Villa of Hope

Composed in 1900, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" is also known as "The Black National Anthem." Originally written as a celebratory song for Abraham Lincoln's birthday by brothers James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson, it lives on as a testament to resilience, pride and triumph. The lyrics are shared below: Lift every voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of liberty; Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory won. Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet, Come to the place for which our fathers sighed? We have come over a way that with tears has been watered, We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered; Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our star is cast. God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who has brought us thus far on the way; Thou who hast by Thy might, led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee, Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee. Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand, True to our God, true to our native land.

Happy Valentine's Day, and CONGRATULATIONS to Gabby, a service recipient in the Villa’s Health Home program!! In the words of her Villa Care Manager, Tay Doty: "I am so proud of Gabby, and I wanted to share the positivity as a huge client success! She was one of the RCSD scholars honored the other night at the 36th Annual Black History Month Celebration! Originally I knew it was because Gabby is a straight A student, scholar athlete, really involved etc. But then I discovered that this award is specifically for our black and brown students who have maintained a 90% or higher over the ENTIRE course of their high school years!" We love success stories, and we celebrate with our clients at every step of the way! Check back here often for more good news! Congratulations, Gabby! #villaproud

This week at our School . . . The Villa Wildcats were scheduled to play O'Connor Academy, but the other team had to forfeit due to bussing issues. So the Villa team played a friendly scrimmage game against each other! The kids get a lot of credit for making the best of the situation, which was beyond their control! In this photo, Adam, a senior, take a free shot! #villaofhopeschool #villaproud

Villa of Hope Expands Critical Behavioral Health and Substance Use Treatment Services https://bit.ly/4hRQeLN

In October, students Ashlyn and Ellie submitted original works of fiction for the Young Writers' Fright Club contest. Each work is 100 words or less, and both writers have been selected for publication in "Fright Club- Nightmares and Night Scares!!" Here they are with their certificates to recognize their accomplishment. The book is scheduled for publication in April! If you would like to pre-order a copy, contact Adrienne Quintero at adrienne.quintero@villaofhope.org. Congratulations Ashlyn and Ellie! #talentforwriting #villaofhopeschool

YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS YEAR'S PORTRAITS OF HOPE GALA! A great event for a great cause! Email Isha Torres, events@villaofhope,org for sponsorship opportunities, to purchase tickets, or to advertise! Or visit https://bit.ly/3Q7lIl1 to register online!!

This week in Work Based Learning at Villa of Hope School! On February 4, we welcomed Kimberly Reiger to speak with students about the cosmetology field. She discussed the journey ... through cosmetology school, the required New York State licensing exam, and the realities of running your own business. She provided valuable insights into expenses, building a clientele, and the financial challenges, including the fact that NYS takes 40 cents on the dollar—before factoring in chair rental, product costs, and other expenses. The conversation was eye-opening for students, offering a realistic perspective on the industry. Pictured: MaryLee Almekinder, Work-Based Learning Transition Specialist, Kim Reiger, and Ciara, a Villa senior who plans to attend Continental School of Beauty after graduation. Photo Credit: LeeAndre, WBL Marketing intern

Villa of Hope announces expansions to substance use treatment services https://bit.ly/411NDJx

Welcome to February, Black History Month! The Villa will be celebrating and commemorating all month long! Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950), often called The Father of Black History, left his mark in making sure black Individuals were remembered and credited as due in our history books. In 1908, he received an M.A. degree in History, Romance languages, and Literature from the University of Chicago in Illinois, and later earned his doctorate in history from Harvard University. He wrote, co-authored, and/or edited more than twenty books and hundreds of essays, but his most famous book is titled, "The Mis-Education of the Negro." Read more at this link: https://bit.ly/42LlCXV

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