HISTORY
Building Hope is in its ninth year of serving West Greenville. What began with space for only 15 students behind the Trade-Wilco station on 10th Street has now served 300 youth and families from first grade through graduation. Over the course of the first few years, several churches came on board with the Building Hope vision as financial and resource partners. These churches include Greenville Christian Fellowship, Oakmont Baptist Church, Immanuel Baptist Church, Covenant United Methodist Church, Faith & Victory Church, and Memorial Baptist Church.
Now Building Hope has developed fully into a comprehensive faith-based 501 (c)(3) that partners with several community entities including a number of Pitt County Schools, Pitt County Government, East Carolina University, United Way, and several local churches, individuals, and businesses in providing support to at-risk youth and families at several different levels. Building Hope has had the privilege of being recognized locally and with the Governor's Business Partnership Award Winner (2002) and the North State Award for Volunteer Service (2008). Building Hope has worked collaboratively over the course of the last seven years to identify and work on a daily basis after school with over 300 families of socially and academically at-risk students.
Along with the after school program, Building Hope launched the first off-site service for short-term suspension in Pitt County in 2006. This Standing in the Gap Day Program allows students who have been short-term suspended from school a safe and enriching place to come and receive tutoring and mentoring. This program is currently serving over 200 at-risk elementary and middle school students per year who are suspended from school, providing conflict resolution and faith-based life skills, and helping them get back in the game.
Beginning in January of 2008, Building Hope entered into partnership with Conetoe Community Life Center to deliver the 300 Men of Standard Initiative in both Pitt and Edgecombe Counties. This Dropout Prevention program focuses on young men by giving them physical, academic, and spiritual disciplines designed to help them reject passivity, accept responsibility, lead courageously, and finish the course. Currently 35-50 boys participate in weekly team building activities designed to increase achievement.
Building Hope is currently expanding their facility to accommodate more young men from the community into 300 MOS activities.
Since the summer of 2009, Building Hope has expanded our services to three locations through partnership with 21st CCLC. These new sites in Farmville Middle School and Conetoe Family Life Center in Edgecombe County allow us to provide daily after-school tutoring for over 120 students. A highlight of the year has been the Women of Worth/WOW program for young ladies in Farmville.
