HOPE MEMBERSHIP The Parable of HOPE consists of multi-cultural, interracial, There was once a great City that had a Hillsborough and interfaith congregations large river running through it. One day a located throughout Hillsborough County. member of a congregation was walking be- Organization for side the river and heard people in the river ALLEN TEMPLE AFRICAN METHODIST calling for help. She started dragging people EPISCOPAL CHURCH Progress & Equality to safety before collapsing exhausted on the BIBLE-BASED FELLOWSHIP CHURCH bank. As the member lay breathless upon the

EMMANUEL CATHEDRAL CHURCH bank, many others in the river got swept out

FIRST UNITED CHURCH OF TAMPA to sea and drowned. Heartbroken, she took the tired, wet, and sick people she was able GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH to rescue to her congregation to receive care. HOLSEY TEMPLE CHRISTIAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH The congregation then sent more members

ISLAMIC COMMUNITY OF TAMPA down to the river and found that every day

MT. ZION AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH people were falling in. So lots of congregations joined together to help pull people out of the NATIVITY CATHOLIC CHURCH river, and worked together to care for those NEW MACEDONIA MISSIONARY rescued. This took a lot of energy and soon BAPTIST CHURCH all the rescuers and their resources were

NEW SMYRNA FULL GOSPEL CATHEDRAL totally exhausted. THE PORTICO – UNITED METHODIST One day the congregations held a joint ST. ANDREW’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH meeting to discuss the serious situation. One

ST. CATHERINE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH of the members said, “We have worked long and hard, rescuing many people from the ST. JAMES AFRICAN METHODIST river, and that is good. Yet, it will continue to EPISCOPAL CHURCH be an endless task until we go upstream ST. JAMES HOUSE OF PRAYER and find out why people are falling in.” EPISCOPAL CHURCH

ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH Going upstream Diverse Congregations

ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH to tackle the root Working Together ST. PETER CLAVER CATHOLIC CHURCH of the problem

ST. STEPHEN CATHOLIC CHURCH is the task of HOPE! For Justice,

TAMPA FIRST SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH Fairness, and Dignity

Get Involved … 813-221-HOPE TRINITY CHRISTIAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH HOPE is affiliated with the D.A.R.T.* Network 5103 N. Central Avenue

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF TAMPA (*Direct Action and Research Training Center) Tampa, 33603 www.thedartcenter.org 813-221-HOPE (4673) MARCH 2019

HEALTH CARE Elder Care: Got County to increase in-home services for THE HOPE MISSION seniors to live healthy and with dignity in their homes by allotting $3 million to Department of Aging Services. Since 1988 the Hillsborough Organization for Dental Services: Increased dental services for people Progress and Equality (HOPE) has been a with low incomes by gaining at least 36 more dental vehicle to unite diverse congregations to chairs and construction of additional clinics. improve the quality of life in Hillsborough Behavioral Health: Helped expand Drug Court so more non-violent offenders get needed treatment instead of jail. County by achieving justice and fairness. CRIME PREVENTION Based on shared values of justice, fairness, Prostitution: Code Enforcement and Tampa Police De- love of neighbor, and dignity of people, MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS partment cleaned up prostitution & illegal drug activity HOPE’s mission is to engage and train near congregation with health clinic and day care center. YOUTH residents to identify common community Civil Citations: Got Chief Judge, State Attorney, Public PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION problems, research long-term solutions, and Defender, Sheriff and Police Chiefs to reduce the arrests of Bus Service: Got the HART Bus System to extend late build our collective power to hold systems children by changing Hillsborough policy. The policy was night bus service until 1 am on 8 major routes so people expanded to include juvenile misdemeanor offenses eligible can get to and from jobs. accountable to implement those solutions. for Juvenile Civil Citations by state law thereby protecting HOUSING/HOMELESS children’s futures, increasing public safety and saving tax Affordable Housing: Got County Commissioners to put payer money. Also, helped expand FL Civil Citation law so $5.125 million of local funds toward housing affordable LONG- RANGE GOALS officers can give children Civil Citations for misdemeanor for working families and seniors with low incomes. offenses up to three times and expanded the use of arrest Birth Certificates and IDs: Got Hillsborough County 1. Strengthen members’ ability to act on their diversion programs so they exist throughout Florida. spiritual values to love, respect, and treat to establish program to assist homeless in getting birth EDUCATION REFORM certificates and IDs in order to obtain shelter and jobs. their neighbors fairly. Rent: The County and Clerk of Circuit Court committed 2. Engage members in relationship building, Suspensions: Got the School District to establish the Al- ternative To Out of School Suspension program, which to expedite rent assistance checks so landlords receive and identifying and successfully tackling them within 14 days. each year supervises and protects the GPAs of thousands of common community problems. suspended children., enabling them to graduate. NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT 3. Enhance the skills of members to hold the Reading: Got $921,000 in state funding for Hillsborough Rezoning: Reclaimed Dobyville, a historic African political and economic systems accountable School District to implement Direct Instruction (DI) read- American residential neighborhood, by getting Tampa to for ensuring justice and fairness. ing program for children in 10 low performing elementary reverse 1950 Industrial Zoning to Residential and Mixed 3. Correct inequities in education, housing, schools. Helped get $7.25 million in state funding for DI in Use leading to development of new and old housing. 7 Florida School Districts. Demolition: Encouraged Tampa Mayor to demolish the justice system, health care, employment, Minority Teachers: Won employment of a Minority and clean up the abandoned Belmont Heights Lumber transportation, police protection, public Teacher Recruiter by the School District to hire more Company, a dangerous health, safety, and fire hazard. services, and neighborhood infrastructure. Black & Hispanic teachers. Sidewalks: Won construction of a 1.2-mile sidewalk

EMPLOYMENT on 22nd Street in at a cost of $65,000 to the City of Tampa, leading to the construction of many Fair Chance Hiring: Persuaded to other sidewalks in the area. HOPE is Funded in 3 Ways pass the Tampa Criminal History Screening Practices Code Enforcement: Got City of Tampa to demolish or Ordinance to reduce discrimination and open doors to 1. Dues from member congregations rehab 200 abandoned and/or condemned buildings, cut jobs for people with criminal records. 2. Individual and business investments 100 overgrown empty lots, gaining 50% increase in the Job Training: Got HCC to create 9 Fast Track Job Skill City of Tampa Code Enforcement Budget. 3. Non-governmental grants Certificate Programs to equip people with job skills and Infrastructure: Won traffic signs, street repair, drainage, do outreach to the unemployed.. and upgraded street lighting in Belmont Heights, Ybor HOPE is a private, non-profit, 501(c)3 federally Jobs: Helped establish the Tampa Women/Minority City, and Jackson Heights from Tampa’ tax-exempt organization. Business Enterprise Ordinance. Department of Public Works.