Project HOPE_National League of Cities PresentationNovember 11, 2013
Honorable Mayor Roy Buol and City Council
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
RE: Project HOPE presenting at the National League of Cities Conference
Dear Mayor Buol and City Council Members,
I am writing today to inform you of some exciting news! Project HOPE has been invited to the
National League of Cities Conference taking place this week in Seattle, WA to present on Re-
Engage Dubuque. We were selected from dozens of cities who support re- engagement centers
including cities like Denver, Boston, and LA who all have well developed centers.
To give you a little background, Project HOPE began exploring Re- engagement Centers in 2010
during discussions about possible uses for the CARADCO center. Since that time, we have
identified evidence based practices, engaged partners in the community and in August of 2012
we opened our Re- engagement Center.
What makes our approach unique is that our model uses a virtual approach to re- engaging
young people who have dropped out of high school. Rather than focusing on a center where
young people can come to, Re- engage Dubuque meets students where they are — literally. Two
coaches identify students and go out into the community to find them. Most often they meet
them at home, in parks and meeting places like coffee shops and even McDonalds.
Once the connection is made with a student, they have many options including returning to high
school, alternative high school, on -line options, and pursuing their GED. An exciting partnership
between the Dubuque Community Schools and Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) and
Project HOPE makes Re- engage Dubuque a reality.
To date we have connected 158 students to education opportunities and 48 have already earned
their diplomas or GED's. The remaining 110 are working or pursuing post- secondary education or
training opportunities and we continue to do outreach.
I am excited about our progress and wanted to be sure you were aware of the opportunity for
Project HOPE to be recognized on the national stage.
Thank you for your continued support of Project HOPE.
Sincerely,
ee;rir,
Eric Dregne
Vice President of Strategic Initiatives
COMMI NffY FUtINLMTION
•r Ct,al,7 DU .4II1
The Roshek Building Phone: 561588E00
700 Locust Street. Suite 195 Fax 563.5816619
Dubuque, to 52001 ohiceBdbgfoundation.org
www.dbqfoundation.org