Hope

is a verb

with its

shirtsleeves

rolled up.

DaviD OrrawarD-winning pOet

anD pOetry critic

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Like many families, Awilda and Benjamin came to Cleveland for its superior health care. Soon after they arrived four months ago, their 16-year-old daughter Abagail was enrolled at Lincoln West High School and Esperanza’s Hispanic Youth Leadership Program. “I like HYLP,” she says, “because I can interact with other people and express my opinions.”

Awilda likes Esperanza, too, for the same reasons. She and Benjamin joined the Parent Engagement Program because they were new here and wanted to know how the school works. “We always encouraged Abagail in her homework, but we learned how to be more responsible parents,” she says. They could also share their opinions with other parents.

The parents of every Esperanza student are encouraged to participate in parent engagement. In small groups, they learn how to support their children’s positive academic behaviors (like studying and homework) that will help them stay in school and graduate. They learn that higher education is possible with planning, persistence, and financial aid.

Last year, over 120 parents learned how the school system works, and how to advocate for their children through interactions with teachers and school administrators. Together, they address issues like the lack of translators in classrooms and the need for parent/teacher conferences. Considering the high percentage of Hispanic students (45% at Lincoln West) and students with limited English skills (50%), the lack of translators greatly impacts communication and student success. Awilda says she’s frustrated because she wants to express herself, but without English skills, she doesn’t know how.

But she’s much more comfortable at Esperanza. “I like how Esperanza works,” she says. “They do good things for people.”

parental engagement benefits the parent and the student.

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There aren’t many places in my community I can call a second home. Esperanza has set up a safe environment which I call my second home. Esperanza to me means exactly what it translates into: hope. They encourage us to dream big and set goals for ourselves. The staff and volunteers motivate us to become something greater in life.

Elizabeth

Esperanza has helped me since I came here. I was not sure about joining but once I started I never wanted to go home. They helped me with my classes and taught me how to be a better person in life and how to help the community. I hope you join Esperanza and make a difference as I am doing.

Jose

Esperanza is one of the best and farmost amazing things that have happened to me. Being a part of Esperanza Youth Leadership opened new doors for me, and I am forever grateful. When I did not believe in myself, my Esperanza advisor did. I am here today in a university making something of importance with my life and Esperanza has something to do with it. Thank you, Esperanza.

Jessica 2011 graduate

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$100,000+aspiraThe cleveland Foundationcleveland Housing network

$25,000+city of clevelandcuyahoga county auditorThe george gund FoundationUnited way of greater cleveland

$10,000+The abington Foundationalcoa FoundationBruening Foundationcleveland clinicThe estate of John F. MincoFerragon corporationThe Martha Holden Jennings

FoundationThe nord Family Foundationpnc Foundationwilliam H. robertsThird Federal FoundationUpS Foundation

$5,000+at&tcuyahoga community collegeThe ellie FundThe giant eagle FoundationKeyBankLincoln electric companyMycomnaSaThomas H. white FoundationUnited Black Fund of greater cleveland

$1,000+american greetingsBaker & Hostetler, LLpandrew connorscOSecuyahoga county public Librarycarmen and Michael DeHaanDollar BankManuel and Margaret Dominguezelios Financial group inc.Fifth Third BankForest city enterprises

Jorge gaticaandres and Jessica gonzalezHispanic Heritage FoundationJack KahlKent State UniversityThe Lubrizol FoundationMcMaster-carr Supply companyThe MetroHealth SystemThe Murphy Family Foundationnordson corporationnortechnortheast Ohio regional Sewer DistrictDaniel J. reiberrpM international, inc.victor and Danielle ruizMary Kathleen SchneiderFelicia Sotoalex SpirikaitisState Farmrobert c. Swellieturner construction companyThe University of akronUS Bankwest Shore Unitarian Universalist church

$500+Manuel actaKen and pam aguilaralejandro rivera photographyBaldwin-wallace collegeBowling green State UniversityJaime caraballoJulio castrocity Bank investment companycleveland State Universitycleveland teachers Unioncommunity Foundation of Lorainanibal estremera, Jr.Jose Feliciano, Sr.First Merit Bankgreater cleveland partnershipMaria L. HallerHispanic alliance, inc.Human arc corporationJpMorgan chase FoundationLatina, inc.Steffen LausterMar-Bal, inc.Stephanie MercadoMMpi MedMart

nSHMBaOhio catOswald companiesnatividad paganpnc real estateMary Louise pollakBrenda c. rommelMark J. royleThe Sherwin-williams companyJose a. vasquezOscar vazquez

Up to $499David adamsaetna volunteer councilallstate industrial, inccarolyn amesrichard andrews iiianonymousJoseph anthony Figaroamanda apostolapplewood centersJohn appleypam BaronMichael L. Barrettrobert Bemerellen Bennetteradin Berriosgeorge & gerry Blomgrencristopher w. BlueBooz & companyMatthew BottBreakthrough charter SchoolsDenise BrzezinskiLuis cabreracare alliance Health centerLuis and Jessica cartagenacatholic charitiesDiana centeno-gomezMary chamberscHipcity of cantoncity of cleveland community relationscleveland central catholic High SchoolSylvia coloncompass consulting Services, LLcMary ann corrigan-DavisDavid M. costaJeanne costaenrique e. cotes

Thank you to our 2011 donors

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Thank you to our 2011 donorscarlos crespocross cultural communications, LLccynergy Market StrategyMark D. D’angeloDomestic violence centerDominionDavid Drickhamercarlos eliasroslyn englishrobert FalkenstineDorothy Falleradolph Faller, ph.D.Falls communicationscharles J. FarrellJose Feliciano, Jr.norman Fiedlerannie Figueroacoffee For a cause, LLcKevin Frenchnathaniel gasdorfgBr programs, inc.andres gomezMagda gomezcarmen gonzalezJose gonzalezeric gordonrobert grignongeorge gutschmitdterin e. gyomberpatrick F. HaggertyMonika Hanuschad HartupHawken SchoolKathleen HeckSarah Hendersonelizabeth HijarHuntington Bankinsurance partners agencyintegrity Health Solutions, LLcLatisha JamesJanus Small associates, LLcJohn carroll UniversityJill JosselsonKaplanKaren KircherJerry L. KnaselKathryn KosiorekKraft Foods Foundationrichard Levitzeric Lewis

al and alicia LopezMarine Mechanical corporationLuis Martinezvictor Martinezeliot Martirwilliam r. MasonDoris-ann Mattheyrobert McgeeJeff McKissicknancy Meyer-emerickLinda MihalikDiana MileteDina M. MillerLinda a. Miyarescatherine Monaghanernesto MontalvoJohn H. Morin iiinational collegerichard and Jane nedleycamila negretDrina nemesBarbara w. nitzschenormandy park enterprises, inc.north american allied Fight Series LLcnS charney & associates, inc.Oberlin collegeJean M. Ohlenbuschanne Osbornealberta palangeJeffrey H. palmerJayasree pandranginancy penaricardo penaDr. Justin perryMeghan pethtelMaria podsiadloalfredo posadaThe progresive insurance FoundationMaria pujanapatty Quinonezrainey instituteric c. ramosamy e. raufmanraghu reddyremington collegetanya ricchiBradford richmondKatrina M. riddleJason p. riveirogabriel rivera

Marcos riveraThomas riversMichael rodenoJuan F. rodriguezMargarita M. rodriguezrobert rodriguezrobert romeroLouis rosarioBarbara rosskammMarinel rosuesther rufSuzanne rusnakSan Miguel / La Sagrada FamiliaBernardino Santiagoelias B. SantiagoBeverly y. ScipioJames w. Sheltonpatricia Shlonskyangela Shuckahoseerobert J. Simoneauyanela Simscarol SkoglundSlavic village Developmentpamela SmithSpanish american committeeSt. ignatius High SchoolStaplesapril StoltzJohn w. StreitelLinda g. SwellieJoyce ThompsonThompson Hine LLpDr. Jerry Sue ThorntonHarold ticktinDave tom tometichLucy torrescindy torres esselltripp Umbach Healthcare, inc.Danny vazquezMichael vehovecandres velasquezDavid verdonMaribel verdonginny whipkey caringiFrederic whiteSteven willenskyDavid willettwire - netgregory yostpeter ZawadskiLeonard Zimmermann

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