The first three months of 2011 have been some of the most exciting in our very short but powerful history. Let's visit some of those achievements and take then take a peek into the future.

See you at the MASTERS!

First, our Sixth Annual Youth Development Master's Institute is just around the corner.  What was a national institute for the first five years will be inaugurated as an international event as we welcome our Canadian partners, the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association along with Arizona State University as co-sponsors.

The Master's has evolved to become the most effective child and youth development training in North America. We attract the top theorists, researchers and practitioners for an intensive one-week exploration of the sciences related to hope, optimism, success and resiliency. This year's honorary dean is US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor (ret) who is sharing an entire morning with us. Justice O'Connor will be discussing civic engagement and its relationship to youth development. 

Learn more about the

Master's Institute Here

Ø  US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and Dr. Ann Masten

Joining Justice O'Connor will be Dr. Ann Masten, our country's preeminent expert in the field of resiliency; Dr. Terry Rosch, Associate Dean for the College of Education at Roosevelt University, who will facilitate Dr. Masten's presentation, Spencer Gorin and Charlie Steffens who have taken their years of experience in the mental health field and converted that knowledge to better understanding the power of play; and Dave LaRose, Superintendent of the South Kitsap School District in Washington State who has lead his entire community on a journey into hope.

Our institute will also benefit from the insights of Maricopa County, AZ Superintendent of Schools Dr. Don Covey; Maricopa County Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, Vincent Iaria, international youth development advocate, Derek Peterson and Anne Arundel County, MD civil rights and child advocate leader Carlesa Finney.

Ø  Stand and Deliver

Also highlighting the week will be Dr. Erika Camacho, a student of the legendary teacher Jaime Escalante who was memorialized in the film Stand and Deliver starring Edward James Olmos. The entire Master's class will attend a private screening of the inspiring film followed by a discussion with Dr. Camacho, whose life was forever altered by her relationship with Mr. Escalante.

Ø  Warner Bros Recording Artist William Joseph

If that weren't enough, the class will also visit local schools that have adopted the KAH strategy, be entertained by Warner Bros Recording artist William Joseph and learn first hand from projects and partners across the country. Dare I say that this is just the beginning of a fantastic week designed to Inspire, Empower and Transform.

Ø  Learning from our Partners & Practioners 
We are equally fortunate to have Brenda Herchmer from the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association whose transformative work in Alberta, Canada is defining Active, Creative, Engaged communities, which places an emphasis on creativity, social capital and social cohesion...quality of life.

And finally, keynoting the Master's graduation lunch will be Ernesto Matias, principal of Wells Academy High School in Chicago, who is demonstrating daily how Hope is the energy and strategy required to change a gang infested community.

Ø  Thanks to our Sponsors

Many thanks to our generous sponsors for supporting this years Master's Institute:

Snell Wilmer; Institute for Professional Development; Squires, Sanders and
Dempsey; Phoenix Staff; and the John F. Long Foundation.

 From Coast to Coast and In Between

With over 450 projects and partners in 11 states and two countries we keep ourselves hopping.

We continue introducing Kids at Hope trainings throughout Maricopa County, AZ, where our initiative was adopted by the County Superintendent of Schools as part of a new reading program piloted in five school districts. These districts/schools join the 65 schools we are currently supporting in Arizona.

Before we leave Arizona, congratulations to Sunset Ridge in the Pendergast School District for their second consecutive grand prize award as part of International Kids at Hope Day observed in November. Thanks, too, to our friends in Pendergast for producing a video about the power of Treasure Hunting and how it defines an entire community culture.

Ø  Kids at Hope Cities/County

Accordingly, we continued to support the work of the City of Avondale in its efforts to model what an entire community can do to support the success of all children, no exceptions! As one of five cities in the US that has adopted Kids at Hope as its child and youth development framework and strategy we are learning how a village and its villagers rally around all children. Joining Avondale, as official KAH cities/counties are Annapolis, MD; Bremerton, WA, Port St. Lucie, FL; Fort Pierce, FL and the County of St. Lucie, FL.

Washington State, under the direction of KAH northwest region Executive Director, Wally Endicott, expands almost on a weekly basis. We have over 50 partners in that state alone. The enthusiasm for KAH grows each day to the point that Wally and state legislator Larry Seaquist are hosting a day long engagement forum to better inform schools, youth groups and communities about the power of KAH.  The date: Saturday, May 21, 2011 in Lakewood, WA. Contact Wally@kidsathope.org for more information.

We are indeed excited to see our partners in Florida expanding their efforts to over 70 projects and partners in St. Lucie County! Through their work, Martin County just south of St. Lucie, is now expressing interest in joining our growing family. To better understand the remarkable achievements by our Florida Treasure Hunters our National Board of Directors will host their annual planning retreat in Port St. Lucie, FL October 13-15.

Ø  Lone Star State

Texarkana Independent School District in Texas is leading a statewide effort to have Kids at Hope's destination and goal planning concepts introduced. What we call Mental Time Travel is a missing element in teaching students how to connect what they are learning academically to those adult destinations where that knowledge will be valuable: home and family; education and career; community and service; and hobbies and recreation.

We are also very proud of our efforts in Herndon, VA; Albion, MI; Pittsburg, KS; Indio, CA; Hanover Park and Chicago, IL - all continue to offer leadership, promise and hope on behalf of every child in their communities.

Ø  One of our Country's Most Historical Cities

Our colleagues in Annapolis, MD and Anne Arundel County are taking Kids at Hope to new heights. With early funding from the Million Dollar Roundtable Foundation and New York Life Foundation, Anne Arundel is shaping the future of all its children, no exceptions not by creating a new agency or infrastructure but by suspending self interest for a great good than any one institution can achieve alone.

Ø  O Canada

In just two short years over 13 communities in Alberta, Canada have been introduced to Kids at Hope. Canadian energy company Cenvous has committed three year funding to ensure the initiative grows. We will be returning to Alberta in June for our second annual Tour of HOPE.  We are deeply honored to have the leadership and representation of Alberta Recreation and Parks Association.

Ø  New Projects/Partners on the Horizon 

In addition to discussions with Martin County, FL Kids at Hope is looking forward to its first Native American project located on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. In addition we are anticipating a new partnership with the Union Elementary School District in Tolleson, AZ as well as expanding services within the Anne Arundel, MD and St. Lucie County, FL countywide school systems.

The Time Traveler, Hillary Hope, Oscar Optimism, Sammy Success, The Dream Stealing Villain, Sheriff Hope-a-Long

Kids at Hope characters bring clarity and understanding to concepts and skill sets needed to achieve success.

• The Time Traveler: explores his/her future; returns to the present and prepares for the journey
• Hillary Hope: shares her dreams with friends
• Sammy Success: shows how even little achievements add up to be big success
• Oscar Optimism: learns that the harder he tries the more successful he is
• Dream Stealing Villain: Tries to steal others dreams because he doesn't have any of his own
• Sheriff Hope-a-Long: arrests anyone who tries to steal a child's dreams

Visit our online Hope Store to see all Kids at Hope characters and accompanying children's books.

And don't forget to visit on us Facebook or our website www.kidsahope.org 
 

We are deeply honored by your interest and support.
Together we can help all children succeed, No Exceptions!

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Stay close.

Rick Miller

Founder, President and Chief Treasure Hunter

602 674 0026

toll free 866 275 HOPE