Clarke Central High School HoPe member Brenda Colmenares, a sophomore, presents during a HoPe meeting on Nov. 15, 2021. HoPe has welcomed students from all races and ethnicities and strives to provide an inclusive environment, according to Cordon. “We have Hispanic food, it’s part of the culture. We (also) listen to Hispanic music during (activities), so we’re sharing that with other students from (different backgrounds),” Cordon said. Photo by Antonio Starks
The HoPe club works to create a safe, welcoming environment for students to explore Hispanic culture and learn about resources for their future.
The smell of chicharrones, tacos and sweet bread fills the room. The sound of guaracha plays in the ears of students of every ethnic and racial background. This is the usual experience at Hispanic Organization Promoting Education (HoPe) meetings, which happen every month.
According to the HoPe website, HoPe is a non-profit organization that strives to create a community where high school students can thrive and succeed through leadership, education and community service. The program was established at Clarke Central High School in 2019 and, since then, has continued to grow its membership to around 40 students.
A map shows the Hispanic Organization Promoting Education membership clubs across Georgia. Multimedia by Sofia Balsamo
“I think for Hispanics, it is important to have a space for them in an organization that creates activities for them,” foreign language department teacher and HoPe co-sponsor Christian Cordon said. “It’s good for the students to have some representation, or a place to go to meet other Hispanic students and learn from other students about how (they) can improve their grades. (They get) opportunities to go to college or scholarship and learn from their peers how to be a better student.”
Clarke Central High School HoPe member Brenda Colmenares, a sophomore (right), presents during a HoPe meeting on Nov. 15. HoPe serves as a way for students to bond as well as become academically successful. “Our school is mostly minorities, (and HoPe) really brings them together,” HoPe club member Joey Kelleher, a sophomore, said. “The whole program is created to bring Hispanic scholarship opportunities that can get them into colleges. It’s open to everybody and it has always helped out the community.” Photo by Antonio Starks
According to math department teacher and HoPe co-sponsor Nicole George, fundraising and volunteering are a big focus of the club, as well as a connection to the national HoPe organization, a non-profit organization that aims to build a sense of belonging for Hispanic students in schools across the U.S.
“HoPe actually helped me have (a) sense of belonging in the club and I felt like I could express myself.”
— Alexandra Umana-Valle,
HoPe club president and senior
“(The club) very much emphasizes volunteer work and fundraising. The actual national organization has a hand in it and they guide us on what activities they think would be good and what ways they could support the kids,” George said. “So it’s like they have extra support.”
Since meetings began face-to-face this school year, the club has taken on a number of new initiatives, which have helped them raise money for club activities and give back to the national HoPe organization, according to George.
Clarke Central High School HoPe member Brenda Colmenares hands out pizza at a HoPe meeting on Nov. 15. Over the years it’s existed at CCHS, HoPe has provided students with several opportunities, both personal and academic. “Hope is a nonprofit organization which builds a sense of belonging to high school students so they can succeed through leadership development, educational resources and community service,” HoPe President and CCHS senior Alexandra Umana-Valle said. “It exists to provide students (with) a community where they can succeed and find their purpose and be world class leaders.” Photo by Antonio Starks
“(The club) is important because you are able to meet new faces, new races and new ethnicities. It’s all about cultural competence,” Umana-Valle said. “The more members that join, the more people will learn about how to get into college. It’s all about helping people and helping students with their pathway to their career, or to whatever they want to do.”
“The more members that join, the more people will learn about how to get into college. It’s all about helping people and helping students with their pathway to their career, or to whatever they want to do.”
— Alexandra Umana-Valle,
HoPe club president and senior
Over his time as the club co-sponsor, Cordon has seen how the organization has helped lift up Hispanic students, giving them a voice and a safe space.
“The idea of being part of an organization and being part of a club here in the school gives them an opportunity (to be) more (than just) another student coming to class, but being part of something,” Cordon said. “I know there (are) many Hispanic students that have great skills that can be used for the school and for the Hispanic community in general.”
An Afro-Latina woman flourishes in the basking glow of the Hispanic Organization Promoting Education (HoPe) club, representing how the club supports its members. The HoPe club has worked on promoting inclusivity and outreach. Illustration by Antonio Starks
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