March 21, 2024

Virgil Sheppard – President and CEO, Hope Partnership for Education

This past November, elections were held for the Student Council, and four members of Hope Partnership School were elected to the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer by their peers.

Swift off the tail of the election, the Student Council decided to lead Hope Partnership for Education’s Giving Tuesday campaign as their first initiative. They surveyed their friends and identified several priority fundraising goals. By creating an online website and sharing their vision for civic engagement, the ambassadors raised $3,400!

Meanwhile, a partner organization, Philabundance, invited our Student Council President to volunteer with President Joe Biden on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service in January. Our Council President had the opportunity to learn about how volunteerism has impacted President Biden while packing food donations for community members. The experience further reinforced the civic duty our Hope students pursued in their leadership roles.

To put those funds from Giving Tuesday to work, the group has been diligently planning school-wide field trips, confirming a visit to the Camden Aquarium and a city-wide tour on a charter bus. Students will eat lunch in Center City Philadelphia, a neighborhood where many students have not spent much time. The Council also plans to host a Spirit Week this May for their peers, including a Field Day with friendly competitions, a catered lunch, and an end-of-year award ceremony. The Hope Partnership School staff are proud of their initiative, creativity, and dedication to the Hope Core Value of Hospitality.