Blog

Hear from Our Sponsors!

Nicole — Sat, 11 May 2013 17:29:59 +0000

2012 Sponsor Karen GoodwinOur Sponsors can tell you better than we can how fulfilling it is to directly support a Generation Hope Scholar. So, we've compiled some of their quotes below.

[The best things is] seeing the light sparkle in Ambar's eyes, and seeing her succeed in school. -- Kimberly, 2012 Sponsor

Rarely, when I donate money, do I expect the majority of the contribution to have a direct impact, as it is with Generation Hope. -- Donna, 2011 Sponsor

I want people to know that it's not just another nonprofit organization mentoring teen mothers, but it is a mission and a movement to break the cycle of poverty by empowering teen parents to pursue their college education and to widen their horizon of opportunities. -- Julie, 2012 Sponsor

To read more about our Sponsors, check out their articles in our newsletters.

Want to become a Sponsor of a 2013/2014 Scholar? We're recruiting now! Click here for more info!

- Nicole

So who are your Scholars anyway?

Nicole — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:27:53 +0000

Here at Generation Hope, two questions that we hear frequently are “where do your Scholars come from?” and “who are they?” So, we thought we’d answer these questions here!

Teen pregnancy is not just an issue in cities, or in rural areas, or among certain groups of people. The need for teen parents to be able to access higher education is pressing across many demographics. Our Scholars are living in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (two in D.C., five in MD, and four in VA), and they are currently attending 8 colleges and universities. We are in the process of recruiting 10 more Scholars, and they too will come from all across the Washington, D.C. area.

So, who are our Scholars? All but one are raising one child while attending college (one Scholar is raising two children). Many are the first in their family to attend college, which means that they are working hard to prove the stereotypes about teen parents wrong and to start a new tradition of educational achievement in their families. The average incoming GPA of the 2012 Scholar class was an impressive 3.5/4.0. They have the same goals, aspirations, and fears as many college students and parents—they want to achieve their dreams, spend time with their children, be good providers, and have access to fulfilling career opportunities.

And who will our Scholars be in the future? Generation Hope is committed not only to providing services for teen parents who currently enrolled in our program, but also to reaching out to the wider community of pregnant and expectant teens and helping them realize that college is a real option for them. In 2012, we held 10 college readiness workshops, reaching 71 pregnant and parenting students, some of whom we hope will be future Generation Hope Scholars! In 2013, we are reaching out to even more young parents, spreading the word that college is a viable option for them and empowering them to beat the odds. Our Scholars have done just that—despite the unique challenges they face as teen parents, they are thriving in their degree programs, becoming more capable parents, more confident students, and creating stronger bonds in the process.

Interested in sponsoring a teen parent who will enter our program in July? Click here.

- Caroline, Program Manager

Welcome Our New Program Intern, Caroline!

Nicole — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:51:11 +0000

Caroline Griswold is thrilled to be joining the Generation Hope team! She is a summa cum laude graduate of Duke University with degrees in Dance and English. At Duke, she was extremely involved in the dance program, sang in an a cappella group, and wrote her honors thesis on ballet pedagogy. She also spent a summer interning with the Family Equality Council, an organization advocating for families headed by LGBT parents. Since graduation, Caroline has been performing in professional ballet and musical theater productions throughout the area and working as a tutor and tutor trainer with Applerouth Tutoring Services. Caroline currently lives in Arlington, VA with her boyfriend and their puppy. She is passionate about the mission of Generation Hope and excited to be a part of this wonderful organization.

Presidents' Day: Always an Inspiration

Nicole — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 13:00:10 +0000

Today is Presidents' Day, an opportunity to celebrate our country's leadership from the days of George Washington to today with President Barack Obama. There are pearls of wisdom and inspiration that we can glean from each of these men. One of my favorite presidents, Abraham Lincoln, captures one of Generation Hope's core beliefs in the quote below.

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.

We encourage our Scholars to be their biggest cheerleader. Your own belief in your success will propel you towards your goal more than anyone else's.

Enjoy your day!

- Nicole

Top 5 Reasons to Become a Sponsor

Nicole — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 20:29:17 +0000

Thinking of becoming a Generation Hope Sponsor? Everyone has a reason or a story about what or who got them involved. We've come up with the top 5 reasons you should submit your application today!

1. Mentoring works! Mentoring is one of the key components of being a Generation Hope Sponsor. Mentoring provides a direct relationship between the Sponsor and Scholar that is personalized and specific to their needs and development. Scholars receive comfort in knowing that they have someone "in their corner" to help them acheive their goals.

"It's like there's a whole circle of people who believe I can succeed, cheering me on." - Jennifer Ramirez, Scholar Class PRIMA 2011 & University of Maryland Alum '12

2. Make a lasting impact in someone's life. By becoming a Sponsor, you will experience a rewarding and personal connection that has a direct impact on a young parent's ability to reach their educational goals and provide for their family. This impact will trickle down into the lives of their children and impact generations to come.

"...she reminds me that what I do is important not just for myself or my family but for others and for future generations." -Donna Fleming, 2011 Generation Hope Sponsor

3. Do something meaningful and rewarding. "Invest in ONE person - a family member, friend, co-worker, mentee, whoever! - and it will make a world of difference in the community and in your own life." - Julie Kwon, 2012 Generation Hope Sponsor

4. Help someone see his or her own gifts. A great Sponsor can help someone to navigate through the complicated maze of college, their career, parenting or just life in general. Help Scholars tap into their potential to secure stable and successful futures.

"With the help of Donna, my Generation Hope family...I have been able to successfully manage my life and career goals." -Zataunia Heard, Scholar Class PRIMA 2011

5. It’s fun! We love to party! At Generation Hope we are a BIG family. We provide several family strengthing activities and social gatherings for Sponsor, Scholars, and their children to get together and create bonding experiences. To see some of our past events, click here to visit our gallery!

Becoming a Generation Hope Sponsor provides you with a hands-on, direct support experience with our Scholars. As a Sponsor you will be matched with a teen parent who is attending college in the D.C. Meto Area. Through this mentoring relationship, you will be able to provide guidance, advice and financial support that will assist them in earning their college degree and beginning a career. Your efforts and dedication will have a lasting impact on our Scholars, their families, and our communities.

In addition to emotional support, the Generation Hope Sponsorship includes a financial contribution that goes directly toward the Scholar’s tuition.

Want to learn more about this great opportunity? Join us for our Sponsor Open House on February 28, 2013! Click here for more details and to register for this event.

-Kendria

Children in Poverty on the Rise

Nicole — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:29:47 +0000

A recent study by the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) shows that more children are living in poverty and our youngest children (under age 3) are particularly vulnerable. While children represent 24 percent of the general population, they comprise 34 percent of all people in poverty. This is a staggering number.

When we see statistics such as these, we often ask why. Why are so many children suffering? NCCP offers some insight that particularly resonates with Generation Hope's mission:

Being a child in a low-income or poor family does not happen by chance. There are a range of factors associated with children’s experiences of economic insecurity, including race/ethnicity and parents’ educational attainment and employment.

When we dig further, we see that indeed 73 percent of infants and toddlers with parents who have a high school degree but no college – 1.7 million – live in low-income families. This reinforces our belief that helping teen parents earn their college degree will increase the likelihood that their family will achieve economic stability.

To read the full report, click here.

To get involved in our work, click here.

- Nicole

Meet Our New Intern, Rashia!

Nicole — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:41:48 +0000

Hello! My name is Rashia Canlas, a recent graduate of Bowie State University. Last December, I graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Child and Adolescent Studies with minors in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. I plan on going back to school to get my Master’s degree in Project Management and Human Resources. In the past, I’ve interned at the Department of Labor and the Department of Education to get exposure to the workforce and the federal government. After my internships, I was curious to see how nonprofit organizations worked, so here I am today. I live in a single parent household with my dad and older sister, who is a registered nurse. In my free time, I love to spend time with my family and friends, attend church activities, and watch sports.

We're so excited to have you, Rashia!

Dr. King Knew What Mentoring Was Really About

Nicole — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 02:33:30 +0000

This past weekend was an awesome one here in Washington, D.C. Thousands of people participated in the National Day of Service by volunteering in the community. We celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the same day that the first Black president of the United States, President Barack Obama, was sworn into his second term in office. There was electricity in the air to say the least -- a true sense of optimism and opportunity. And you didn't have to be on the National Mall or attending an inauguration ball to feel it. You didn't have to be a Democrat. It transcended all of that.

I've always felt a connection to Dr. King. Even as a little girl watching "Eyes on the Prize" with my dad, I felt a“I Have a Dream Speech” The Martin Luther King Jr.‘s Address at March on Washington on August 28, 1963 in Washington, D.C. knot in my stomach when they told the story of his assassination, and I marveled at the sea of people that marched -- not for him -- but for what he was was willing to die for: equality for all. He has been one of my heroes for a very long time. And so, I often look up his quotes when I need encouragement, guidance, or grounding.

To honor him, we posted this quote from Dr. King on Generation Hope's Facebook page this weekend:

Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be.

Long before National Mentoring Month was established and even before people saw the value in mentoring or used it as a common term, Dr. King captured its true essence in this quote.

Why should we even care about investing our time in helping someone else become the person they have the potential to be? Because in not doing so, we are not being the very best people that we ought to be. Our highest performance can only be achieved in lifting others up. That is us at our best.

Mentoring allows us to share our successes and missteps with others -- to take our life's journey and intertwine it with another's for the sole purpose of doing good in the world.

If you look at our communities, the importance and value of mentoring is so clear. So many people need someone to believe in them. Our lives are forever changed because of Dr. King's tireless investment in other human beings, the vast majority of whom he never even knew. Imagine what our world would be like if -- like Dr. King -- we all made it our mission to help even one person become what they ought to be.

Happy Mentoring Month to you from all of us here at Generation Hope.

- Nicole

Whole Foods Foggy Bottom 5% Day to Benefit GH!

Nicole — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 02:14:17 +0000

I don't think anyone needs an excuse to shop at Whole Foods (let's be honest, the food is amazing!), but we have one for you: On Wednesday, January 16th, Whole Foods Foggy Bottom will donate 5% of their sales to Generation Hope!

If you're in the D.C. area on Wednesday, we invite you to swing by, say hello, and make a purchase to show your support! Generation Hope's table will be right by the store entrance so we can greet customers and tell them about our mission!

Oh, and we'll be live tweeting, posting pics to Facebook, and holding raffles for Generation Hope t-shirts and greeting cards throughout the day. Don't miss the fun!

- Nicole

Top 5 Reasons to Give to Generation Hope this Holiday Season

Nicole — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 18:15:31 +0000

Scholar Ambar with her daughter. Ambar attends Northern Virginia Community College.This time of year, you’re being bombarded by solicitations from many worthy organizations. It’s my job to tell you why you should give to Generation Hope. So, we've compiled the top five reasons you should make a gift to power our mission.

Your gift has a huge impact. Because we’re small and local, your gift greatly affects our ability to help teen parents earn their college degrees. When I make a donation to a charity, I often wonder if it will really make a difference, especially in larger organizations. You don’t have to wonder with Generation Hope, it will. Take a look at our 2012 annual report to see the numbers.
It’s not a one-shot deal. A gift to Generation Hope will last longer than a day, a week, or even a year. Education is a gift that lasts, impacting generations. When you give to Generation Hope you're changing the course of an entire family’s future. It truly is a gift that keeps on giving.
If you love children, you’ll love Generation Hope. We have a soft spot for families. We know that the future of our country is dependent on how well our children fare, including the children of teen parents. When you give to Generation Hope, you’re helping us create healthier, stable homes for children.
We show you where your gift has gone. Through email updates, Facebook posts, tweets, and our newsletter, we use every opportunity to show you who is benefiting from your giving and how it is making a difference in their lives. You don’t have to wonder.
We say thank you… a lot. Because every single dollar counts, we try to go out of our way to show our donors how much we appreciate them.

If you need another reason, here’s one – our founder and chief executive officer is living proof that our work transforms lives. :)

Thank you for considering Generation Hope as the recipient of your gift this holiday season.

- Nicole