Millard "Mitty" Owens brings over twenty years of experience in community development and capacity building for under-served communities.  He devoted his early career to community organizing, affordable housing, and micro-enterprise development.  These experiences informed his subsequent work as a program officer at the Ford Foundation where he advanced new, innovative approaches - domestically and internationally -  to combating poverty through financial asset development.  Transforming these ideas into local government initiatives was his focus as the Senior Deputy Director of NYC's Office of Financial Empowerment.  Mitty also designed and taught a course on public policy and wealth formation as an adjunct professor at New York University's Wagner School of Public Service.

Mitty has served on the Board of Directors for several national and local economic development and social justice organizations including the Fifth Avenue Committee, Grassroots Leadership, Global Exchange, and the Yale Dwight Hall Center for Public Service and Social Justice.  In these capacities he led an array of strategic planning, fundraising and organizational development efforts.

"Mitty is a great fit at this stage of The HOPE Program's growth and development," said Board Chair Barbara Lupo.  "He is committed to further strengthening and expanding HOPE's award-winning work - training, educating, placing, and supporting our students to achieve their full potential in the workforce and contribute meaningfully to society.  Furthermore, Mitty is excited about leveraging our research, education, and policy work to influence New York City's workforce system and the structural barriers faced by our students."

Mitty is a native of Brooklyn and graduate of Yale University.  He has traveled extensively overseas and lived in Zimbabwe.  He has been awarded several fellowships, including the W.K. Kellogg National Leadership Fellowship through which he founded a program promoting the intersection of art, culture and social change.

At HOPE, we work to end the cycle of generational poverty and to help program participants become economically self-sufficient.  Graduates become employed so that they can support themselves and their families.  

Jose Ortiz's addiction cost him everything - his job, family and home.  He came to The HOPE Program because he wanted to change his life and contribute something to society.  Through HOPE, he was placed at an internship at Animal Care and Control of NYC.  After he completed his internship, they could not let him go. 

Jose has been employed at Animal Care and Control of NYC since 2007.  He has received three promotions to his current position of Supervisor.  Jose says that this is his dream job and is passionate about working with animals. 

Read the NY Daily News coverage of how Jose helped to rescue an elderly handicap New Yorker's only companion.

On Thursday June 18th, Trae Bodge, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Three Custom Color Specialists, held an Image Workshop for HOPE students.  Trae fielded questions from students on cosmetics and how to apply them.  Students happily left her color studio feeling confident and eager to use their complimentary samples.  As they are preparing for work, they want to make the best first impression.  Trae's generosity will certainly help make this possible.  

This summer, a HOPE intern will begin an internship at Three Custom Color Specialists.

Read Trae's blog post on her experience with the HOPE students.

For the second consecutive year, The HOPE Program has received Charity Navigator's coveted 4-star rating for sound fiscal management, outperforming most charities in the country.  HOPE is the only social services organization in Brooklyn to receive this prestigious award - along with seven others in all of NYC!

As stated by Ken Berger, President & CEO of Charity Navigator, "Only 19% of the charities we rate have received at least 2 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that The HOPE Program consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America.  This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator differentiates The HOPE Program from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust." 

Charity Navigator has been described as "America's premier charity evaluator."

READ THE ARTICLE. 

Watch this video, produced by Halcrow, to see a special report on The HOPE Program collaboration. 

The Halcrow Foundation is an independent charity that's bringing tangible and sustainable improvements to the lives of people in need around the world. It is funded by infrastructure development consultant Halcrow and its employees. Forming tangible and sustainable links with their local communities, Halcrow employees identify and then monitor the foundation's projects. Like its three-year, $50,000 program of support for The HOPE Program, managed by Halcrow's New York office. 

The Green Collar Project will prepare HOPE students and graduates for jobs in an environmental field while providing family sustaining wages, safe working conditions, and chances for advancement. This includes jobs in the fields of construction, energy efficiency, horticulture, building retrofitting, transportation, manufacturing sectors, and more.  The Green Collar Project is supported by Sharp Electronics.

Project Runway , the three-time Emmy nominated series, selected The HOPE Program to receive the proceeds from its on-line auction of this year’s designers’ fabulous creations! Bravo and The Weinstein Company’s wildly successful fashion reality series is one of television’s most talked-about shows. Net proceeds of $37,179.80 were donated to The HOPE Program to help us get some of New York’s poorest residents back on their feet.

New York Daily News
With all eyes focused on the City Council's scandalous abuse of public funds doled out to pet charities run by cronies, staffers and family members, we should keep in mind that our city boasts great nonprofits that do good works...Click here to continue