Esther's Park: Home
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!
Access & Exposure for Our Students and the Community
President's Message - 11.7.23
At St. HOPE we are always working to increase access and exposure. This includes ensuring our community has access to authors and artists of all ethnicities and backgrounds. We recently hosted the Oak Park Black Film Festival at the historic Guild Theater and are getting ready to welcome the Colour of Music Festival to Sacramento. This wonderful music festival showcases the talents of black classical musicians and composers and highlights their impact and historical significance on American and world culture.
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.
Underground Books: Preserving The Black Experience
President's Message - 8.22.23
As students head back to school, I want to remind parents, students, and neighbors about the incredible community asset we have in Underground Books located in the heart of Oak Park. Underground Books opened in the summer of 2003 and is part of the 40 Acres Cultural Center that provides so many enriching entertainment and cultural activities for residents in the region.
Expanding our Worldview
President's Message - 7.20.23
I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July! For me the recent Independence Day celebrations – both Juneteenth and the 4th of July – were fun-filled days spent enjoying time with family, friends, and our larger community. Not only were they full of good food and friendship, they were important occasions to reflect on the freedoms and opportunities we often take for granted. Whether due to limited access or inequitable policies, too many people in America and throughout the world face barriers to success.
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.
St. HOPE hosts Juneteenth block party in Oak Park
KCRA Ch. 3 - 6.17.2023
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
St. HOPE hosted its Juneteenth block party at 40 Acres Saturday.
“There’s no better place to do than in Oak Park, Sacramento,” said Adrianne Hall, of St. Hope.
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A Juneteenth Celebration
President's Message
Juneteenth, also known as “Freedom Day” or “Emancipation Day,” is an important national holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. Originating in Galveston, Texas, it has been celebrated annually on June 19 since 1865 and in 2021, “Juneteenth” became the 11th holiday recognized by the federal government.
99% of Sac High Seniors Accepted to 4-Year Colleges
President's Message
Graduation season is upon us and I’m proud to report that 99% of Sac High seniors were accepted into four-year colleges in 2023 including all nine University of California campuses and 20 out of 23 California State University campuses. This is an achievement worth celebrating! We will be congratulating our Sac High seniors as they walk across the stage at their graduation on June 3. I know they have a bright future and I can’t wait to see them succeed in college next year.
Celebrating a Milestone
President's Message - 4.25.23
As we head outside to enjoy the beautiful spring weather, I am reminded how wonderful the city of trees is and all that Sacramento – especially Oak Park – has to offer. The 40 Acres complex which has been a cultural gathering place for two decades is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. For 20 years, this landmark has served as a place where families come to enjoy a meal and socialize and be immersed in culture and entertainment.
Celebrating and Advancing Women
President's Message - 3.28.23
Throughout March, I’ve been reflecting on the power of women in leadership. I’m proud that more and more of our elected and business leaders – especially those in the Sacramento region - are female and hope that we can continue on this trajectory.
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.
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.
Journey to the Future with St. HOPE’s New CEO, Cassandra Jennings
Dear St. HOPE friends, family and community,
I feel so blessed to be at St. HOPE and back in the Oak Park neighborhood in this season of my personal and professional journey, so I can continue to pour into the community that has been a part of my life for over three decades. My kids attended school in Oak Park; I worship in Oak Park; and both my husband and I worked for many years to improve the lives of Oak Park residents and to support the mission of St. HOPE to revitalize the community. I recall some of the initiatives I worked on over the years, including street clean ups, first time homebuyer programs, the St. HOPE after school program,
To & Through College Starts Today with PS7 Elementary TK/Kindergarten
Your scholar’s journey to and through college starts today with PS7 Elementary’s TK/Kindergarten program. Offering a FULL day program for both TK & Kindergarten, scholars are in school from 7:30AM to 3:00PM. PS7 Elementary also offers an after-school program, which runs until 6:00 PM, and provides enrichment opportunities such as Sac Theatre Company and Music In Motion.
New Guild Theater Concert Series
The Guild Theater is kicking off a new concert series starting August 13th with R&B group, Troop! Troop, which stands for Total Respect for Other People, is known for a series of number-one R&B hits, including popular cover versions of the songs “All I Do Is Think of You” and “Sweet November”, originally performed by The Jackson 5 and The Deele. They also had a number-one hit with their original song “Spread My Wings”.
‘Getting the recognition it deserves’: Community prepares for Juneteenth celebrations in Sacramento
KCRA 6.17.21
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.
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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.
This Sacramento day party keeps selling out. Here’s how to get your ticket to ‘Algorhythm’
6.2.21
“Algorhythm,” a new social networking day party, promises live DJ sets and culture every first and third Saturday of the month at St. Hope’s Esther Park.
Hosted by BaseOne.FM, a group of four millennial DJs, who started streaming their music sets on the live video app Twitch in August 2020. Now, the day party attracts a diverse group of Sacramento’s young professional and creative scene, selling out nearly every time.