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Foundation of Hope proposes empowerment center at Twin Rivers; group says outside funding is secured
Summary
Reverend Dr. LaJuana Butler and Foundation of Hope representatives proposed a Hope Community Empowerment Center to be co-located at Twin Rivers, offering mentoring, basic-needs navigation and mental-health referrals; presenters said funding comes from PCCD, Jefferson Regional Foundation and BUILD Foundation and requested only space under an MOU.
Reverend Dr. LaJuana Butler, CEO of the Pittsburgh-based nonprofit Foundation of Hope, told the McKeesport Area School District board on April 14 that her organization is proposing a student–family resource hub at Twin Rivers called the Hope Community Empowerment Center.
Butler said the center would provide mentoring, leadership development, out-of-school academic support, basic-needs assessment and connections to community mental‑health resources for youth and families. "We already offer programming in McKeesport and our work is school-embedded," a Foundation presenter said, describing evidence-based curricula and a measured, phase‑based rollout.
When asked whether the center would require district operating funds, Butler replied the group has confirmed funding from PCCD, Jefferson Regional Foundation and BUILD Foundation and is not seeking additional district funds; they asked only for the use of space and proposed an MOU to set terms. The presenters said Foundation of Hope would staff and manage day-to-day operations at no cost to the district in the first year and would maintain required district clearances for anyone working on site.
Board members asked about security, staffing transitions from current programs and sustainability. Foundation representatives said the center would limit adult community access during student arrival and dismissal, operate primarily by appointment during phase 1, plan a soft opening in July and would hire additional staff as the program scales.
The board asked staff to continue conversations about an MOU and next steps; no formal board vote on the MOU or space allocation was taken on April 14.
