Academy of Hope Adult PCS

Becoming recently licensed to work with adults in Washington, DC continues to prompt nostalgia of my time there! I've posted about my time with Academy of Hope Adult PCS and am so excited to share today about Sitar Arts Center. Thanks to Caitlin Paterson, PMP® for inspiring me to post about organizations close to my heart! Sitar Arts Center provides arts education and career training to all DC youth, regardless of cultural, systemic, or financial barriers. Words cannot convey the magic that happens there! When I interviewed for an Administrative Assistant role in 2001, I met with founder Rhonda Buckley-Bishop and now Executive Director Maureen Dwyer in Sitar's first office space, the basement of a Jubilee Housing apartment building. To say I fell in love would be an understatement. I still have artwork given to me by students in 2002. What a delight to greet passionate and dedicated students at the door as they headed to music lessons with Jana Nelhybel, Chris Stacey, Grace Hong Haskell Small, Betsy Small, Anderson Allen, and tim godshall, art class with Diana Gibson, Tim Gabel, Carmen Torruella-Quander, Amy Perlman Gura, Diane Lathrop, and Rachel Haxtema, early childhood music with Sylvia Zwi, writing class with Michele Elliott, Ruby McCann, and Anne Dammarell, and so many other amazing volunteers. Nowhere but the Sitar Arts Center could I work all day in a basement (no windows!), where if I moved an inch I would bump into my dear office mates Rhonda Buckley-Bishop, Michele Elliott, Maureen Dwyer, Joe Link, Emma Browning, Randi Greenwald, and Sara Gibson, and come out smiling. But as I've said, Sitar Arts Center is magic. In the original basement space, one main classroom hosted all disciplines - visual art, salsa, ballet, and hip hop dance, early childhood music, creative writing, band and drumming classes - and individual music lessons took place in smaller practice rooms. Sitar Arts Center quickly grew and in 2004 moved to its current location, still in Adams Morgan and complete with auditorium theater space and classrooms dedicated for each additional art discipline: visual art, creative writing, digital arts, dance and music. They are also building full speed ahead to open Sitar Next Door to increase programming by 50%. (New windows just went up!) Volunteer and giving opportunities abound at Sitar Arts Center. If you would like to add some magic to your life, check them out: Sitar Arts Center!

At Academy of Hope Adult PCS, we are committed to empowering those who guide adult learners toward brighter futures. This October, we're excited to #lead a #collaborative effort across DC’s adult education institutions by launching a unique cohort for the "Navigating Pathways to Opportunity" course—a transformative, tuition-based, virtual learning program. In this five-week, asynchronous course, Navigators—those who support student success—will enhance their skills in helping learners achieve their educational and career goals. Participants will complete five online modules, engage in discussion boards, and work on weekly activities at their convenience. A course facilitator will provide weekly summaries, lead discussions, offer strategies, and give feedback. The highlight is the final project, where participants will plan Navigator activities, identify resources and partners, and set learning goals. With a cohort of 18 participants, including eight Academy of Hope staff members and ten navigators from Briya Public Charter School, Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, and The Next Step Public Charter School, we’re building a strong community and network of practice. Our kick-off meeting allowed participants to share insights about their schools and roles, as well as their hopes for the course. We’re thrilled to see this group come together to shape the future of adult education in DC! #AdultEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment #NavigatorPathways #CommunityOfPractice #AdultLearners #EdLeaders

#AdultEd means higher salaries, better job opportunities, higher savings, improved working conditions, and professional mobility. Do you want to join Academy of Hope in supporting learners as they reach their career and education goals? Sign up to volunteer here: https://lnkd.in/eN4AVXkZ #AEFLWeek

This week, the DC Public Charter School Board unanimously approved Academy of Hope to continue as a charter school for the next five years, meeting our 10-year milestone! This decision is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and support of our incredible AoH community. Together, we’ve made a lasting impact on the lives of our adult learners, exceeding the sector in all four areas of performance, including learner persistence and high-level certifications. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this achievement!

Why is adult education important? Studies show that a mother’s reading skill is the greatest determinant of her children’s future academic success, outweighing all else. Join us in spreading awareness and advocating for adult education and family literacy during National #AEFLWeek. #AdultLiteracy #AoHCares

This week is Adult Education & Family Literacy (AEFL) Week and today is the FIRST Annual National GED Day! We honor the dedication of GED learners, educators, graduates, and all who support them on their journey to brighter futures through education. #NationalGEDDay #AEFLWeek #CelebrateEducation

We are thrilled to announce that Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School (AoH) is one of the recipients of the Health Equity Fund at the Greater Washington Community Foundation! The $8.7 million investment will support transformative projects focused on increasing economic mobility and wealth building in our community. Our partnership with NorthStar Institute and the Latin American Youth Center Career Academy (LAYCCA) will offer high-quality education, job training, and financial planning to 2,500 A.L.I.C.E. (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) students, setting them on a path to financial independence. Thank you to the Greater Washington Community Foundation for this incredible opportunity to advance health equity and create better outcomes for more DC residents. Together, we are shaping a brighter, more equitable future. #Adulteducation #HealthEquity #EconomicMobility #CommunityImpact #AcademyOfHope #GreaterWashingtonCommunityFoundation

Exciting News from Academy of Hope! We are thrilled to welcome our new and returning board members, whose diverse expertise and passion will greatly enhance our mission. A warm welcome to: Dr. Patrina Clark, Board Chair Eric Jones, Vice Chair Dr. Larry Condelli, Secretary Luann Sinclair, Treasurer Brett Allen, Board Member Nora Abramson, Board Member Rosalyn Brown, Board Member Dr. Laura Hendricks, Board Member Susan Leigh, Board Member Deborah Ringel, Board Member Jason Ufland, Board Member Together, we will support adult learners in changing their lives and transforming their communities by providing high-quality adult education and career training, creating direct pathways to economic mobility. Welcome aboard! #Leadership #Community #Education #AoH #economicmobility #aduteducation #lifelonglearners https://lnkd.in/dsqwC-RE

We're thrilled to announce that our COO Tiffany Godbout, MBA and our finance and compliance manager Ruweda Hussein, are attending an insightful program at Professional & Executive Development - Harvard Division of Continuing Education focused on strategic planning and execution. In today's dynamic business landscape, having a strategic plan is just the beginning. The real challenge lies in effectively implementing and sustaining those plans to achieve long-term success. That's why Tiffany and Ruweda dove into this comprehensive program designed for managers and leaders responsible for driving organizational goals forward. We look forward to leveraging their newfound expertise to further enhance our strategic initiatives and drive meaningful and transformative change across Academy of Hope Adult PCS. #aohdc #lifelonglearning #StrategicPlanning #ContinuousImprovement #LeadershipDevelopment #harvard

Please help us welcome our new member, Academy of Hope Adult PCS! For more than 35 years, the Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School has provided high-quality education, career, and student support services that change lives and improve communities. Learn more about our new member here: https://lnkd.in/e3t8Tx4v #membership #washingtondc #education George Longwell Lisa Sanders