HOPE Graduates and Errol Louis Will Be There

The Brooklyn Optimist is a big fan of the HOPE Program, one of our City's best nonprofits. For those of you who are unfamiliar with its exemplary work, HOPE is a career development program in downtown Brooklyn that has helped New Yorkers living in poverty find meaningful jobs for the past 25 years.

Tomorrow at St. Francis College, HOPE will honor a number of the distinguished graduates of its program. Many of the graduates will be recognized for having successfully maintained employment for years now, and even gaining promotions to higher-paying positions.

Air America radio host and Daily News columnist Errol Louis will be the keynote speaker at the graduation. Louis, who has distinguished himself as a strong progressive voice for the City, wrote an excellent article in April lauding HOPE as "a splendid charity" and adding that "The [City] Council should spend less time swiping public dollars and more time wisely investing in Hope and programs like it that tackle the city's toughest problems - and succeed."

Louis will be joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Chernow, who will present the Valerie Chernow Volunteer Award (named in memory of his wife) to an outstanding HOPE volunteer.

But don't just come to the graduation to see its famous guests. "The most exciting part of this ceremony is seeing how proud our graduates are of their accomplishments," enthuses Barbara Edwards Delsman, Executive Director of HOPE.

The event runs from 6 - 7:30 p.m. St. Francis College is located at 182 Remsen Street in Brooklyn Heights. For more information, click here to go to HOPE's website.

And don't forget to make a donation to HOPE today. I'm going to!