History
The Birth of Hope
It all began as a shelter and hospitality house for women and children in a three-story, red Victorian house about a mile south of downtown Minneapolis. In 1977 three Roman Catholic nuns started St. Joseph’s House (St. Joe’s), adopting Dorothy Day’s philosophy of “comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable.” The sisters took their passion public and convinced individuals and churches throughout the metro area to support them. Over the years thousands of women and kids found compassionate shelter, dozens of volunteers came to the inner city, women and children who were and had been homeless built a community around St. Joe’s hospitality, and the sisters became leaders in fighting against violence and injustice.
In the late 1980s…
The crack cocaine epidemic and related violence and devastation overwhelmed the block where St. Joseph’s House was founded. We began to explore strategies for reclaiming the neighborhood.
The 90s — an expanded vision and a new name…
- We began to acquire property on our original block in the early 90s. In 1994 we took on our first publicly-funded revitalization, and in 1996 we closed the shelter to concentrate full time on our expanding vision.
- In 1997 our new name, Hope Community, Inc., expressed our hope for the future and our commitment to urban revitalization that rebuilds community.
- Incrementally and strategically we built on accomplishment as we developed our vision of rebuilding a neighborhood that nurtures children and families in a community context. The Hope Campus became a living model of that vision.
- At the same time we built organizational relationships and capacity. Steady and growing support from over 30 foundations and corporations, almost 800 individual donors, and many housing funders made it all possible.
- Convinced that a strong community sustains revitalization into the future, we invested in community building strategies that now involve hundreds each year.
From 2000-2006...
- Began to implement the architectural vision for revitalization of 16 square blocks based on the Hope Block model.
- Purchased land on the four corners at Franklin and Portland, assuring Hope’s leadership in redevelopment of the intersection. Laid groundwork for Franklin-Portland Gateway development partnership with Aeon.
- Completed Gateway Phase 1, Children’s Village Center, beginning the transformation of the intersection and assuring Hope’s continuing presence and influence in the future.
- Hope Learning Center established. Now provides creative community-based adult basic education and English Language Learning for people working to get more education and better jobs.
- Almost 1000 people involved in three major Community Listening Projects focused on community hopes and challenges and the future of the local park.