Erstina & Antonio
n
vani & Ada
Jackie, Gio
A middle class 3-year-old
h as a working vocabulary of
1 ,200 WORDS
b ut
a poverty class adult
has a working vocabulary of
ONLY 9
00 WORDS!
Language development is a
key component of our Early
Learning Program and a key
factor in h
elping teen moms
and their c hildren break the
cycle o
f poverty.
It’s Wednesday, and the Resource Center is full of teen moms studying for
their GED or working on college homework. It’s cold outside and snowing gently,
but the Resource Center feels cozy as crockpots of chili softly bubble on the counter.
Today’s lunch was donated by a local business, one of the 4,200 meals that we will
serve to our young moms and their children this year because they often come to class
hungry.
There is a soft buzz of conversation in the Learning Lab as teen moms and tutors bend
their heads close to one another over books and computers. 19-year-old Jackie hurries
through the front door, shaking snow off of little Giovanni’s hat as she ushers him into
the hall. Gio runs excitedly to the “Free Book Box” outside our Early Learning room,
studying the sign to see how many books he can take home today.
Earlier this year Hope House piloted an Early Learning Program for the kids
of our teen moms, with a focus on language acquisition, STEM activities,
Bible stories, art, and active play. This week’s theme is “Healthy Foods,” and Gio
is soon settled at the craft table, happily dipping cut veggies into Tempra paint and
experimenting with the shapes they make when pressed to paper. Later Jackie will
proudly announce that she will put his picture on the fridge at home.
The impact this pilot program has had on the children of our teen moms has
been nothing short of amazing. Please read this note I recently received from our
Early Learning Coordinator:
Erstina was hesitant to leave Antonio in our Early Learning class because of his
temper tantrums, which she referred to as out of control. However, once Antonio
began attending regularly, he began to grow tremendously. He moved forward in
his social development and is now very social and enjoys helping the babies in the
room. You will often see him handing an infant a car or block to play with. His speech
has also greatly improved and because he is able to communicate better, his temper
tantrums are happening less often. I have seen a total transformation from where he
was to where he is today. Erstina is a really great mom as well, and I am so proud to be
a part of their journey!
Visit hopehouseofcolorado.org
to see a fun video featuring
the kids in our new
Early Learning Program!
With stories like these, it is no surprise that we now have a waiting list for our Early
Learning Program! I am asking you to help us raise $40,000 by Dec. 15 so we can
expand this program in 2015, adding two part-time teachers and purchasing new active
play material, so that more of the kids on our waiting list can participate.
Thank you for blessing our teen moms and children this Christmas! Gio, Antonio, and
their 75 little peers thank you for investing in them!
Blessings,
Would you like to volunteer in our
Early Learning Program or provide
a meal for our teen moms and
children in 2015?
Lisa Steven
Founder & Executive Director
Please contact Jennifer Cerf
at 303-429-1012, ext. 223, or
[email protected].
P.S. A Hope House champion graciously gave $7,000 to start the campaign...
help us raise the remaining $33,000 by Dec. 15!
CONTACT US at 303.429.1012 or
[email protected]
www.hopehouseofcolorado.org