St. HOPE: Home
Comedy Night at the Guild Theater
Guild Theater
Hosted By: Comedian Dru Burks
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Time:
Doors Open at 7:00 PM
Showtime at 8:00 PM
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Comedian Info:
Author Talk and Book Signing with Adrian Bracy
Underground Books
Join us for another author talk and book discussion featuring Adrian Bracy as she discusses her book “Halftime: Learn to Pivot as a Leader and Identify Your Next Step” released in 2021.
Adrian Elizabeth Bracy, MBA, CPA, is an author, business and personal coach, consultant, and motivational speaker. Bracy spent 18 years in senior financial management with the National Football League, including Chief Financial Officer for the Arizona Cardinals.
Comedy Night at the Guild Theater
Guild Theater
Hosted By: Comedian Dru Burks
****
Time:
Doors Open at 7:00 PM
Showtime at 8:00 PM
****
Comedian Info:
Family Movie Matinee
Guild Theater
Join us for free family movies at the Guild Theater!
Spiderman: Into The Spiderverse
Date: First Sunday of each month
Time: 2pm Showtime
Location: Guild Theater (2828 35th Street)
Let’s Read Oak Park
Underground Books
Let’s Read Oak Park is presented by St. HOPE for elementary school aged children to explore books and participate in hands on activities with an emphasis on cultural themes. Students will engage in interactive book readings, and select a free book of their choice to take home and encourage reading together as a family!
Each child will receive a FREE book to take home from Underground Books.
Comedy Night at the Guild
Guild Theater
Hosted By: Comedian Dru Burks
****
Time:
Doors Open at 7:00 PM
Showtime at 8:00 PM
****
Comedian Info:
Let’s Read Oak Park
Underground Books
Let’s Read Oak Park is presented by St. HOPE for elementary school aged children to explore books and participate in hands on activities with an emphasis on cultural themes. Students will engage in interactive book readings, and select a free book of their choice to take home and encourage reading together as a family!
Each child will receive a FREE book to take home from Underground Books.
Memorial Day
Non attendance day for SHPS Scholars
All SHPS schools closed in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 29th Scholars return to school on Tuesday, May 30.
Juneteenth Holiday
National Holiday
All St. HOPE offices and SHPS Schools Closed in recognition of the Juneteenth Holiday.
St. HOPE Academy Founded by Kevin Johnson
July 1989
St. HOPE began in 1989 as an afterschool program in a portable classroom at Sacramento High School
After 13 years, St. HOPE realized that an after school program simply wasn’t enough to dramatically improve the academic outcomes of children, that it would be necessary to establish and run our own schools.
In 2003, St. HOPE Public Schools was founded as a preK-12 independent charter school district that provides high-quality education to nearly 2,000 students.
St. HOPE Facility Grand Opening
January 1992
7,000 square foot facility opening at 4101 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Oak Park Victorian Grand Opening
August 2001
St. HOPE’s first economic development project.
40 acres Art & Cultural Center Grand Opening
May 2003
St. HOPE’s largest economic development project opened with Underground Books, Uncle Jed’s Cut Hut, Starbucks and the Guild Theater.
40 Acres is the jewel of the SHDC efforts in the Oak Park community. The building was the historic Woodruff Hotel which was build in 1922 and was renovated by St. HOPE Development company in 2003.
The 23,000 sq. ft. mixed use facility includes:
- Guild Theater
- Underground Books
- Old Soul Coffee House
- Coopers Wine Bar
- Upper Room Apartments
Closing The Opportunity Gap For Students Of Color In Sacramento
March 2023
St. HOPE Public Schools’ foundation is rooted in student excellence and college readiness, providing our scholars with the strongest possible foundation for learning and career success. Sac High Principal Christina Williams-James recently authored an opinion editorial in the Sacramento Observer that highlights the work we are doing to successfully close the opportunity gap for low-income and disadvantaged students.
Scholars Success and Go Dragons!
President's Message
As we end Black History Month, I wanted to share some exciting news about our Sac High scholars who are shining in both the classroom and on the court. We are proud to be a part of Cal State Chico’s Fulbright Program and Sac High Principal Christina Williams-James shared our scholars’ academic successes in an opinion editorial in the Sacramento Observer. Our boys basketball team had a very exciting season making it to round one of the 2023 CIF State Boys Basketball Championships.
Scholars Celebrate Black History Month
February 2023
Throughout the month of February we are bringing in leaders, influencers, entrepreneurs, writers, educators, business people, artists, media personalities, chefs, sports personalities, and dreamers to talk to and inspire our scholars at PS7 and Sac High.
Black History Month at 40 Acres
February 2023
The Guild Theater is delighted to partner with Celebration Arts to host the play “Direct for Death Row: The Scottsboro Boys.” This moving play shares the African-American experience of overcoming discrimination. The play runs through March 5.
Dragons Basketball Celebrates Big Wins: Boys Basketball Team Advances to Section Finals and Girl’s Basketball Coach Celebrates 300 Wins
February 2023
The Sac High Boys basketball team had an exciting win on February 22 beating Placer High school 73 to 59. The Dragons led by Coach Matt Johnson, a Sac High alumni, are now 24-7. Sac High will face off against two-time defending Division III champion Vanden High School in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section finals at the Golden 1 Center at 4pm on Saturday, February 25. We hope you can come cheer our Dragons on! Ticket information can be found here.
Human Rights Leader Ben Jealous To Speak Locally
Former NAACP President To Host Book-Signing Event At Underground Books
Ben Jealous, one of America’s modern-day advocates for human rights, justice, and the youngest person to serve as NAACP President and CEO, is scheduled to host a book signing event Monday, Feb. 20, at Underground Books. Jealous will be in conversation with OBSERVER publisher Larry Lee, followed by a book signing for his new book, “Never Forget Our People Were Always Free.” The event will start at 6 p.m.
Sac High Hosts International Teachers as Part of Cal State Chico’s Fulbright Program
We are thrilled to have hosted several international teachers of English as a Foreign Language at Sac High as part of Cal State Chico’s Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (FTEA). The teachers came to Sac High to learn about U.S. practices in teaching methodologies, lesson planning, service learning, and the use of technology in the classroom. FTEA program manager Heather Hacking says “we chose Sac High because it has a dynamic program that teaches students not only what they should learn, but that they CAN learn.”
Sac High Alumni Spotlight: Vicki Baugh ‘07 Alumni
February 8, 2023
On Senior Night on Wednesday, February 8, the #22 jersey of Sac High alum Vicki Baugh, NCAA women’s basketball champion and two-time USA gold medalist, was retired during a pre-game ceremony at Sac High.
Paving the Way for a Brighter Future
President's Message
Black History month is an important time of reflection and connectivity. It is a time to honor the past as we recognize how previous struggles connect to the present day and pave the way for a brighter future. An important part of this includes ensuring that our youth are connected to leaders who look like them and are from their communities. Hearing about their life journeys, struggles, career aspirations, and successes shows them that they too can achieve what they set their minds to.
Sacramento Charter High School kicks off Black History Month with local speaker chosen by students
Kevin Powers speaks at Sacramento High School in Sacramento, Calif. on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023
Amaya Pernell, a 17-year-old student at Sacramento Charter High school, said she was working at Underground Books when she came across “Not Today Fear!” written by Kevin Powers. She said Powers’ book confronts fear, an emotion that she said was familiar and found it “can really stop you from succeeding.”
When it came time to book speakers for her high school’s Black History month, she said she was determined to get Powers, a Sacramento native, in front of her classmates.
Sac High Alumni Spotlight: Briana Pruitt ‘22
January 13, 2023
Briana Pruitt is a Sacramento Charter High School alumni and first-generation college student currently attending UC Berkeley. She says Sac High’s emphasis on going to and through college along with her teachers’ encouragement played a big role in her pursuit of higher education. A pre-law major, Briana says a journalism class at Sac High piqued her interest in the legal system and after college she plans to go to law school to become a criminal justice attorney and later a judge.
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By Showing Our Youth What is Possible
A message from the CEO
As we celebrate and honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to accompany nearly 50 St. HOPE scholars to the historic inauguration of the state’s first Black Controller Malia Cohen.
Men who dress up as Black Santa Claus spread joy, diversity and inclusion for the holidays
12.21.22
As Santa Claus jingled up the steps to the Richardson family’s suburban Atlanta home on a chilly evening, two eager little faces appeared behind the opened door to greet him.
A jovial “Merry Christmas!” emerged from the white beard of Andre Parker, a professional Black Santa, as a boy and girl of the same complexion screamed with excitement in their pajamas.
Black Santas such as Santa Andre, as he’s known to children, are growing in popularity amid a rise in diversity and representation among traditional holiday characters.
God And Great People Have Shown Up For Cynthia ‘Cynt’ Marshall
10.24.22
God And Great People Have Shown Up For Cynthia ‘Cynt’ Marshall
Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall was always destined for greatness.
The straight-A student was plucked out of the Richmond projects on a full-ride scholarship to UC Berkeley, going on to become one of the first Black female officers at AT&T. She walked with grace through a public battle with colon cancer in 2011, beating the stage-3 diagnosis and living to make history in 2018 when she became the NBA’s first Black female CEO as head of the Dallas Mavericks.
Sit Back, Relax, and Enjoy a Good Film
September 6, 2022
The Inaugural five-day “Oak Park Black Film Festival” kicks off Sept 7 at the Guild Theater.
The first annual Oak Park Black Film Festival is just days away – and it’s a must-see.
Oak Park hosts ‘First Friday’ as heat bears down across the region
ABC 10 - September 2, 2022
In Sacramento’s Oak Park neighborhood, community members braved the heat to check out the ‘First Friday’ block party
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The first Friday of September ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend was a hot one across Northern California, with temperatures rising above 100 degrees.
In Sacramento’s Oak Park neighborhood, community members braved the heat to visit the community block party from 32nd and 36th Street along Broadway.
Oak Park Black Film Festival
Capitol Public Radio 9.1.22
Oak Park’s foundation is Sacramento’s Black contributions, community, and history. And for the first time, the neighborhood is rolling out a “red carpet” of sorts. The inaugural Oak Park Black Film Festival will showcase more than a dozen films, as well as panel discussions over five days. Cassandra Jennings is the CEO of St. Hope and oversees a family of nonprofits committed to revitalizing Oak Park, joined Insight to provide a preview of the festival.
Oak Park Juneteenth Block Party Leaves Community Hopeful, Energized
CBS 13 - June 19, 2022
Juneteenth Celebration In Oak Park Promotes Opportunity For Change
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Inaugural Oak Park Black Film Festival Stirs Passions
September 17, 2022
Click Here for theThe Full Online Story
(OAK PARK) – On a moment’s notice, Dr. Julius Garvey flew across the country from New York City to attend the inaugural Oak Park Black Film Festival in Sacramento. He’d been invited to sit on the discussion panel for the short film about his father, “Whirlwind: The Marcus Garvey Story,” directed by Shaka Satori.