Esther's Park: Home

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Racial Equity AND Economic Justice
Message from the CEO - 1.24.24

As we celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. last week I was reflecting on the importance of having racial equity AND economic justice. The two are intimately intertwined and we must ensure that policies and practices are developed through a lens that provides equity and removes systemic barriers.  

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Supporting Winning Teams
Message from the CEO - 11.28.23

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. As I think about winning teams, I’m grateful for your support and generosity as we collectively work to uplift the Oak Park and greater Sacramento community.  Speaking of winning teams, I’d like to give a shout out to our Sac High football team who came back from a slow start to make it to the second round of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Playoffs.  I commend them for not giving up and making the necessary changes to finish strong.  We should never count the Sac High Dragons out. Let’s go Dragons!

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Highlighting Success
President's Message - 9.26.23

We are excited to share with you our latest St. HOPE Annual Report 2021-2023 that includes highlights and data from our 2021-22 and 2022-23 fiscal years. As you’ll see, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to provide high quality education for youth in the Oak Park community. We are exceedingly proud of what our scholars at PS7 and Sac High accomplish each year and we are thrilled to watch our seniors graduate knowing they will do good for the world. 

Article The Sacramento Observer - 6.23.23By Jared Childress

Thousands Dance In The Street For Juneteenth
Third Annual Block Party Held At 40 Acres In Oak Park

Thousands danced in the streets of Oak Park at St. Hope’s third annual Juneteenth Block Party at the 40 Acres Complex on June 17.

A stage sat in the middle of 34th Street, closing the road in front of Underground Books. Attendees in lawn chairs vacated their seats when the DJ played the Cupid Shuffle, gathering around the stage to do the line dance akin to the Electric Slide.

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‘Getting the recognition it deserves’: Community prepares for Juneteenth celebrations in Sacramento
KCRA 6.17.21

https://www.kcra.com/article/community-prepares-juneteenth-celebrations-sacramento/36759430

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Juneteenth celebrations in Northern California are scheduled throughout the weekend.

The president and CEO of the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce said not only does it mark a celebration for the emancipation of slaves in 1863, but it’s also a celebration for those who finally learned of their freedom two years later.

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Events Around Sacramento Celebrate First Nationally Recognized Juneteenth
CBS 13 Sacramento 6.19.21

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Several events celebrating Juneteenth happened across Sacramento on Saturday.

There were calls for not only action, but reflection, bringing both joy and determination in the fight for progress.

READ MORE:Fourth Stimulus Check: Will You Get Another Relief Payment?

Events varied from soul music and dancing in Oak Park to art and vendors all highlighting black beauty and business at one of the longest-running Juneteenth festivals in Sacramento on June 19, 2021, which was taking on new meaning.

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St. HOPE’s Unique Approach to Distance Learning

St. HOPE’s distance learning program is truly about continued learning. The classes look different, and the methods are new and creative, but goals are the same as they’ve always been. Distance learning at PS7 Elementary, PS7 Middle, and Sacramento Charter High School is not a mere assignment of busywork or simple worksheet packets that have kids treading water. 

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Oak Park Restaurants are Still Open for Business

We are so thankful that Fixins, Old Soul, La Venadita, and Oak Park Brewery are still open for take out! Support your favorite local restaurants by placing a to go order and making it a picnic meal at the park or special night with the family.  Check out their Instagram pages for the latest news and discounts!

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More Improvements at 40 Acres

40 Acres, formerly known as the 1922 Woodruff Hotel, was once known as one of the most dangerous spaces of Oak Park. The 23,000 sq. ft. mixed use property was acquired and renovated by St. HOPE nearly 17 years ago. Today, 40 Acres is the jewel of the neighborhood and home to The Guild Theater, Underground Books, Old Soul Coffee Co., World Class Faders, Fixins Soul Kitchen, and the Upper Room Apartments. This year, 40 Acres will undergo a second set of improvements including paint, awnings, signage, window plant boxes, and more! At St.

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World Class Faders Now Open!

We are very excited to announce the opening of World Class Faders, a barbershop at 40 Acres. See below for an interview with owner Lonnie Horne. 

1. Where’d you get the name World Class Faders? 

I wanted a name my team, myself, and the community would be proud of. I wanted our name to give the impression that the highest level of service could be expected for anyone who walks into our business.

Blog post By Matthew KeysComstock Magazine

At Underground Books in Sacramento, youth find their freedom
1.31.2020

Author’s note: The following story was originally written for Comstock’s magazine as part of my recurring “Media File” column, a monthly examination at media-related businesses in the Sacramento region. Comstock’s declined to publish this story.

Walk into Underground Books along Broadway in Sacramento’s Oak Park neighborhood and the first thing you’re likely to notice is that it isn’t your typical bookstore.

Article Oracle BRANDVOICE By Sasha Banks-Louie

St. HOPE Puts Data To The Test, And Aces It
November 14, 2019

After a difficult past, the Oak Park neighborhood of Sacramento has been undergoing a revitalization. One longtime force in this renewal has been a nonprofit, St. HOPE, that has spent 30 years energizing public education and economic development aimed at helping resident families thrive.

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Sacramento’s Oak Park transformed: One organization and its $89 million footprint
Sac Bee Article by David Caraccio

Long-time Oak Park resident and activist Robbin Ware remembers that when he moved to the neighborhood, “there wasn’t a damn thing.”

“There wasn’t nothing here but gangs, drugs, drugs being sold,” said Ware, 82.

Nearly 20 years later, Oak Park has become a hotbed of investment and development. One organization in particular has been busy — St. Hope.

Article Sacramento Business JournalBy Ed Goldman

St. Hope turns 30 and self-sustaining
July 8, 2019

One week ago today, at 4 p.m., to be exact, former Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and his fellow dreamers quietly celebrated the 30th anniversary of the founding of St. Hope — which started as a summer program in a portable classroom for 12 African-American boys but became an economic and education turbo engine for what had been the historically neglected Oak Park.

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New soul food restaurant opening soon in Oak Park. One of its backers is Kevin Johnson
Sac Bee Article by Benji Engel

How does a restaurant capture the flavor of a neighborhood steeped in history that’s simultaneously more in flux than any other part of Sacramento?

Fixins Soul Kitchen went straight to the source: Oak Park residents’ family recipes. When the restaurant opens in St. Hope’s 40 Acres building around the end of July, someone’s grandma’s fried chicken or biscuits will share menu space with creations from executive chef Melvin “Boots” Johnson’s mind, said St. Hope CEO/president Jake Mossawir.