St. HOPE: Home
Children’s Storytime
Come join us on the last Saturday of each month from 12-1pm for Children’s Story time at Underground Books (2814 35th St.) hosted by the River City Road Runners.
The free event is catered to children ages 3-10 and includes a book reading and an organized arts and crafts project. Kids also receive a free book!
Parents are welcome to attend and participate with their children.
Please visit our upcoming events section for future dates, or contact the bookstore for more information.
“The Future of Fathers: Will You Stay and Become a Father, or Will You Walk Out the Door…”
By Rick J. McPhearson
The future of fathers is a revitalizing, uplifting and real look at what many men will go through as they journey to fatherhood. It gives insight from one father’s perspective, and it gives resources and facts about where we are in society as fathers. It will challenge you, motivate you, and hopefully enlighten you. Use it as a tool, and let it serve as a guide to your future, the future of fathers where men are made to step up and take on the responsibilities set forth the very moment your child looked up, opened their tiny eyes and proclaimed you as Dad.
“The Adventures of Princess Dane Nala”
Book Signing by April Green
Underground Books (2814 35th Street)
(916) 737-3333
Dane, What About Me? is the first of a series of 10 children’s books, The Adventures of Princess Dane Nala. Nala is a Great Dane puppy and Dane, What About Me? allows you to see the world through her eyes. Nala wishes that she could enjoy life with the same privileges as other K-9, but with her size comes a few obstacles.
“Baby Boy, What Will You Be?”
Discussion and Book Signing by Terquoia Bourne
Underground Books (2814 35th Street)
(916) 737-3333
On a cold winter day, a new mom snuggles with her baby boy and warms her heart with the thoughts of all the limitless possibilities that her baby can achieve in his lifetime. “When I gaze upon your face, there’s so much hope I see. As I gaze, I begin to wonder, just what you’ll grow up and be.”
“My Awfully Wedded Husband”
Discussion and Book Signing by Minerva Stewart
Jocelyn, Mariah, Vanessa and Toni have two things in common. One is their disastrous marriages, well in Toni’s case make that her disastrous seven-year engagement. And the second is their eternal bond of sisterhood, which they’re going to need when their husbands do the unforgivable. A fresh and fun fiction debut for every fan of romantic comedy.
“Last Stop on Market Street / CARMELA FULL OF WISHES”
Discussion and Book Signing with Christian Robinson and Matt de la Peña
Underground Books (2814 35th Street)
(916) 737-3333
Valley Vision moving to North Oak Park
Nonprofit research and advocacy group Valley Vision is moving its office to a neighborhood at the heart of many issues the group studies.
In July, Valley Vision will move from 2320 Broadway to 3400 Third Ave., in Sacramento’s Oak Park neighborhood.
Bill Mueller, the group’s CEO, said the move is a good parting point for both Valley Vision and its current landlord, who’s planning a new use for the 2320 Broadway building.
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.
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
St. HOPE Annual Employee Wellness Fair
Walking into the dimmed library, staff were greeted with the aroma of fresh fruit and the beat of exhilarating music. In one corner of the room, folks were sharing the benefits of meditation, in another, a barre demonstration was just starting. Samples of detoxifying juices and sunflower butters were passed around while staff worked on a community brainstorming project. This is the St. HOPE Annual Wellness Fair, an event designed for all St.
The Student Store is ONLINE!
Buying school uniforms just became easier with a click of a button! All St. HOPE Public School polos and jackets can now be purchased through our online store! We know how difficult it can be to come into the store to buy all of your scholar’s items so now you can go online, select the items you want, purchase them with your credit card and then pick them up at the store.
Free Meals for St. HOPE Scholars
This school year we will begin serving free meals to our students for breakfast and lunch. We are excited to be given the opportunity to provide our students cost-free meals under the USDA Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). The CEP, launched under the Healthy, Hunger-free Act, is a four-year program that serves free meals to the nation’s highest poverty schools and operates through federal and state funds. This is the first year we have qualified for the CEP program.
Oak Park Speaker Series Conclusion
The inaugural Oak Park Speaker Series presented by Underground Books and the Greater Sacramento Urban League concluded with two amazing events at the Guild Theater.
Scholars Receive Summer Camp Scholarships
In addition to the traditional academic summer school session for scholars in need of catching up before the next school year, St. HOPE also partnered with Camp EDMO to provide scholars with a unique STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) and SEL (Social Emotional Learning) enrichment program. The Bay Area based program recently expanded to the Sacramento Region and offered its services to the Sac High campus location for the first time last year.
interview: aizik “aik” brown, wide open walls muralist
Valley Vision Blog
Aizik “Aik” Brown proudly describes himself as an Artist and Educator committed to improving the lives of those around him, particularly in Oak Park. Over the past two weeks, Valley Vision has been fortunate enough to have Aizik paint a stunning mural on the outside wall of our new office building as part of Sacramento’s Wide Open Walls mural festival, in partnership with St. HOPE.
Soccer Succeeds at PS7 Elementary School!
For the last two years, Street Soccer USA and PS7 Elementary School have partnered to provide 3rd – 5th grade scholars at PS7 access to after school soccer as an enrichment program multiple days per week. The partnership is funded by Councilmember Jay Schenirer’s Way Up Sacramento initiative to provide more healthy activities for Oak Park youth, and because soccer was a sport they wanted to pilot.
What’s Working: ‘College Track’ program creating first-gen college students
Students at Sacramento High School managed by St. HOPE Public Schools are outperforming state standards, thanks in part to the College Track program.
Published: 10:11 PM PDT August 8, 2018
A program called “College Track” is helping disadvantaged students become first-generation college students; setting an example for their families and their entire neighborhood.
There is a lot to be impressed by with those first-gen college students, and the guy who helped get the program off and running, Jake Mossawir. He serves as the CEO for St. HOPE, a family of non-profits on a mission.
Still Accepting Applications!
St. HOPE Public Schools is still accepting applications for the 2018-2019 school year! School starts August 8th! Enroll your scholar today!
St. HOPE Announces MLB All-Star Barry Bonds as 2018 Dinner Speaker
St. HOPE is excited to announce MLB All-Star Barry Bonds as the special guest speaker for the 2018 St. HOPE Dinner to be held on Sunday, September 23 at the Hyatt Regency downtown. The St. HOPE Dinner attracts a sellout crowd of 1,000 guests and has included speakers such as Michael Jordan, LeBron James, John Wooden, Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Webber and many more!
St. HOPE Promotes!
One of our favorite moments at St. HOPE is celebrating our scholars during school promotion time. The end of a school year is always a time full of heartfelt reflection and excitement for what’s to come. As we gather to celebrate the achievements of our amazing scholars and reflect back on their unique journeys, we are reminded of their triumphs and trials, hardships and successes and are overflowing with joy as we set our eyes to the future!
5th Annual Sacramento Black Book Fair
The 5th Annual Black Book Fair took place Friday, June 1st and Saturday, June 2nd. The Black Book Fair is held once a year to bring African American literature and authors to the community. This year’s featured authors came from Sacramento as well as different cities in California. There were also several national other authors who showed up from all across the country, including Florida! It’s no surprise to say this year’s fair was a success.
2017 St. HOPE Annual Report
2017 was a fabulous year for St. HOPE, and you can check out a few of the details in our newly released annual report found here. While we are proud of our work in 2017, we can’t help but look forward to showing off our 2018 accomplishments. We have already seen tremendous growth this year in scholar achievement, and 95% of Sac High seniors were accepted to a four-year college.
Byron Pitts comes to Oak Park
The Oak Park Speaker Series hosted the second of a four-part series on June 11th at the Guild Theater with special guest speaker Byron Pitts. Nearly 150 guests attended the event, emceed by former Mayor Kevin Johnson and included remarks by Greater Sacramento Urban League President and CEO Cassandra Jennings. The evening concluded with a fireside chat with Mayor Johnson and award-winning journalist and author Byron Pitts. Pitts was raised by a single mother and struggled with severe learning disabilities.
40 Acres Celebrates 15 Years by Completing the Vision
May 2018 marked the 15 Year Anniversary of St. HOPE’s 40 Acres Cultural Center in Oak Park and was celebrated in many ways, including a major announcement!
Once a neglected and boarded-up building frequented by drugs and prostitution in the 1990’s, 40 Acres has blossomed into a thriving mecca of businesses, patrons and community events throughout the course of the past 15 years. The transformation is due in large part to the efforts of many individuals who believed Oak Park would once again become a destination and gathering place for people both near and far.
Mobile Teaching Kitchen
In the first week of May, more than 200 St. HOPE students and staff took a break from the classroom and participated in Chartwell’s Mobile Teaching Kitchen program. Chartwell’s has been contracted to serve school meals at St. HOPE for the last several years. The Mobile Teaching Classroom was very impressive and is a custom-designed shipping container modified into an 80-square-foot, fully functioning kitchen complete with three-sided belly height kitchen countertop and five individual induction plates.
St. HOPE Accelerates Mission to Support Sacramento Youth
SAN MATEO, Calif., June 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ – St. HOPE, a nonprofit community development corporation, has leveraged Oracle NetSuite to support its mission to create one of the finest urban pre-kindergarten through 12th grade public school systems in the United States. With NetSuite SuiteSuccess for Nonprofits, St. HOPE has been able to streamline critical business functions in order to focus its time and resources on providing high quality public education and creating living-wage sustainable jobs.
St. HOPE Scholars Are Oak Park Smart!
Know some amazing students? So do we! This past month, three students, one each from PS7, Oak Park Prep and Sac High, were recognized at the second annual Celebrate Oak Park festival as Oak Park Smart’s top students. Celebrate Oak Park is an annual celebration of learning and student achievement for the schools serving Oak Park and is put on by Jay Schenirer’s WayUp initiative.
Oak Park Speaker Series Launches with Roland Martin
On May 9, Underground Books launched the 2018 Oak Park Speaker Series at the Guild Theater with political commentator and author Roland Martin. The evening began with more than 30 people attending a VIP reception hosted by UnitedHealthcare at Underground Books that included Mr. Martin and former Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson.