Summer is officially over. But it’s certain that the impact of the Hope Leadership Academy Summer Institute will endure.
It’s difficult to describe the Hope Leadership Academy Summer Institute because it is so many things at one time: a place to learn, to share ideas, to improve skills, as well as a place for friendship.
So it would be impossible to list everything that happened at the Harlem site this year. The 17 participants volunteered at World Vision Co., creating care packages for kids in low-income housing, and also cleaning the warehouse to create a safer environment. They took field trips. They also started two businesses and achieved some fantastic results. All this came under the dynamic leadership of our colleagues John Exorphe and Binta Sumbundu.
Muchii Made baked all-natural cookies that were delicious while being free of the artificial ingredients found in so many other products. Summertime Sweetness made fresh-squeezed organic lemonade—pink and yellow—to wash down all those treats. The young men and women on both teams built business plans, assigned responsibility areas, worked on branding, and marketed each enterprise. They held two public sales while also delivering their product to 711 3rd Ave and 4 W. 125th Street.
They got the business off the ground with initial $50 investments, and together the two groups generated more than $700 in profits. That is what we call a success story.
