St. Hope Band 3
40 Acres: Celebrating 20 Years of Arts and Culture in the Heart of Oak Park
We hope that you can join us on Saturday, May 6 for a day of family fun at the 40 Acres Street Fest. The festivities will take place from 11am – 4pm at Esther’s Park to celebrate the 40 Acres Art and Cultural Center’s 20 year anniversary. The event includes community vendors and resources with giveaways, electric car test drives, kids activities, and free food!
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.
Sac High Seniors Accepted to 130+ Universities
College admissions are coming in and we are very proud to report that our Sac High seniors have already been accepted to over 130 universities! These include several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) such as Alabama A&M University, Delaware State University, and Claflin University as well as top schools in California including Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly Humboldt, and UC Riverside. Now the hard part begins – deciding where to go!
Sac High Alumni Spotlight: AnZhane Burrell, Class of 2012
AnZhane Burrell was very involved when she attended Sac High playing volleyball and participating in student government, including being Senior Class President. On top of that she had excellent grades and made the Dean’s List. Throughout her time at Sac High, AnZhane said there was a standard of excellence that was expected of all students.
Mother Rose, Longtime Manager of Underground Books, is a Pillar of Oak Park
Step inside Underground Books, the “literary hub of Oak Park” and you’ll likely meet its manager, Georgia West, better known as Mother Rose. The nickname, bestowed by her son, former Mayor Kevin Johnson, explains her role in the community. She grew up in Oak Park, attended Sac High, and saw the neighborhood’s only library close in the 1970s. After graduating from Sacramento City College’s nursing program, she worked as a registered nurse for 26 years.
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.
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.