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Newsletter
January/ February/ March 2015
Quarter 1
Visit us online at www.hopes.org or email us at [email protected].
Serving Individuals and Families in Hudson and Union Counties
REMINDER!
TAX DAY IS APRIL 15th!
HOPES CAP Inc. offers FREE Income tax assistance!
There is still time to set up an appointment and meet with one of
our trained tax preparers. HOPES' VITA program operates out
of several sites in Hudson and Union County. Remember to call
1(888) 409-2935 to set up an appointment and to learn about
eligibility requirements. Taxes are due April 15th, but our VITA
program will continue to schedule appointments until June 30th.
Take advantage of this FREE service!
HOPES Highlights:
 Celebrating Black History Month
Pg.2
 HOPES awarded Grant from National Council on Aging
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
HOPES’ STEAM-Based Summer Camp Palooza/ Pre-school Summer Enrichment
Programs
 Head Start’s Trike-A-Thon to Raise Funds for St. Jude
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
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HOPES Celebrates International Mother Language Day/ FREE Assisted Transportation Pg.6
information
HOPES Awarded Grants for the “Like A Boss: Teen Entrepreneurs Program”
Volunteer Highlight: FDU Alternative Spring Breakers Make a Positive Impact/ Chair
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
 Yoga for Seniors.
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 FREE Adult Education Classes
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HOPES CAP, Inc.: 301 Garden St., Hoboken, NJ 07030 ● HOPES CAP, Inc:7-9 Watchung Ave. Plainfield, NJ 07060
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January/ February/ March 2015
Visit us online at www.hopes.org or email us at [email protected].
Celebrating Black History Month
During the month of February, the history and accomplishments
of African Americans are celebrated and recognized for
contributions to their community including but not limited to, the
areas of education, community development, business, and civil
rights. This Black History Month, HOPES CAP Inc.’s President/
CEO, Ora Welch participated in a Lunch and Learn Panel held by
Hudson County Community College on February 10th, 2015.
The Hudson County Community College held the Lunch and
Learn Panel at the college’s Center for Business and Industry.
Notable African American leaders from Hudson County were
invited to speak at the event in which HOPES CAP Inc.’s
HOPES President/CEO, Ora Welch, left center) with President and CEO, Ora Welch attended as one of the panelists.
Some of the other panelists included Michelle Richardson,
other distinguished panelists at the Hudson County
Director of Hudson County Parks and Community Services and
Community College Lunch and Learn Panel event.
Charles Mainor, New Jersey Assemblyman. The topic of
discussion was “Perspectives from the Hudson County Business
Community” in relation to the African American experience and how it influences community professionals.
The event was well attended as the community was invited to participate.
According to civil rights activist Dorothy Height, “Without community and community service, we would not
have a strong quality of life. It's important to the person who serves as well as the recipient. It's the way in
which we ourselves grow and develop.” With this in mind, President/CEO, Ora Welch and HOPES thank
Hudson County Community College for their
invitation and for the school’s work towards
the shared goal of dispersing knowledge that
provides members of the community with the
tools needed for a strong quality of life.
Panelists share their perspectives as notable African
American members of the Hudson County Business
Community.
HOPES CAP, Inc.: 301 Garden St., Hoboken, NJ 07030 ● HOPES CAP, Inc:7-9 Watchung Ave. Plainfield, NJ 07060
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January/ February/ March 2015
Visit us online at www.hopes.org or email us at [email protected]
HOPES Awarded Grant from National Council on Aging
HOPES Community Action Partnership Incorporated is proud to announce the receipt of $100,000 in funding
from the National Council on Aging. The grant award will support the establishment of a no-cost Benefits
Enrollment Center open to all Medicare beneficiaries who are residents of Hudson County, New Jersey. Working
with a coalition of community partners, including Hoboken Family Planning, Bayonne Economic Opportunity
Foundation, Hudson County Area Agency on Aging, Starting Points, Hoboken Housing Authority, and the Town
of Kearny, HOPES will reach at least 3,000 people with education and outreach. Additionally, HOPES will screen
2,000 people for core benefits, and assist 1,250 people to complete and submit applications for core benefits,
along with another 2,000 for optional/supplemental benefits.
The 15-month project will focus on serving Medicare beneficiaries in
Hudson County who are seniors and adults living with disabilities.
Hudson County has the highest concentration of Medicare beneficiaries at 150% of the federal poverty level in the State of New Jersey, along
with a high concentration of Medicare beneficiaries with limited English
proficiency and/or disabilities. There are approximately 23,700 Medicare beneficiaries at or below 150% of the poverty level in Hudson
County, accounting for 32% of the total Medicare beneficiary
population in the county.
Consumers will be able to access services at the David E. Rue Building
at 301 Garden Street in Hoboken, as well as at satellite sites in spaces Seniors are excited to receive benefits of the National
Council on Aging Grant.
provided by agency partners throughout the county. These “one-stop
shops” will pair trained and certified counselors with consumers to
evaluate needs, determine eligibility, and apply for all applicable benefits. Transportation will be provided to and
from the enrollment locations. Core focus areas for enrollment will include Medicare Part D Extra Help (LowIncome Subsidy), the Medicare Savings Program, Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP), and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Supplemental focus areas will
include other programs that HOPES currently provides assistance for, such as Social Security, utility bill
assistance, housing counseling, income tax preparation assistance, and health insurance coverage.
For more information, contact Community Service Manager, Evelyn Mercado at 1-855-OK-HOPES.
HOPES CAP, Inc.: 301 Garden St., Hoboken, NJ 07030 ● HOPES CAP, Inc:7-9 Watchung Ave. Plainfield, NJ 07060
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January/ February/ March 2015
Visit us online at www.hopes.org or email us at [email protected]
HOPES CAP, Inc.: 301 Garden St., Hoboken, NJ 07030 ● HOPES CAP, Inc:7-9 Watchung Ave. Plainfield, NJ 07060
Page 4
January/ February/ March 2015
Visit us online at www.hopes.org or email us at [email protected].
Head Start’s Trike-A-Thon to Raise Funds for St. Jude
HOPES CAP, Inc.’s Head Start / Early Childhood Program will participate in its annual St. Jude Trike-AThon again this year. The event will raise funds to benefit the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, one of
the world’s premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic
childhood diseases. HOPES CAP, Inc. has been participating in the St. Jude Trike-A-Thon since 2001 and
has raised over $34,000 to date.
This event will take place during the Week of the Young Child, April 12th-18th, 2015. The event will have
children participate in riding tricycles, face painting, and other fun activities, while raising money for St.
Jude. Historically, HOPES families have done a great job of helping the children obtain sponsors to
participate. Upon completion of the program, the children receive prizes they earned like Trike-A-Thon
t-shirts and backpacks.
St. Jude depends on community-based fundraising programs like the Trike-A-Thon to provide the worthy
support to give to families. At St. Jude, families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance and no
child is ever denied treatment because of the family's inability to pay. The daily operating cost for St. Jude is
$1.5 million, which is primarily covered by public contributions including fundraising events such as this.
Please help donate funds to this important cause by making a check out to St.
Jude Children’s Research Hospital or donate online by visiting
http://fundraising.stjude.org/hopes1
Picture above of children having a great time during the TrikeA-Thon !
HOPES CAP, Inc.: 301 Garden St., Hoboken, NJ 07030 ● HOPES CAP, Inc:7-9 Watchung Ave. Plainfield, NJ 07060
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January/ February/ March 2015
Visit us online at www.hopes.org or email us at [email protected]
HOPES Celebrates International Mother
Language Day
What Is International Mother Language Day? International Mother
Language Day is held on Friday, February 20th, it’s a United Nations
sponsored worldwide celebration of the 6,000 different heritages/
home languages spoken throughout the world. It encourages people
to learn and use their own mother language(s) and other world
anguages with the goal of maintaining the knowledge and cultural
practices that are woven into verbal communication. If you would
like to learn more about this special event you can find more
information at http://bit.ly/1G6Y53s.
HOPES’ Plainfield Classrooms celebrated International Mother
Language Day by having students make language graphs to represent
Each classroom created posters highlighting the day’s
events
all of the languages spoken in their classrooms and families
volunteered by reading stories and poems in their native
language. They were also invited to send in special books from their native country. Students and teachers
created wonderful posters to display in the centers and day’s activities!
Did you know HOPES offers FREE Assisted
Transportation?
rv
e
S
e
e
r
F
A
Round-Trip Transportation
for:
 Medical Appointments
 Pharmacies
 Grocery Stores
 Banks
 Government
Institutions
ice
Assisted
Transportation
to Eligible
Hudson County
Call today
for more information!
1-855-OK-HOPES
301 Garden Street
HOPES CAP, Inc.: 301 Garden St., Hoboken, NJ 07030 ● HOPES CAP, Inc:7-9 Watchung Ave. Plainfield, NJ 07060
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January/ February/ March 2015
Visit us online at www.hopes.org or email us at [email protected]
HOPES Awarded Grants for
“Like A Boss: Teen Entrepreneurs Program”
Mira Septimus, Dominique Tornabe and Matt Wade at the “From Students to Start Ups
Event “ which celebrated the exciting achievements of freshmen students from the Hoboken
Charter High School who have been taking the “Like a Boss: Teen Digital Media and
Entrepreneurship Program”
“Competency in technology has been noted as the new literacy in today’s technology driven society and critical
thinking and problem solving skills are imperative to compete in a global economy” stated Dominique
Tornabe, Community Education Manager, “those are cornerstones of the program’s establishment ”. With
these principles in mind, the “Like a Boss: Teen Digital Media and Entrepreneurship” program teaches students
about basic computer skills, investigating problems, actions and solutions as well as research and development
skills. Other key components include marketing and branding, public speaking and networking and confidencebuilding through exercises designed to help them achieve success, no matter what path they take in life.
As each pillar is honed with every new class of freshmen students, the program has been able to
establish substantial growth since started in 2012. Beginning with $2,500 of initial funding and a strong
conviction to solve a problem, the program to date has been awarded over $45,000.00 in funding. Current
funders include Party with Purpose, PSE&G and the NJ State Office of Faith Based Initiatives (OFBI). From
these funders monies have been allocated to provide selected students with seed money to launch their
start-ups. Specifically, the OFBI grant award for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship places emphasis on
seed funding for youth to start their own business ventures, delivery of key skill sets needed to do so and
setting forth an accountable program aimed at creating tangible change in the state of NJ.
For additional information on recently funded student startups, please see article in NJ Tech Weekly:
http://www.njtechweekly.com/art/2535-hoboken-teens-pitch-ideas-developed-in-hopes-cap-like-a-bossprogram/
HOPES CAP, Inc.: 301 Garden St., Hoboken, NJ 07030 ● HOPES CAP, Inc:7-9 Watchung Ave. Plainfield, NJ 07060
Page 7
January/ February/ March 2015
Visit us online at www.hopes.org or email us at [email protected].
Volunteer Highlight: Fairleigh Dickinson University Alternate
Spring Breakers Make a Positive Impact!
Fairleigh Dickson University (FDU) students assisted with
maintenance duties at HOPES’ 301 Garden St. location.
College volunteers receive a master class in
Minecraft.
President/CEO, Ora Welch, was thrilled to have teens
connect with college students for ono on one Q &A
Fairleigh Dickson University (FDU) students participated in an Alternative Break Program this March. Unlike
the traditional Spring Break experience, these students focused their time and energy in an effort to positively
impact the community. Ten enthusiastic and engaged volunteers provided support on a variety of levels to
HOPES including the following

They assisted with general maintenance at HOPES’ 301 Garden Street, Hoboken facility and did a great job!

Worked one on one with our teen entrepreneurs to discuss future goals and answer questions about the
college experience.

Attended a Minecraft Maker’s Meet Up and received a master class in Minecraft, taught by our 6 -10 year
olds in attendance that evening.
The Alternative Spring Break program places emphasis on group and individual reflection while challenging
students to think critically and react to problems faced by members of the communities they are serving. With
that being said, both volunteers and students who participated had a wonderful time and learned a great deal
from each other.
ATTENTION Seniors!
Chair Yoga is starting at the Hoboken’s Fox Hills
Senior Housing on Friday, April 10th at 10:00am!
For more information, contact Karen Guzman at
1-855-OK-HOPES. Ext. 1031.
HOPES CAP, Inc.: 301 Garden St., Hoboken, NJ 07030 ● HOPES CAP, Inc:7-9 Watchung Ave. Plainfield, NJ 07060
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Adult Education Spring Classes!!!
Enroll in our FREE 10 week courses!
English As a Second Language:
ESL for Beginners - Thursday 1:00-3:00pm
ESL for Intermediate - Thursday 6:15– 8:00pm
Conversation Practice (Intermediate)- Thursday 5:00 - 6:00pm
Union City Location:
(Palisades Family Success Center,
1408 New York Avenue)
ESL for Beginners - Monday 5:30 - 7:30pm
Conversation Practice (Intermediate) - Tuesday 5:15 - 6:15pm
ESL for Intermediate - Tuesday 6:30 - 8:30pm
Computers:
Beginner Computer - Monday - 10:00 - 1:00pm/ Thursday 10 - 12pm
Basic Evening Computer - Monday - 6:00 - 8:00pm
Intermediate Computer - Wednesday - 10:00 - 1:00pm
Health & Nutrition: Tuesday - 10:30am - 12:30pm
Adult Literacy: Monday - 4:00 - 5:30pm
Citizenship Preparation Course: Friday - 10:30 - 12:00pm
Classes begin the week of April 12th!
For more information on free course eligibility, call us at
1-855-OK-HOPES Ext. 1107 or email
[email protected].
HOPES CAP, Inc. David E Rue Building
301 Garden St. Hoboken, NJ 07030
HOPES CAP, Inc.: 301 Garden St., Hoboken, NJ 07030 ● HOPES CAP, Inc:7-9 Watchung Ave. Plainfield, NJ 07060
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