Hope Rising a "Grand" Success

Hope CommUnity Center officially welcomed the community to its second campus on Hawthorne Avenue in a grand opening on November 12. The evening was filled with fun activities and reflection.

Guests were welcomed and asked to fill out a leaf (to the shape of HCC’s brandmark) with an answer to the question, “What is your hope?” The inner part of the brandmark was filled out by HCC staff, board, and Notre Dame AmeriCorps members. During the event, we brought the pieces together– a metaphor for Hope’s hope to bring diverse people and communities together for one common good.

The evening included face painting for the kids provided by Disney, food provided by HCC’s Community Advisory Board, and a Capoeira performance (a system of physical discipline and movement originating among Brazilian slaves, treated as a form of martial art).

Thank you everyone who came out and blessed the new building with us. We are so honored to have had over 200 guests, including Apopka Mayor Joe Kilsheimer; Apopka City Commissioners Diane Velazquez, Doug Bankson, and Kyle Becker; WFTV Co-anchor Nancy Alvarez; Consulate of Mexico Juan Sabines; and Disney executives Nancy Gidusko and Angie Sola. Sr. Teresa McElwee was recognized for her years of service founding the Apopka Family Learning Center, where Hope’s second campus currently resides.