History – Home of Hope Milwaukee

Years later, I became aware of the increased number of students facing homelessness, sexual abuse, and trafficking. These community challenges have a powerful impact on our families and neighborhoods. Having the privilege of being born to a family of movers and shakers, I was reminder of my grandparents who had a rooming house for those who were without food and shelter. A place for them to lay their head each night. Or, my grandmother, who was left to raise 12 children after being widowed. With support, she courageously went to school and began a teaching career at a local school. Then there’s my two aunts, who always led by example and reminded us always that many hands make light work. Countless other men and women who have shown strength in time of hardship, courage in times of fear, and strength to move forward. Finally, the history of Home of Hope School is furthermore grounded in my faith and belief that we are all called to make a positive difference in our community. If we are to improve the life of our families in a positive way, it is up to us to be the change and do the work!

For me, the trunk of a tree represents the connection of our past, present and future generations. Here is an opportunity to bridge the gap between those who have been underserved and to create a safe environment for our young families to live safely, learn completely, and grow exponentially. It was at this time that I began the work of researching and learning more about this population of students as well as discovering community resources that provide support for these students. What was revealed is that there is a need to provide not only a safe and secure home, but also a place where these young mothers can be educated while getting the support they need to empower them to make positive life choices for themselves and their baby. At this time, business courses were taken with WWBIC (Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation). In 2019, I was connected to WRCCS (Wisconsin Resource Center for Charter Schools). By taking part in various conferences, personal coaching and Professional Learning Network sessions, the work began on how to successfully open a charter school. In 2021, several informational meetings were held via Zoom with close friends from all walks of life and professions. During these meetings, several ideas were presented and there was great enthusiasm! In the fall of 2021, we began the process of selecting board members. To date, we have a group of committed professional individuals determined to create positive change by building strong families by creating bright futures. Our journey begins here with our board of seven! In the spring of 2022, our board received a stipend grant which will enable us to develop as a team, receive professional development, and learn from local schools about best practices in reaching and educating our youth.

With a strong foundation and plenty of community support, the Home of Hope Board began reaching out to establish a variety of partnerships with other agencies in our area. On June 26, an event will be held in which we will share information about homelessness, sexual abuse, and trafficking. It will be at this time that a community needs assessments will be given in which we will establish not only community needs, but also seek to find other individuals who share our commitment to find and ensure these young families are safe, educated, and feel empowered to live a life that brings a feeling of joy, accomplishment and pride.