CBS News
Earlier this year, a CBS crew came out to Academy of Hope to film for a segment about nonprofits "you should know about". Susan McGinnis, CBS reporter, talked to an adult learner and to our Executive Director, Lecester Johnson. CBS was also present during Academy of Hope's recent graduation on February 1st, where they captured great moments of the emotional event and words from one of our graduates, Darnetta Hollis. The segment was aired on various CBS channels and affiliates over the weekend of February 15. We're so happy to share this video with you!
Non profit bringing hope to adult learners
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50142235n
Thank you CBS for this fantastic piece!
WAMU 88.5
Academy of Hope was also chosen to be featured on the Community Minute segment produced by WAMU 88.5. Each month, Community Minute highlights community organizations that are working to improve the lives of people in the DC metro region. Lecester Johnson, Executive Director, spoke for Community Minute. Listen to Lecester throughout March on WAMU 88.5 or by following the link below:
Community Minute: Basic adult education services in Wards 5 and 8 in D.C.
http://wamu.org/community/13/02/27/community_minute_basic_adult_education_services_in_wards_5_and_8_in_dc
Thank you WAMU 88.5!
Friday, March 8, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
Academy of Hope is offering College Readiness Classes
Interested in taking College Readiness Classes?
Academy of Hope's Bridge program seeks to support adult learners as they prepare for college coursework. Students will attend academic classes in math, writing and grammar, build computer skills, receive assistance in completing college essays and financial add documents as well as receive individual advising and career counseling.
Apply by March 18th, 12pm.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Succeeding in Education, Business & Life
Academy Students Benefit from Capital One Partnership
Naomi Smouha, Community Relations Manager, Capital One said the Academy of Hope proposal was selected based on the uniqueness on their request. “We were so excited to see the creativity involved in their concept: to bring AOH’s learners to our facility and engage them with our associates in an intimate conversation about the ins and outs of IT positions, working in a corporation and allowing Capital One employees to provide the students guidance.”
From the outset it was obvious that the Capital One staff was committed to creating a partnership with the Academy of Hope students. They built a comprehensive agenda for the students that included an in-depth discussion of the corporate culture of Capital One, a tour of the facility, and freely answered questions about their own professional experiences that lead them to their current positions at Capital One. AOH students were given the opportunity to shadow Capital One staffers and sat in on conference calls and participated in meetings that gave them a real-life glimpse of the leadership and teamwork of a successful business. Capital One staffers patiently gave information breakdowns that allowed the students to fully engage in the process.
The diligence and thoughtful attention of the Academy of Hope students was noted by many Capital One staffers. “I was really impressed with how much drive all of the students had as it pertained to the next steps in their career,” noted Naomi Smouha. “Whether they were entering the tech field for the first time, or were learning new skills to enhance their work experience, they asked thoughtful, important questions about how to ensure their success in the workplace.”
One of the most popular segments of the day was the question and answer session between the AOH students and the staff at Capital One. Students were given advice on job hunting, networking, knowing the culture of the company and using whatever tools they needed to get past their own limitations.Each of the AOH students were impressed by how accommodating the staff at Capital One were to them and mentioned that they felt that they were addressing each of them as individuals and not just as a group. Belinda Josie, an Academy of Hope student commented on the specifics of what she learned at her visit. “It was so helpful to learn what companies are looking for. The phone interview is a new experience for me and I know now that I really need to prepare, to practice and be prepared for a wide variety of questions.”
As the day came to a close Daquanna Harrison-Ashton, Director of Secondary and Post-Secondary Education at AOH, recounted the lively conversations the students were having about how excited they were to share their experiences at Capital One with others in their lives. “I cannot stress how important it is for our students to recognize that they are leaders in their communities and have the power to share knowledge and information. Events like this help our students to find their voice and learning to use those voices is just as important as giving them these types of experiences,” said Harrison-Ashton.
Angela Douglas also an Academy of Hope student related her visit to Capital One with a class that she is taking through the Academy that discusses how to succeed in education, business and life. “One of the things our class taught us is that life is richer when you are giving to and receiving from others. The employees at Capital One really demonstrated how important it is to have an interactive team approach to achieve a success that is shared by all.”
--Trish Moreis-Stiles, Academy of Hope Volunteer Writer
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
The Adult Learner Story
The American Institutes for Research highlights adult
learners from Academy of Hope and the Carlos Rosario School to raise awareness
about the struggles and triumphs faced by these non-traditional students.
This video features Academy of Hope Executive Director, Lecester Johnson, two Academy of Hope learners, Carlita and Karisma, and one Academy of Hope graduate, Kenneth. Want more stories of Academy of Hope learners and their successes? Check out our Fall 2012 newsletter here.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Mayor Gray Proclaims Sept. 10-16 as Adult Education and Fam. Literacy Week in DC!
Click here to view the full Proclamation.
Text of the Proclamation as follows:ADULT EDUCATION AND FAMILY LITERACY WEEK
September 10 - 16, 2012
WHEREAS, the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) recognizes the need for a highly literate citizenry to be successful in today's world that is driven by technological advancements; and
WHEREAS, one-fifth of the District's adult's need basic literacy skills and secondary school credentials to meet their academic, career and personal goals; and
WHEREAS, OSSE sub-grantees and other providers offer adult education, ancillary, postsecondary education and workforce transition services to District residents so that they may earn a high school diploma or GED, pursue job training or postsecondary education, and enter or retain employment to earn a sustainable wage and attain self-sufficiency:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, THE MAYOR OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, do hereby proclaim September 10 - 16, 2012 as "ADULT EDUCATION AND FAMILY LITERACY WEEK" in Washington, DC, and call upon all the residents of this great city to join me in encouraging our citizens to learn more about the importance of literacy and become involved in programs with learners and literacy programs in our community.
Vincent C. Gray
Monday, August 27, 2012
Academy of Hope on WUSA9 Hero Central
Academy of Hope featured on WUSA9 Hero Central Segment hosted by JC Hayward
Original air date: Monday 8/27/2012
Written by Elizabeth Jia
Excerpt:
WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) --- The average person without a high school diploma earns $451 a week, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Adults in the District who want to earn their GED or prepare for college have a place to turn.
Academy of Hope is a non-profit adult learning center serving about 800 students. Students pay $30 dollars a semester, or volunteer in exchange for enrollment.
"I was working two jobs, 60 hours a week. Yet I still didn't make enough to support four children." Darnetta Hollis, 29, needs a higher paying job, but she needs to finish school first. Hollis left school in the 11th grade when she became pregnant. But now she is able to return to classes at Academy of Hope.
"You don't want to be a hypocrite to your children. If you're telling them to finish school and go to college, you need to do the same," Hollis said. Since 2008 Hollis has been coming to the adult learning center, part-time. She wants to concentrate on Hospitality Management at CCDC. Her long-term goal: to earn a Master's degree within the next six years. The Academy of Hope gives her the confidence to achieve.
http://www.wusa9.com/life/community/herocentral/article/218664/264/HERO-CENTRAL-Academy-of-Hope-Offers-A-Chance-To-Finish-School-
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
‘This is the beginning, not the end’
Before Thursday, June 14, Angela B. was the only one of her
mother’s nine children not to have graduated from high school. Walking across
the stage to finally receive her diploma at the Academy of Hope graduation
ceremony, her smile said all her family needed to know. “I told my mom that
instead of saying eight of your children have a high school diploma, now you
can say that all nine of them have one,” she said. Now, Angela plans to continue her education
with the goal of becoming a substance abuse counselor.
 |
| Angela poses for her graduation portrait. |
Angela was
in good company at the ceremony, held in Crawford Hall in North East, DC. In an
auditorium crowded with proud graduates, their beaming family members and a
whole network of support in the Academy of Hope staff and volunteer faculty,
everyone had a reason to be proud. Introducing the graduates, Executive Director,
Lecester Johnson, quoted the Shel Silverstein poem “Woulda-Coulda-Shouda,” in
which “…those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas/All ran away and hid/From that one little
Did.”
“Standing
in front of me are a whole bunch of ‘Dids,’” Johnson said. It was not an easy
road for a lot of the graduates here tonight…and it is one thing to say ‘I
‘woulda coulda shoulda’ done it’, it’s another thing to have actually
succeeded.”
As each student was introduced and was
presented withtheir diploma, there were plenty of success stories to go around.
Twenty-four of the 27 graduates were
present to walk across the stage to receive their GED certificates or high
school diplomas. The
audience heard from graduate Antonette R., who remembered returning to her
classes at Strive for Success, the
STRIVE DC-Academy of Hope joint youth-focused GED program, a mere two days
after giving birth to her son. She was getting ready to go to class on the day
her contractions began, but soon realized that she would have to go to the
hospital. “The first thing I did…was call my teachers from the hospital to tell
them I can’t make it,” she said. She had her baby and went right back to studying
– she was determined to not let anything get in the way of her obtaining her
high school diploma.
For Mary C.,
graduating from Academy of Hope with her high school diploma after 17 years of
hard work means that she can get back on track with a career in child
development or education—a plan that has been on her radar for a while. “I’ve
always wanted to do that,” she said. She had worked with preschoolers before and
the fact that she didn’t have her high school diploma held her back. Now, armed with one following her long
awaited and well deserved graduation from Academy of Hope, she’s looking
forward to continuing her education at the University of DC and eventually
working in childhood development.
Throughout
the evening, the smiles kept coming. Anthony J. accepted his diploma after
being named the ‘social butterfly’ by his presenter. Four students received attendance
awards for their dedication to coming to class and Tony Y. received the “I Can
Fly” award for his hard work in class and great help outside the classroom. Several
other students received the industry recognized Internet and Computer Core
Certification (IC3) certificates, which will greatly help them in their further
pursuits of either college or a job. Eugene
Thompson, a former volunteer, opened the ceremony with a passionate
take on “You Raise Me Up.”
 |
| June 2012 Academy of Hope graduates with Executive Director, Lecester Johnson. |
“This day means the fulfillment of
so many dreams,” Academy of Hope’s co-founder, Marja Hilfiker said. Whether it
means closure after a lifetime of striving for a high school diploma or the
extra boost that a young person needed to get to college, for the students,
teachers and families at the graduation, Thursday was more than a day to
celebrate their achievements. It was the beginning of a lifetime full of
continued success.
By Martha
Shanahan, volunteer writer for Academy of Hope
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