I will be patient and I will not hit people and I won't smack. I am going to fill a pool with pudding. -Kindergarten

"If I were President..."

• I would give everybody peace and let them enjoy their lives and I would make people healthy and make people praise the Lord and be a Christian and I would remodel the churches and all the schools and stores and would turn the water fountains to cherry coke and I would make people rich and famous and make them good people in Christ. -4th grade
  
• I'll send everyone $50 a week. I would make more jails. Change the pledge. Let people get their hair and nails done free. I'll be nicer. I'll put more Hope Centers in states. I'll make boys & girls club more organized. I'll give everyone an escalade as soon as they get their license. I'll make smoke free zones. And I'll change the school system straight in Louisiana. I'll make cheaper plane tickets. -6th grade
  

What would you do if YOU were President?

Skating Outing

Despite the frigid temperatures, the Hope Center kids participated in ConAgra's annual "Shine the Light on Hunger" event downtown. Every winter, ConAgra provides skating for the community to raise awareness on the issue of hunger in Nebraska and Iowa. The ConAgra Foods Foundation collects cans of food and all proceeds go to the Food Bank of the Heartland. The Hope Center was invited to be ConAgra's guest because of their participation in the Kid's Cafe program. Not only was the Hope Center the first Kid's Cafe in Nebraska, but it is also one of the largest Kid's Cafes in the state. The Hope Center is extremely thankful for ConAgra's dedication to helping children!

This night out of skating was a fun way for the kids to enjoy a winter activity. More than 80 youth and staff bundled up to brave the cold and enjoy a yummy dinner. ConAgra provided hot chocolate and warm food for the Kid's Cafe participants when they came in from the cold. Each participant also received a bad of goodies to take home at the end of the night.

Hope Center staff and children are excited every year about collaborating with ConAgra to participate in the event as well as their ongoing support in our Kid's Cafe. Thanks to the ConAgra Foods Foundation and the Food Bank of the Heartland for providing hope for children in Omaha, and a night of fun for the Hope Center Kids!!

Check out more photos from the skating at ConAgra on our Facebook!

www.facebook.com/hopecenterforkids

Special Thanks for the Christmas Blessings!

Thank you to Shadow Lake Community Church for your generosity at the Women's Dessert event! The hundreds of gifts you delivered to the Hope Center for our youth Christmas activities was absolutely incredible! Staff member, Terri Schenzel, and one of our youth staff spoke at the event and were able to share their personal Hope Center stories. What a wonderful night of generosity and fellowship - a true blessing for both the Hope Center for Kids and Shadow Lake Community Church!

Another group who recently blessed the Hope Center with their kindness was the Gallup Organization. They sent an ambitious team over and transformed our meeting room into a magical Christmas setting for our staff and board holiday party. Thanks Gallup, for literally bringing the Christmas spirit to Hope.

We invite you to participate in a service project for the Hope Center with your family, co-workers, or friends!

Contact us at info@hopecenterforkids.com to determine the event that works best for you!

Hope Center's gym is alive with competition on Monday nights with our in-house basketball league. All youth who want to play on a team are eligible for the Hope Draft. Staff coach the teams, and referees are brought in to officiate. A little bit of friendly competition makes for a fun night at the Hope Center for Kids!

Hope Center kids logged more than 1,000 hours of homework and study time in our education center this semester! We celebrated with a surprise ice cream cake and party. Congratulations Hope Center students!

Go to our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/hopecenterforkids to see more pics!

College Visit Day!

With a pop tart and juice box breakfast in hand, eight Hope Center youth piled in a van with Hope Center staff to visit three local colleges – Iowa Western Community College, Nebraska Christian College, and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. College visits are one of the most influential motivators of our educational program, the Hope Learning Academy. Members who complete the educational requirements of 35 hours of study and homework time are eligible to attend.

First stop, Iowa Western. With several of our youth already planning to attend this school next year, the students were eager to learn more. One of the favorite topics discussed was the TRIO program, which provides support to first-generation and low-income students. College staff provides individualized services that address students’ specific needs as they confront the challenges of completing a college degree.

En route to the second stop, Nebraska Christian College, many of the kids experienced their first time driving on a gravel road. They were fairly certain that 114th and Highway 370 was indeed the “country.” After the initial location-shock wore off, students were impressed with the new community-focused campus. A non-denominational Bible college with less than 200 students, Nebraska Christian offers biblical-based teachings with a strong focus in service.

Our last tour was at UNO, a school all of our kids are familiar with and a stiff competitor on all of our students’ college determination lists. Visiting the Office of Multicultural Affairs provided an added incentive. This program is responsible for developing and maintaining services to ensure the successful recruitment, retention and graduation of underrepresented students. Through scholarship aid, academic and personal support, students are empowered to attain their educational and professional goals.

Although one of the biggest highlights of the day may have been the delectable nachos from lunch at Qdoba, this college visit trip was a rewarding and enlightening experience for everyone. In just one day, Hope Center youth were able to experience three completely different collegiate atmospheres: a medium-sized community college; a small, Christian-based ministry; and a large, four-year, state university. As they toured, students were asked to record notes and reactions to each school’s visit. Later, they were able to put together full reflections, which encouraged them to decide what components of each place fit their needs best. Alyssa Smith, Hope Center’s education coordinator, said, “When our kids walk onto a campus and stand in a classroom or student center, they can really visualize themselves there as a college student. They say, ‘this is going to be me next year’ and I know they are willing and ready to make that happen.”

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Check out our Facebook page for more pictures from the day!