November 2022
Dear Friend of Boys Hope Girls Hope,
We hope our Boys Hope Girls Hope (BHGH) family is enjoying this beautiful fall! Both Residential Scholars and Collegians are fully engaged in the school year and enjoying all the events and rituals that come with fall.
We started our school year with eight new staff members, nine new Scholars, and five new board members! That’s a lot of transition, but also a burst of fresh energy!!! Some of these folks are not actually “new.” They are simply…
COMING HOME!
Jaquan Grier
Jaquan is an alumnus of BHGH and joined our Governing Board this fall; we are thrilled to have his input and expertise in this role! Jaquan entered BHGH as a freshman. His stepdad had recently passed away, and life at home became challenging as a result of losing the family anchor. Jaquan graduated from Loyola Academy in 2013 and from St. Norbert College in 2018.
When I asked Jaquan to sum up his time in the homes at BHGH, he answered without hesitation:
Boys Hope Girls Hope helped me develop a sense of family, accountability, and structure. BHGH is family. The House Parents were very intentional about expecting excellence, while still letting us be kids. We learned empathy, and to always be there for our brothers. The relationships created at BHGH with my housemates were really something special, genuine, and authentic.
Also, everyone in the house held each other accountable, and my housemates instilled integrity in me. If the older guys saw me messing around in the hallways, they would immediately say, ‘What are you doing?! Get to class!!’
The structure provided in the program really influenced how I approached my studies in college, as well as influenced how I approach my work in my career. It made me realize that I need a routine to be successful.
After college graduation, Jaquan started his career at Mercy Home as a Career Resource Coordinator, giving back to his community. After three years, he transitioned to a job with Chicago Jesuit Academy as a High School Bridge Counselor, focusing on college persistence. Jaquan exemplifies our mission of college-educated, career-ready and community-minded!
Michallé Fain
Michallé is an alumna of BHGH whom we have recently featured at our events – we just can’t stop talking about this very special alumna! Michallé also joined our Governing Board, and we are looking forward to her contributions there, and also as the Chair of our Program Committee!
I grew up on the Westside of Chicago with my mother and two older sisters. I saw my dad every other weekend. I was ten years old, when both of my sisters became mothers. I got stuck babysitting a lot…like a lot a lot! I wanted to get away from babysitting and enjoy high school like the people on TV. My counselor told my mom and me about BHGH. I applied, shadowed, got accepted, and began my journey as a BHGH scholar!
Michallé graduated from Regina Dominican in 2012, and from Marquette University in 2016. Back in second grade, her teacher asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, and she answered, “teacher!” and she never changed her mind. Eager to give back to her community, she took a job at her former school, KIPP One Academy, and immediately excelled as a teacher. Michallé is such a talented educator, that she was promoted last year to Vice Principal, or as we call her, Madame Vice Principal!! In addition, Michallé was recently honored with the LEGACY OF HOPE AWARD at the Boys Hope Girls Hope Network Headquarters Leadership Conference, as an alumna who exemplifies the spirit of being college-educated, career-ready, and community-minded!
Vernon Green
As you read in our last newsletter, Vernon graduated from St. Olaf College last spring, and began his career with BHGH as our Coordinator of Scholar and Collegian Services. Vernon is absolutely doing an amazing job walking our Scholars through test prep, college applications, and much, much more.
It has been a positive experience for me. I knew coming out of college that I wanted to serve, and what better place to serve than the very place that changed the trajectory of my life. This work fills my heart and soul, and I want that in a career!
Richard Rivera Garcia
Richard also graduated from St. Olaf College last spring and began his career with BHGH as a Residential Counselor. We are proud to report that Richard is extremely talented in this role and an inspiration to the Scholars in his home. He really excels at mediating issues between Scholars – they are teenagers, after all. In addition, Richard holds his Scholars accountable while also making them feel at home. He recently made his first apple pie for the Scholars which got rave reviews!
We feel so fortunate that Jaquan, Michallé, Vernon, and Richard all made the decision to Come Home and share all their talent and expertise, so that Scholars may benefit from all their success!
Please consider a life-changing gift to BHGH to continue to provide hope, access, opportunity, adventure, and community for our Scholars!!!
We are grateful to have you in the BHGH family!
Together in hope,
Karen P. Croteau
President
Boys Hope Girls Hope of Illinois