Volunteer Spotlight

Q: What peaked your interest in wanting to join HOPES?
‍“My desire to join HOPES stems from my genuine passion for working with young people. I take great joy in being a part of their lives, contributing to their personal and intellectual growth, and providing them with care and support. The opportunity to make a positive impact in their lives makes it all the more fulfilling for me.”​

Q: What are you most excited about while you serve at HOPES?
‍“I am thrilled about several aspects of serving at HOPES. First and foremost, I am eager to establish meaningful connections with the children and their parents. Additionally, I am excited to learn about curriculum development and implementing engaging activities and programs that foster growth and development. Furthermore, I look forward to being involved with the community and creating a positive and lasting impact through my work with HOPES!”

‍Q: What does being a volunteer mean to you?
‍“To me, being a volunteer means having an unwavering passion and desire to serve others. It's about being selfless, giving back to the community, and making a positive impact in the world."

‍Q: What’s one fun fact that you would like to share about yourself?
‍“I've been to 8 countries within the span of one year!”

Spring Programming is well underway and has already been so successful so far, thanks to our HOPES staff, AmeriCorps members, and community volunteers! Over a month ago, Chicago HOPES for Kids welcomed two new AmeriCorps VISTAS, both of whom were excited to join the HOPES team! Read on to learn more about our new VISTAS...

Colin is from Ridgewood, NJ and is one of our newest AmeriCorps VISTAs, serving as the 2023 Development Coordinator. Colin decided to join Chicago HOPES for Kids because he was interested in getting out in the world and helping an area of society that is often overlooked and underserved. Colin is most excited about working with our organization because of how happy our programming makes our students; he says being able to see the kids smile at the end of each day is what “makes this job worth it!” To Colin, being a volunteer means being someone who is willing to do things others won’t and not seeking for monetary gains. In his free time, Colin enjoys going to concerts and live music events, whenever and wherever he can! We are so excited to have Colin on our team!

​Desiree is from Chicago and is another one of our newest AmeriCorps VISTAs, serving as the 2023 Family Engagement & Outreach Coordinator. Desiree decided to join Chicago HOPES for Kids due to past experiences working for other nonprofit organizations. HOPES piqued her interest  because of how HOPES operates; she admires the organization’s dedication to serving underprivileged students and their families. Desiree is most excited about the opportunity to spread awareness about HOPES and increase our reach to families across Chicago by recruiting (and retaining) passionate volunteers as well as assisting with workshop facilitation for the Parent Partners program that equips our parents with the knowledge and skills they need to support their children, both emotionally and academically.  To Desiree, being a volunteer means the work she does is going toward the “bigger picture.” In her free time, Desiree enjoys watching cooking competition shows, including Chopped, Cutthroat Kitchen, and Iron Chef America. We are thrilled to have Desiree on our team!

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School is back in session and we are thrilled to kick off Spring Programming this month! Just a few weeks ago, we welcomed our Spring 2023 AmeriCorps Cohort and they are excited to help Chicago HOPES for Kids provide another successful semester full of fun learning! Read on to learn more about our incredible cohort:

‍Laflanicea Branch
‍Laflanicea is a Chicago native and has returned to Chicago HOPES for Kids as an AmeriCorps member! Laflanicea first decided to join HOPES due to her previous involvement working at local neighborhood community centers and wanted to gain exposure working in homeless shelters to better meet the needs of our students. She is most excited about the opportunity to serve children and families in their time of need, especially now given how hard COVID-19 has hit Chicago communities. As a volunteer, Laflanicea believes you begin to develop a deeper understanding of how your work directly and positively impacts others. Service is a great opportunity to learn and grow as well as to help those who need it most. Laflanicea loves to swim, knows how to make killer grilled cheese sandwiches, and would love the opportunity to teach our students how to play double dutch. We are so excited to have Laflanicea back on our team!

‍Clara Cadwell
‍Clara is from Oak Park, IL and is another returning AmeriCorps member! Clara was most interested in working with Chicago HOPES because she loved how passionate the organization is and how directly involved we are in the communities we serve. She is most excited about the opportunity to improve our students’ reading abilities and build up their reading confidence. Clara believes that being a volunteer means being able to practice empathy and to be a good leader. Clara loves to spend her free time exploring the city’s limitless options of restaurants and food, visiting local thrift shops, and listening to music. We are so excited to have Clara back on our team!

‍Daniel Gantner
‍Daniel is from St. Charlies, IL and one of our newer AmeriCorps members. Daniel first decided to join our team here at HOPES because of the opportunity to make tangible impacts on kids who need it. He is most excited about the chance to build lasting connections with his fellow AmeriCorps members plus establish relationships with the students we serve. Daniel views being a volunteer as someone who can utilize their skills to do something that makes the world a better place, no matter how big or small! Daniel enjoys making music and is a photographer. We are so excited to have Daniel on our team!

‍Jacqueline (Jackie) Navarro
‍Jackie is from Cicero, IL and is another one of our newer AmeriCorps members. Jackie became interested in Chicago HOPES for Kids because of the opportunity to gain experience working with children. She is most excited about being able to see how happy our programs make our students, especially when we’re able to give them special items like Halloween costumes. To Jackie, being a volunteer means being a good helper. In her free time, Jackie enjoys watching Netflix and making songs. We are so excited to have Jackie on our team!

‍Nishi Daftari
‍Nishi is from Naperville, IL and is a newer AmeriCorps member. Nishi first joined Chicago HOPES because she loved how hands-on and direct her role is; she can’t wait to make a difference in the lives of those we serve! Nishi is most excited about working with HOPES because she will be able to watch our students grow and help them learn during our programs. To Nishi, being a volunteer means being able to give her time for a cause she believes in. Nishi loves to sing during her free time. We are so excited to have Nishi on our team!

‍Kenna Zeigler
‍Kenna is from Hudson, OH and is a returning AmeriCorps member! Kenna decided to serve with Chicago HOPES for Kids again because she loved her past volunteering experiences with HOPES during the Summer 2021 semester and wanted to continue supporting the amazing work we do for our students! She is most excited about getting to see our students grow their academic confidence. Kenna believes that being a volunteer is an opportunity to contribute to her community. One fun fact about Kenna is that she’s visited 44 states! We are so excited to have Kenna back on our team!

‍Ella Smith
‍Ella is from Illinois and has been an Americorps member since last semester. Ella joined Chicago HOPES for Kids because she felt that our mission spoke directly to her heart. As someone who endured struggles of her own while growing up, she knew the profound impact just one person can make. It is her life’s goal to be able to inspire and uplift the students who are far too often disregarded and overlooked. Ella is most excited to have the opportunity to build long-lasting, positive relationships with our students, help our students understand and cope with their own traumas, and potentially ignite a passion within them! To Ella, being a volunteer means she is able to truly make a difference in this world by simply giving a little bit of herself. Even though she is only one person, Ella knows that her impact can be tremendous and really help shape our world for the better. Ella is an artist and guitarist. We are so excited to have Ella on our team!

‍Thina Tim
‍Thina is from Los Angeles, CA and is a newer AmeriCorps member! Thina decided to join our team because Chicago HOPES peaked her interest in helping kids in need, specifically with literacy. She is most excited about being able to work 1:1 with our students. Being a volunteer is important to Thina because it allows her to help others and serves as a great way to meet other people with similar interests. Thina loves the outdoors – taking a walk or riding a bike are just some examples of how Thina spends her free time. We are so excited to have Thina on our team!

‍Mia Hainer
‍Mia is from San Francisco, CA and is another newer AmeriCorps member! Mia was initially drawn to Chicago HOPES for Kids’ mission to better the education of children who live in underserved communities. She is most excited to learn about varying Chicago communities and help educate our students through our programs. To Mia, being a volunteer means learning from people more experienced than myself and giving back to the community. In her free time, Mia loves to read and take photos. We are so excited to have Mia on our team!

‍Sloane Shabelman
‍Sloane is from Glenview, IL and is one of our newer AmeriCorps members! Sloane became interested in HOPES because she has always been really passionate about the issue of homelessness in Chicago. Sloane decided to take a gap year before attending college and believes this opportunity will expand her skills and involvement in the community. Sloane has previous experience doing volunteer work with families experiencing homelessness; once she found out about HOPES, she knew it was a perfect fit and an amazing opportunity for her! Sloane also loves working with kids, especially in an academic environment. To Sloane, being a volunteer means giving back to those who need it most and making a positive difference in the lives of others! In her free time, Sloane loves to watch her favorite sitcoms. We are so excited to have Sloane join our team!

‍Tatiana Rodriguez
​Tatiana is from Elgin, IL and is one of our newer AmeriCorps members. Tatiana became interested in Chicago HOPES because she loved the concept of our programs. She wants to help in any way she can, and she believes giving back to the community is amazing. Tatiana is most excited about meeting new people, especially the students. She is excited to help our students learn as well as learn new things herself. To Tatiana, being a volunteer means helping others in the best way possible while being mindful of the fact that you need to make sure you are being respectful to others. In her free time, Tatiana loves to travel to new places and immerse herself in other cultures. She also enjoys playing basketball, both recreationally and competitively. We are so excited to have Tatiana on our team!

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Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and welcome back to the monthly volunteer spotlight! This month, we have a member of our Sangomon team, Paulette Herring! Paulette is a kind woman who believes in helping people meet their goals and making the world a more educated place. She is also a veteran of the United States Air Force and the Illinois Air National Guard. While serving, she met people from different parts of the world and saw many places off the beaten path. (If you see her, be sure to ask her for a story!)After serving twenty years in the armed forces, Paulette joined a women's veteran's group. That group led her to HOPES, where she continues to meet people from diverse backgrounds and see uncommon places. We are very proud of her service, both in the armed forces and in the classroom! Learn more from her interview below:

‍What Branch of the military were you serving in? When did you serve?
‍“I served in the United States Air Force and Illinois Air National Guard spanning from 1979 to 2001.”

‍What encouraged you to want to serve in the military?
‍“Well, I was able to have my school tuition paid while serving, receive amazing training and have the opportunity to travel!"

‍How did it impact your life?​
“You know, I am grateful that I had a chance to do things and see places I didn't think I would have. I got a chance to meet people from different parts of the world and explore many amazing cultures.

‍How did your military service and serving with HOPES connect?“
Well, I was introduced to HOPES by being part of a women’s veteran group so that was a benefit of being in the military, the connections. I really liked how HOPES served the community in a unique way. Plus, I had a chance to gain afterschool training and work with students.‍

What does serving mean to you?
‍"Service to me means making the world a better, kinder and educated place to live in as well as helping people meet their goals.”

‍Do you have any fun facts about yourself?​
“Oh wow, well, many people would be shocked to know that I was part of a volleyball team for many years! I also enjoy traveling.”