It’s unbelievable to think that a couple of years ago I had never heard of AmeriCorps. Fast-forward two years and I am now starting my second term of service in the College and Career Access Program at Hope CommUnity Center. After a fast-paced year of discovery, mistakes, and connection, I concluded my year feeling like [...]
“I think if everyone took a day off of work and went to do [farm work], they would better appreciate where their food comes from and the hard work it takes farmworkers to get there.” Notre Dame AmeriCorps volunteer for Hope CommUnity Center Community Organizing, Robyn Thomas, shared these words about her interest and motivations for attending [...]
A reflection from HCC ESOL volunteer, Sergio Delgado– I was never one to volunteer at the drop of a hat. I am a very private and introverted person who keeps to myself and family. As such, volunteering was never a priority for me, even in retirement... However, I would like to believe that Divine Intervention led me to [...]
Apopka, Florida – Hope CommUnity Center is offering a new program, Books & Breakfast, an intergenerational program to educate community members in Apopka on different social and economic challenges, to provide political awareness and drive action towards change. The program will be offered at Taylor Apartments in Apopka every fourth Saturday from 11AM-12:30PM. In [...]
"I came to Hope CommUnity Center in September 2017 completely lost. I had just graduated with my bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida, and all I knew was that I really wanted to do something different rather than going straight to graduate school. I learned about AmeriCorps from my mother, who works at [...]
What are your plans for after you graduate? What are you going to study? As students reach their senior year of high school, these questions often loom over them. Although seniors can dream of many post-secondary opportunities, the one question that seems the most difficult to solve is, "how am I going to pay for [...]
Español Abajo Sometimes parents feel powerless when it comes to helping their kids with school. Language barriers, new technology, and new styles of teaching can be discouraging and intimidating, especially for parents of kids who are just starting elementary school. But after working with parents and their elementary-aged children for a few years, we've realized [...]
Thursday night, more than 30 ESOL students gathered at Hope’s Hawthorne Avenue building to celebrate the end of the Summer 2018 program cycle. The three-level program hosted a diverse group of participants two days per week for nine weeks. Students came from countries like Guatemala, Venezuela, Mexico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic, all of them [...]
"Being a first-generation student, there wasn't a lot of guidance to navigate through the whole college process. A majority of the time I had to figure things out on my own." Arianna Moreno is one of several mentors in Hope's College & Career Access summer program, Spark U. As a first-generation college student herself, she experienced [...]
This past weekend, Hope CommUnity Center recognized 45 host families for their service and dedication in the Service Learning Immersion program. Organizers of the Host Family Celebration praised the countless hours the host families have given of their time to teach students from high schools and colleges around the country about their real, lived experiences [...]
