30 Jul 2024 City of Hope Outreach in Conway offers summer academy 

Posted at 10:17 PMh in Features by

By Stefanie Brazil

The City of Hope Outreach offers an after-school program called CoHO Academy, and it runs through the summer. From May 7 through July 17, each Tuesday and Wednesday, kids looked forward to learning, coloring and enjoying music. 

Jay Kennon (back row) is a CoHO Academy instructor and Lana Thurman is the nutrition director. Patrick Garcia (front row, from left), Victoria Suazo, Jilary Garcia, Fernanda Morin, Daniel Garcia and Lazaro Estuyal attended the CoHO Academy this summer.

The CoHO Academy provides a safe environment to help guide students’ academic and personal growth. Leaders conduct fun, creative activities to encourage joy in lifelong learning and achievement and to build confidence and leadership skills. The Academy focuses on personal development, literacy, STEM and the arts.

Claudia Fountain is the CoHO Academy instructor, and this summer, the program has focused on giving back. One activity the students did was to create artwork on grocery bags that were later filled with necessities and provided to people in need. In addition to the groceries, the bags were filled with positive messages and biblical phrases like “Don’t give up!” “You are loved,” “You are worthy, unique and irreplaceable,” and “We are here for you,” according to Fountain.

“It’s a phenomenal experience to be part of,” she said. “It’s a collaborative effort that many churches and people in the community support. We are trying to empower families, and we still need lots of volunteer help and donations.”

About 15-20 kids from kindergarten through eighth grade attend CoHO Academy. Over the summer, they were challenged to read 200 books and had reached 100 in early July. Instructor Sarah Dillard offered children information about financial literacy, beneficial hobbies and various careers. She is an occupational therapy student at the University of Central Arkansas, and she is completing her capstone project titled “Adulting Done Right” by working with the program. Her project teaches life, leisure and career skills to at-risk youth to ensure they become successful adults, according to Dillard.

“Sarah is wonderful with the children!” Fountain said.

The CoHO Academy and Small Market are two initiatives offered under the umbrella of City of Hope Outreach, which helps people with needs. Other programs include Hope Village, CoHO Gardens, CoHO Cares and The Hope Home.

“CoHO exists to advocate for others through the opening of holistic centers within under-resourced areas in Central Arkansas; and to influence change in unique ways that involve active presence and relational transformation,” according to the website. The organization’s core values include human dignity, love, kindness, generosity and courage. To seek help, donate or volunteer, visit coho58.org or call 501.205.1614.