Services of Hope receives recognition

This year Services of Hope was recognized for being the largest Training Sponsor for Sunset High School in Dallas, Texas. An Employer Appreciation Banquet is held every spring to honor employers who participate in the Cooperative Education Program. Staff from SOH and several of our interns from Julia T. Saldivar attended The DISD Employer Appreciation and Scholarship Banquet at City Place in Dallas, Texas. After the banquet the interns had a chance to meet with Mrs. Robbie Owens, Channel 11 Reporter,  Mrs. Sharon Dickinson, author of two editions (1985 and 1990)  Dallas Oil,  Inc.,  An Administrative Office Simulation,  and several others who were motivational speakers during the program. We look forward to continually supporting the Business Education Coop Program in the future. 

Social responsiblity training makes model student

Montrauious is a 2nd grader at Julia C. Frazier Elementary School.  Last year he was a disrespectful student.  He threw temper tantrums in the classrooms for any reason. He initiated raucous behavior and would participate in physical confrontations with his fellow classmates on a daily basis.

 

During the fall semester of 2010 Montrauious was enrolled in the afterschool program provided by Services of Hope and specifically the Social Responsibility Training curriculum.  After several weeks in SRT classes Montrauious had transformed his behavior from the school "bad boy" to a productive student.

 

Now, he is a model student.  He treats his fellow students and teachers with respect.  He demonstrates a positive classroom/school participation and good citizenship. 

 

Montrauious is no longer an angry kid who was looking for a fight, but a student who is striving to make his school better.  He is the "poster boy" for SRT.

Volunteers Needed for A Day Of Hope May 7, 2011

Services of Hope is planning A Day Of Hope community festival to be held on May 7, 2011 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church/School, 11425 Marsh Lane, Dallas, Texas 75229, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Are you looking for an opportunity to volunteer in the community?  Here's a list of volunteer opportunities for the event:

Presbyterian Youth volunteer at Services of Hope

5th - 8th graders from Highland Park Presbyterian
Church volunteer at Services of Hope April 9th.

On Saturday, April 9, 2011, we had 30 children from Highland Park Presbyterian Church (HPPC) here at Services of Hope for a youth volunteer day of service. SOH prepared a continental breakfast, which the children and their leaders really enjoyed.

After eating breakfast, we had introductions and a brief SOH overview, explaining SOH and what services our organization provides to the community. We introduced the Literacy Character Connections program.  Anthony White of SOH presented the Literacy component, Keerica Ford presented the Character component, and Donna Patterson concluded with the Connections component of the LCC programming.

We separated into groups of six with each staff member. Everyone was eager and excited about working on the projects we planned for them. These projects included the following: yard work, planting flowers, cleaning the grounds outside, cleaning the building inside, rotating food pantry items, together with administrative duties such as filing, organizing, special event binders, etc.

The 5th thru 8th graders worked very hard and diligently to complete the entire project in one hour. We all had a great time fellowshipping with each other.

Once we came back together, we held a feedback session with the children to see what they enjoyed most and what they would like to see on their next youth day at SOH. There were several children that came up to speak and told us how much they enjoyed being at SOH, and would like to come back. One of the young men prayed for us and we dismissed.

Ms. Teresa, SOH chief culinary provider, could not help herself and fed everyone lunch! The children enjoyed their meal and really appreciated Ms. Teresa for taking the time to prepare lunch for them. It was a joy and pleasure having the youth of HPPC take out time to volunteer with the staff of Services of Hope. A good day was had by all!!!!

Creekview High School Key Club earns an A+ from Services of Hope!!



Key Club in ACTION!



Services of Hope sincerely appreciates the volunteers from the Creekview High School Key Club (Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD) in helping us to distribute over 500 meals to needy families and the community over the past two community events.  

Key Club is a student-governed organization that encourages high school students to get involved in serving their community.  The Key Club’s purpose is to bring students together in order to achieve a common goal for the betterment of our community.  The student leaders find the events, organize the volunteer point system, and assist the organization's members in meeting their needs.

Nhon Le (pictured far left) says, “Being the President of Key Club has given me great opportunities to volunteer in my community and get my peers involved in community service as well. As the President, I find volunteer events for my members, organize dates for meetings, and lead the organization with the help of my officers: Forrest Lin (VP), Nguyen Tran (Historian), Laura Chong (Secretary), Nakul Pandav (Report Secretary), and Brian Pae (Treasurer). Key Club has given me insight on a multitude of new perspectives. For instance, when our organization assisted Services of Hope during the holidays, it really opened my eyes and made me appreciate how fortunate I am.”

"I have worked with the Creekview Key Club in recent community efforts and I must say that these young adults model great character and a refreshing heart of generosity.  I am excited about the ongoing opportunities where we can work together at helping those in need."

-Richard Jackson,

Services of Hope Board of Directors

Track Shoes Needed!

Track team members from
Julia C. Fowler Elementary School

The Track Team of Frazier Elementary School participated in a track event on April 2, 2011.  Although they ran a hard race, they were unable to place.  Their determination is commendable.  Although the school purchased shirts for the team, the school cannot afford to buy track shoes.  Many of the students cannot participate to the fullest extent of their ability because they do not have the proper equipment.  Do you know anyone who could help these children with track shoes?

Rebellious to model student with SRT

Nya Propes started out as a rebellious student at Julia C. Frazier Elementary School  who didn't like being told what to do.  She didn't want to participate in any of the activities offered by Services of Hope's Social Responsibility Training. She was really shy and quiet when it came to her personal life.  Therefore, she was basically locked in a shell.

 

By mid-semester she received SRT classes on "Good Behavior and Making the Right Decisions".  Nya started becoming an avid participant in the activities.  She began to open-up and express her most closely kept secrets.  She told of her wishe to spend more time with her parents.  Nya quotes, "We really don't have much time to spend with each other, but I'm happy for the times that we have." 

 

She comes from a married household, her mother is 28 years old and her father is many years older.  She had also a brother, Anthony, who is 7 years old.

 

Nya is now an A-B student.  She says that she wants to be a 2nd grade math teacher.  The future is looking bright for Nya and she is accomplishing her dreams one day at a time

The Big Chair

Although Principal Leslie Sharp has a busy daily schedule with her administrative duties at Julia C. Frazier Elementary School in Dallas Texas, she still enjoys reading to students sitting in what the students call "The Big Chair". Occasionally, Mrs. Sharp will ask her teachers to recommend students that are commended for academic or  good behavior to send them to the hallway so she can have a special reading time for them.  The students of Services of Hope's Social Responsiblity Training Program (SRT), pictured here, have been recognized for demonstrating leadership in the school.

Shined as Stars

The students of Hampton Preparatory "Shined as Stars" last night as they celebrated their completion of the Services of Hope sponsored Leadership and Student Responsibility Training Program. From the opening of the ceremony, each student of the program had the opportunity to participate and demostrate what they learned from the responsibility training sessions. Several students were participants in the progarm, beginning with the Greeting by Amariah Williams, 7th grade, and Invocation given by William Jackson, III, 7th grade.
Three students gave their "Testimonies", these students were; Branna Scott, 8th grade,Crystal Enriguez, 7th grade and Taylor Davis, 8th grade. Taylor gave a dynamic testimony that brought the crowd to their feet.

The presentation of certificates and special awards were presented by; Mrs. Pat Smith, wife of Emmitt Smith of the "Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities" who fund Services of Hope's program. Special presentation by: Shuggarbear Creations and closing remarks given by Mr. Mack Criddell, SOH Board Member. Every student was given gifts from Services of Hope and "Powercards" from Dave and Buster's. The students had a great time in the game area.

The entire event was truly a night to be remembered.

From Anthony White, Campus Manager, Hampton Prep Academy.

Where will our leaders come from?

We need Leaders, those who will organize our society, lead our government, our law enforcement, our businesses, and our charitable organizations. Where will they come from? Our answer is Hampton Preparatory School. 

Great leaders start with a solid character foundation.  Services of Hope teaches Social Responsibility Training to the students at Hampton Preparatory School through their after school program. The curriculum of the Social Responsibility Training (SRT®) from Character Development Systems, Inc is designed to reduce specific risk factors that are problematic aspects of character as identified through scientific research, and to enhance pro-social support, skills and motivation. The systematic, step-by-step approach of SRT® helps alter how students think, make judgments and decisions about right and wrong, and promotes actions and behaviors focused on creating positive relationships. Character classes are facilitated by Student Character Coaches who are trained in the SRT curricula.

What’s more, all these benefits will transfer over to career skills in the future. The goal is to train new leaders who will:

At School

• Have a positive influence on peers
• Take a responsible role in a school club or committee
• Help others achieve their goals

Extracurricular Activities

• Lead youth groups
• Help the community through volunteering

Family

• Build better relationships with siblings and parents
• Help with responsibilities
• Be a positive role model

On February 16, 2011, the Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities notified Services of Hope that its work with Hampton Preparatory School has been selected as a 2011 beneficiary.  PESC will provide funding for the Leadership Seminar including the project's Graduation Day event at Dave and Buster's. Thirty-three students in grades 6, 7, and 8 will have completed he 9 week SRT program this semester.

Big THANKS to Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities for helping Services of Hope supercharge these students' skills and confidence to be leaders in their school and and future leaders in our community!

Hat tip to Travell Williams, Services of Hope's Chairman of the Board of Directors, for sharing this exciting news.

Feeding the Hungry, Nourishing the Soul

One of our missions here at Services of Hope is to feed those who are hungry, but at the same time, provide nourishment for their soul.  Without food for the body, the soul's nourishment will be lost. Our Thanksgiving celebration -- called Thanksgiving baskets of blessings -- provides enough food for a family to eat several meals, including a full-size frozen turkey and fresh vegetables and fruits.  We also hold a worship service to nourish their souls as well as their bodies. We feed senior citizens, children, and families in between.  I hope you will join us in our worthy mission.

Volunteer John O'Neil carries a food basket for a senior citizen
in the Thanksgiving of Blessings celebration held at
Services of Hope's Dallas, Texas headquarters.

Planning for a Great 2011

Members of the Services of Hope Board of Directors.
Pictured:  Doris Prescott, Richard Jackson, Mack Criddell,
Travell Williams, and Russell Reeves.

The newly-elected board of directors of Services of Hope met on Saturday, February 12, 2011, to plan strategically for a great 2011 and the years to come.  The members of the board are:

Chairman:  Travell Williams
Vice-Chairman:  Mack Criddell
Secretary/Treasurer: Doris Prescott
Directors:  Tamela Thornton, Michelle May O'Neil, Scott Darby, Richard Jackson, Russell Reeves

Services of Hope plans to continue bringing after-school services to the at-risk youth in some of Dallas' most underserved schools. We will continue to provide literacy education, social responsibility training, and basic needs to as many students as possible.  Our goal is to be The Best after-school program.

Additionally, we will also continue to provide the Food Pantry on Thursdays starting at 10:00 am, as well as providing food to needy senior citizens.  The Thanksgiving Baskets Celebration and Santa's Helper's projects are vital to our community outreach and we will continue with those worthwhile projects too.

Of course, none of this is possible without the generosity of the community, so fundraising is a necessary part of our mission.  Please help us by making a tax-deductible donation.

Transforming the Lives of At-Risk Youth

Welcome to the Services of Hope Happenings Blog.  Here, you will be able to stay up-to-date on the latest news and events at Services of Hope.

Mission: Services of Hope is transforming lives of at-risk youth through literacy, character building skills, and promoting positive parental involvement; using data driven pioneering educational programs, in underperforming schools with sustainable funding and community participation.

Services of Hope Entities, Inc. was founded in 2004 as a faith-based organization, founded on principles of self-help, spiritual enrichment, and community renewal.  Services of Hope is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt corporation.

Our vision is to eradicate the continuing neglect and dismal future that students face when attending an underperforming school by

1. having a demonstrated turnaround program methodology, thus providing government policy-makers and school district administrators a comprehensive and implementable policy option;
2. providing a policy option for government policy-makers and school district administrators to implement a comprehensive, implementable, and demonstrated turnaround program prescription.

Our focus is on schools that year after year have denied the vast majority of their most vulnerable students a fair shot at success.  Continuing the level of neglect is morally unconscionable, and we must provide a new start for these students.  Services of Hope hopes to prevent the dismal future that statistical data suggests if children fail to achieve academically.