Graduation Overview

The HOPE Commission would like to thank all of the graduates, supporters, partners and attendees that attended the July 11, 2019 graduation.  It was a wonderful evening in which we recognized the 26 graduates that completed our FY19 evidenced based reentry program. In case you missed it, here are the highlights:

• University of Delaware, Professor of Cello, Larry Stomberg started the evening with his melodic classical music that ended with the a song specifically written for the HOPE Commission. 
• New Castle County Executive, Matt Meyer and Attorney General, Kathleen Jennings, provided encouraging opening remarks to the graduates.  Both have been wonderful supporters of the Wilmington HOPE Commission and the reentry work that we do. 
• Members of the HOPE Commission Board of Directors (Gwen Angalet and Henry Smith) presented Mayor Purzycki with an artistic rendering of the Mayor on the Riverfront in awarding him Board Emeritus status. The artist is Albert Rogers who is one of the HOPE Commission’s current members! 
• Delaware Center for Horticulture, Christiana Health Care System, and Masley Enterprises, Inc were recognized with the HOPE  Commission Workforce Community Partner Awards.  These organizations have been wonderful partners in employing members of our program. 
• After a video entitled “Taking the Journey”, one of our FY18 graduates, Darnell Collins, provided the audience with one of his spoken word poems that resulted from his participation in the “Express Yourself” program that was a partnership between HOPE Commission and the Twin Poet Laureates (e.g. Al Mills and Representative Nnamdi Namdichukwu).
• Our keynote speaker was Mr. James Elliott who is the International President of Phi Theta Kappa.  He is the first individual with a criminal record to hold this position.  He told his inspirational story and spoke passionately to the graduates about Inspiration, Collaboration, and Transformation which are the principles of the HOPE Commission and received a well-deserved standing ovation from the audience.
• The best part of our graduations are the graduates. Our graduates were recognized with certificates and a gift, by Haneef Salaam, In-Reach Coordinator and Jill Walters, Clinical Director.  Each graduate is given the opportunity to speak and Keith Turner stole the show with his honesty and humor about his “journey” to completion before enjoying a wonderful repass.By all accounts it was a wonderful evening!  We again thank all of you for your continued support of the successful work of the Wilmington HOPE Commission!

Best,

Tamera
Executive Director