Hope Jr.

Hope Jr.

Marillac St. Vincent’s neighborhood youth program

What started as a spin-off from Project Hope focusing on pregnancy prevention, serving only girls, has blossomed into multi-faceted, year-round, extra-curricular initiative that has helped shaped the lives of thousands of children and teens over the last 30 years.

Hope Junior offers children and teens high-quality after-school program activities and opportunities during non-school hours. The goal of Hope Junior is to provide youth with positive experiences at a young age that will translate into positive choices in the future.

We believe it is important to expose the children to as many opportunities and experiences so they can develop the skills to make positive choices in their lives and for their futures.

Community Service Projects:

  • Fine arts activities in music, drama, arts and crafts, including an annual musical production that is performed by our Hope Jr. kids.
  • Tutoring/mentoring program providing youth with after-school and weekend help that ranges in homework help to lessons in life.

Daily Programming Services Include:

  • Homework help
  • Mentoring
  • Sports
  • Book club
  • Field trips
  • Recreation
  • Fine arts
  • Kids Café meal
  • Tutoring
  • Exercise
  • Games
  • Choir
  • Dance
  • Arts and crafts
  • Drama

Saturday Activities Include:

  • Basketball games
  • Holiday celebrations
  • Cultural events
  • Special trips
  • Tutoring
  • Guest performers

Grade School Daily Programming and School Year

Community children come to Hope Junior during out-of-school time which includes after-school, school holidays, vacations and summer.

Program Highlights:

  • Hope Junior meets Monday through Friday after school from 2:30PM to 6:00PM daily.
  • Hope Junior Summer meets Monday through Friday after school from 9:00AM to 3:30PM daily.
  • 50 children attend between the ages of five to 13.
  • Average daily attendance is 90%.

Teen School Year

Community teenagers come during out-of-school time which includes after-school, school holidays, vacations and summer.

Program Details Include:

  • Program schedule is Monday through Friday from 3:00PM to 6:00PM
  • Summer program schedule is Monday through Friday from 9:00AM to 2:30PM

Grade School Daily Programming and School Year

Community children come to Hope Junior during out-of-school time which includes after-school, school holidays, vacations and summer.

Program Highlights:

  • Hope Junior meets Monday through Friday after school from 2:30PM to 6:00PM daily.
  • Hope Junior Summer meets Monday through Friday after school from 9:00AM to 3:30PM daily.
  • 50 children attend between the ages of five to 13.
  • Average daily attendance is 90%.

Teenagers participate in the following:

  • Writing papers
  • Helping tutor younger children
  • Completing community service hours required for graduation

After School Matters

Teens 14-18 years old (High School)

After School Matters is funded by the City of Chicago. It has been part of Hope Junior for over 5 years. The program offers teens after-school programs and summer jobs in the fine arts. Teens interview each session, turning in a resume and meeting with the instructors before being offered the position. The accepted teens participate in leadership classes, keep time sheets and complete the fine arts program which includes developing the script, designing, making customs, painting scenes and props, and performing.

Many of the teens in this program demonstrate real talent and leadership skills as they work on productions. They are not only learning skills and building confidence, but are also learning how to work as a team and the patience it takes to deliver a finished project at the end of the sessions. They are always very excited to perform but have really been learning how to build the foundation that culminates in the performance. They have also learned to understand that it is important for everyone to do their part because each person’s job is important for the whole.

Basketball for Girls and Boys

The girls and boys basketball teams practice daily and most games occur on Saturdays. The coaches teach and focus on team work, developing skills and good sportsmanship

Celebrations

100% of Hope Junior/ASM received back packs and school supplies for the start of every new school year.

  • Pumpkin Patch/Haunted House activities.
  • Christmas Party
  • Teens presented at the Pastor Breakfast on Violence
  • February Black History Presentation
  • April Breakfast with the Bunny
    • Thanksgiving Celebration
    • Weber Stephen Christmas Party
    • Boys and Girls Basketball Banquet
    • Valentine Celebration
    • June Graduation Celebration

Youth Mentors

After participating in Hope Junior and graduating from high school, the program offers employment opportunities for young adults to continue working with the youth as mentors. Mentors lead small groups, coach sports, supervise field trips, and help build relationships between the kids.

Youth-EAVI

Youth-EAVI focuses on diminishing violence and aims to provide practical resources for children and teens. The Chicago Police Department’s 11th District is partnering with us to work directly with 6th to 12th graders to engage them in academic enrichment, personal development, and community services activities. Their meetings and activities are held monthly in the Foglia Center.

Hope Junior by the numbers

We provide youth with positive experiences at a young age that will translate into positive choices in the future

20

fourteen and fifteen year olds worked in Hope Jr. and received a stipend from Chicagobility

12

youth served as counselors in Hope Jr.

55

teens employed through our After School Matters program over three annual sessions