St. HOPE: Home
Author Talk featuring Sheryl Grant
Underground Books
Calling All Book Lovers!
Join us for an inspiring Author Talk with Sherly Grant, the brilliant mind behind Fit for Life.
When: January 23, 2025, at 6 PM
Where: [Insert Location or Virtual Link]
Discover the story behind the book, dive into its life-changing insights, and get your questions answered by the author herself. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to her work, this is an evening you won’t want to miss.
Author Talk featuring Victoria Christopher Murray
Underground Books
You’re Invited!
Come out and join us for an exciting author talk with Victoria Christopher Murray, the bestselling author whose books have been adapted into hit films on the Lifetime Network!
Victoria Christopher Murray is back at Underground Books, and you don’t want to miss it! Known for her powerful stories like Pride, Wrath, Greed, Envy, and Lust, which were turned into movies on Lifetime, she’s a master at diving into the complexities of life, love, and faith.
TUTTI FRUTTI: A Tribute to Little Richard Concert
Guild Theater
The Guild Theater presents Remembering Richard, a 60-minute concert show featuring Dedrick Weathersby as Little Richard. This production, created by the team behind Remembering James Brown, celebrates the life and music of Little Richard, focusing on his reign from 1949-1957 as the “Architect and King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Fans of the award-winning Remembering James show will enjoy this tribute to Richard Wayne Penniman’s enduring musical legacy.
Oak Park Black Film Festival 2025
Guild Theater
Join us from October 7 to October 12, 2025, for an unforgettable celebration of African-American stories and history through the power of cinema. The Oak Park Black Film Festival shines a spotlight on the voices of African-American filmmakers, featuring an inspiring lineup of independent feature films, thought-provoking documentaries, and captivating short films.
St. HOPE Academy Founded by Kevin Johnson
July 1989
St. HOPE began in 1989 as an afterschool program in a portable classroom at Sacramento High School
After 13 years, St. HOPE realized that an after school program simply wasn’t enough to dramatically improve the academic outcomes of children, that it would be necessary to establish and run our own schools.
In 2003, St. HOPE Public Schools was founded as a preK-12 independent charter school district that provides high-quality education to nearly 2,000 students.
St. HOPE Facility Grand Opening
January 1992
7,000 square foot facility opening at 4101 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
40 acres Art & Cultural Center Grand Opening
May 2003
St. HOPE’s largest economic development project opened with Underground Books, Uncle Jed’s Cut Hut, Starbucks and the Guild Theater.
40 Acres is the jewel of the SHDC efforts in the Oak Park community. The building was the historic Woodruff Hotel which was build in 1922 and was renovated by St. HOPE Development company in 2003.
The 23,000 sq. ft. mixed use facility includes:
- Guild Theater
- Underground Books
- Old Soul Coffee House
- Coopers Wine Bar
- Upper Room Apartments
Grammy Award Winning Gospel Artists to Perform at Georgia “Mother Rose” West Celebration of Life
Thursday, January 23, 2025
The community is invited to come together for a special Celebration of Life honoring the remarkable legacy of Mother Rose on Thursday, January 23, from 10 AM to 1 PM at St. Paul Baptist Church, located at 3996 14th Avenue.
This heartfelt event promises to be a joyful tribute, featuring performances from three Grammy Award-winning gospel legends:
Memory Book
Share a favorite Memory
If you met Mother Rose, you definitely have a favorite memory or photo(s). We’d love to hear about them!
Click the link below to share a photo or your favorite memory of Mother Rose.
Mother Rose in the News
Local Media Remembers Mother Rose
Please click to learn more about Mother Rose featured in the Sacramento Media:
Recent News
The Sacramento Observer – January 3, 2025
‘Mother Rose’ Georgia West, Mother Of Sacramento’s First Black Mayor, Passes
The Sacramento Bee – December 24, 2024
Mother Rose Legacy Fund
Help to Continue her Passion for Literacy & Community
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for supporters consider one of the following:
Make a Tax Deductible Donation to St. HOPE Academy (501c3)
Purchase a Book from Mother Rose’s Favorite Reading List
Purchase a Book for the Angel Tree to give the gift of literacy to an Oak Park Youth
Georgia “Mother Rose” West, Matriarch of Sacramento’s Oak Park Neighborhood, Passes Away
Georgia "Mother Rose" West (1949-2024)
With profound sadness we announce the passing of Georgia “Mother Rose” West on December 23, 2024. Mother Rose was a well-known pillar in the Oak Park community helping our region thrive by ensuring cultural diversity. Mother Rose was the owner/operator of Underground Books, part of the 40 Acres Cultural Center at 35th Street and Broadway. Known as the “literary hub of Oak Park”, Underground Books provides programs and learning opportunities for the community and contributes toward ensuring all children have the same access to education and knowledge.
Sac High Alumni Spotlight: Alexandra Gallegos, Class of 2024
Sac High Alumni Spotlight: Alexandra Gallegos, Class of 2024
Alexandra Gallegos attended St. HOPE Public Schools since the sixth grade. She was the 2024 Sac High valedictorian and student body Vice President and is now attending UC Berkeley. She attributes her accomplishments to the rigorous academic program and high standards set by the teachers and administrators at St. HOPE Public Schools.
Join Us for Christmas at 40 Acres to Celebrate the Holiday Season!
We are hosting our annual Christmas at 40 Acres, a multicultural community celebration with activities for kids and people of all ages. This festive event which features Underground Books, Guild Theater, Fixins Soul Kitchen, Old Soul Co., and World Class Faders Barbershop is a great way to kick off the holiday season.
Shop Talk Lately Featuring Sacramento Native Keith Powers
Guild Theater
Shop Talk Lately is a live, community-centered discussion series hosted by entrepreneur Sebastian Jackson, designed to blend barbershop culture with engaging conversations among cultural icons and innovators. Held in intimate theaters across the U.S., the show combines entertainment, audience participation, and stories of resilience to empower and unite communities, especially the Black community. This installment features actor and model Keith Powers, known for his roles in Straight Outta Compton, The New Edition Story, and Uglies.
Special Movie Screening of “Albany Road” at the Guild Theater
The Guild Theater is thrilled to be among the select venues premiering the public debut of Albany Road, the film that recently won Best Feature Film at the 2024 Oak Park Black Film Festival. Albany Road will be playing at the Guild Theater on Friday, November 29, 2024, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. The Sacramento Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, and Delta Sigma Theta have joined us in sponsoring the event and have tickets available.
Sac High Varsity Football Team Advances to Division Semifinals
Congrats to the Sac High varsity football team on an amazing football season so far. The team won their second playoff game and is currently in the Division 4 CIF SJS Semifinals! The team’s regular season record was 7-3 and they had the best regular season record since 21-22. We’ll be cheering them on when they play this Friday night. Go Dragons!
A Season of Gratitude and Community Connection
President's Message - 11.19.2024
As we head into the holiday season, I want to express my gratitude for your support and partnership as we collectively work to uplift Oak Park and the greater Sacramento community. An important part of building the next generation of leaders who will do good for our community is teaching them about and connecting them with everyday heroes. When our scholars see the difference that others are making in the world, they will be inspired to be part of that change.
Hundreds attend the Oak Park Black Film Festival
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Oak Park Black Film Festival this year! The six-day event showcased an outstanding lineup of independent feature, documentary, and short films by African-American filmmakers and was a huge success.
We were delighted to have different moderators each day who facilitated fascinating discussions with the filmmakers. You can read more about the Film Festival in the Sacramento Observer: Oak Park Festival Provides Black Filmmakers A Too Rare Showcase.
Sac High Students Paint Mural and Raise Money for Cancer Research
Sac High Scholars recently completed two great projects. Under the leadership of artist Erica Thomas, 20 scholars helped paint a mural of Sac High’s logo and Dragon mascot. For the campus beautification project, the scholars chose the theme “Forging the Future” and enjoyed unleashing their creativity and participating in a fun artistic project that scholars will enjoy for years to come.
Join Us for Engaging Authors Talks at Underground Books
Author Talk with Kerri Harper-Howie
Thursday, November 21, 2024 – 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Kerri is an entrepreneur, lawyer, author, public speaker and author of The Family Secret: The Business and Franchise Owner’s Guide to Building Generational Wealth. She combines her legal expertise with practical business acumen, offering a unique perspective on workplace issues, business operations, succession planning and fostering family-like workplaces.
Sac High Alumni Spotlight: Terrell Thompson, Class of 2020
Terrell Thompson is a proud Sac High alum, graduate of the UC Berkeley School of Business, and a member of the Gamma Alpha Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Currently, he is doing B tech consulting at Ernst and Young in San Francisco.
Empowering Our Community: Vote, Engage, Inspire!
President's Message - 10.29.2024
The November election is just a few days away and I hope that all eligible voters are making a plan to vote! For Sacramento County, it’s not too late to vote. You can go to any Vote Center up through November 5th and cast your vote. Your vote is your voice.
Sac High and PS7 Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month
St. HOPE is pleased to help bring Hispanic Heritage Month to life through community partnerships at each of the St. HOPE Public School sites. The school-wide celebration spanning from September 15-October 15 immerses Tk-12th grade scholars in Latinx art, dance, literacy, and cooking events. These engaging activities help expose scholars to generations of Hispanic trailblazers who made U.S. history and celebrate the history, traditions, and vibrant culture of Hispanic and Latino Americans.
Sac High Alumni Spotlight: Cherise Jones, Class of 2007
Cherise Jones believes so much in St. HOPE Public Schools’ innovative education model that she is both a Sac High alumni and a proud staff member. After Cherise graduated from Sac High she attended San Jose State University and then she worked at St. HOPE Public Schools in the special education department for four years.
3rd Annual Black Film Festival Returns to Oak Park
We are thrilled that the Oak Park Black Film Festival is returning to for the third year. From Tuesday, October 8 through Sunday, October 13, the greater Sacramento community is invited to enjoy and experience African-American stories and history through cinema. The six-day event will showcase independent feature, documentary, and short films by African-American filmmakers, along with panel discussions and exclusive events. We are excited to have different moderators for each day of the film festival including several local reporters.
St. HOPE Charters Unanimously Approved
President's Message - 9.23.24
The line “it takes a village” has never been more true as our community rallied behind PS7 and Sacramento Charter High School to express their support for the schools. I’m thrilled to report that the Sacramento City Unified School Board voted unanimously on September 19 to renew the charters for both schools for another 5-year term (until June 30, 2030). I am incredibly grateful for all the support that the schools received and that they can continue focusing on educating scholars and sending them to and through college.