Bester News Archives - Bester Community of Hope

Rhymes and Resources: Growing Together

April 16, 2025

On April 5, 2025 Bester Elementary School was transformed into a hub of family fun and community engagement when Bester Community of Hope hosted their 9th annual Babypalooza Community Baby Shower. This annual event saw 161 families and 500 people come together to celebrate and honor the youngest members of the community.

As families were welcomed into the nursery rhyme themed event they had the opportunity to visit the Early Learning Carnival, where five local early intervention agencies created a space filled with engaging activity stations featuring interactive games, sensory play and motor skill exercises designed to encourage motor development. Attendees were also able to capture some of the magic of the day by snapping a photo at the ‘row, row, row your boat’ photo booth sponsored by the Washington County Family Center and interacting with Goldilocks and one of her famous 3 bears.

Once families transitioned from the Early Learning Carnival into the gymnasium space, they were greeted by over 40 resource vendors who were ready for the chance to connect with families by offering vital information related to healthcare, family services, childhood development, home safety, and so much more. Brienna Fields, a representative from The Community Free Clinic expressed her enthusiasm for the event, stating, “This was the first year I attended this event and I am quite impressed. Providing an event that has so many community partners in one space for residents to connect with is amazing. I look forward to working together again next year!”

Parenthood is an amazing journey, but it can also come with challenges. Learning how to prioritize self- care and resilience helps us show up as the best versions of ourselves to those we care for. The Jack E. Barr Center for Well-Being once again hosted the Parental Resiliency Room which provided families an opportunity to unwind in a calm space. Here, individuals could engage in relaxing activities like coloring and listening to music.

As we all know, no celebration is complete without food and prizes! Thanks to funding from the Governors Office of Children through the ENOUGH Act, families were able to enjoy a meal catered by Chick-fil-A and a nursey rhyme book. To cap off Babypalooza, 14 prize bundles, sponsored by Bester Community of Hope and the generosity of their community partners, were raffled off. One parent shared their favorite part about the day was “having a fun place to take my kids, and get connected to resources that I needed all in one place! People were able to answer questions that I have had and getting diapers was a big help. My kids loved the face painting and balloon animals!”

As Babypalooza came to an end it was clear that this event is more than just a baby shower. It is essential gathering that brings together local organizations in an effort to provide a nurturing environment where EVERY parent and child thrive, showcasing the power of community, resilience and support.

Bester Community of Hope provides supports and opportunities for families in the South End of Hagerstown through the partnership and funding by The Governors Office of Children ENOUGH grant, Washington County Department of Social Services, and the Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Foundation. If you are interested in learning more about our efforts please contact us at: 240-513-6370 or visit us at www.besterhope.org.

The Governor’s Office for Children funded this project under award number 2025- ENGH-008. All points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of any State or Federal agency.

‘Building Bridges’ Inspires Vision & Grit

April 1, 2025

Celebrating it’s 10th gathering of community members advancing progress for children, families and communities, Bester Community of Hope brought together close to 450 registered guests on March 26th for it’ s annual training at the Maryland Theatre. This event was titled ‘Building Bridges’, and built on past events focused on trauma informed practices and collective impact, with a particular focus this year on the role of vision and grit on successful outcomes. The unique conversation cut across sectors, and spoke equally to both audience members and those who they serve. San Mar Family & Community Services CEO, Keith Fanjoy, opened the event sharing, “our goal today is to ensure that dreaming is not a luxury. We have to also be sure that when those opportunities arrive, we’re prepared to do what it takes.”

With speakers from across the country, the program kicked off with the founder of PUSH for Dreams, Dr. John Gaines, who launched the event with an inspiring message of hope, and love under the most difficult of circumstances with his own story. He also was able to come full circle in not only mentoring and providing positive affirmations to other youth through his non-profit, but being an agent of change in several generations of his own family, repeating ‘Love is the Solution’.

Next up was Casey Family Programs Senior Director of Judicial and National Engagement, Sheldon Spotted Elk, who was able to highlight the flip side of grit. Exploring the tremendous adversity already experienced by Native Americans and continuing as a result of historical injustices and loss of culture through intentional efforts such as Indian boarding schools that existed including one in nearby Pennsylvania. He shared the power of previously meeting Olympian Billy Mills, one of two Native American gold medalists, who was a symbol of hope, and someone who had overcome great challenges. As helpers consider approaching others with messages intended to support, doing so through a lens of cultural humility must remain a priority. When considering the pathway to hope, he shared in tribal communities, “when we talk about issues like poverty, it’s most typically the poverty of hope”.

Afterwards, author of “Getting Grit” and “Big Goals” Caroline Adams Miller, focused on the science of grit and goals. She explained, “Grit says “why not me”, but it can only be cultivated when you know the big dream.” She provided a framework for helping communities by walking through a series of difficult circumstances in her journey battling bulimia, along with professional set backs, to convey what interventions made the difference in her life. She also conveyed the unintended consequences of the “self-esteem parenting movement” and that not allowing failure with boundaries actually removes the opportunity to build strength that adults are looking for in youth. “We all play a role in bringing grit back. Grit is a superpower!”

The day culminated with a memorable and captivating presentation by NASA Astronaut Don Thomas. He took audience members on a journey from humble beginnings and early adversity in his home to convey the impossibility of his childhood dream of being an astronaut. He reflected on repeated rejections from NASA, and what seemed like the end of the road. After finally breaking through and being accepted into the space program, life threw him another curve ball: cancer. But, through a relentless determination to achieve his dream, Don was able to finally achieve the impossible, space travel! He shared, “About 650 people have had the opportunity to be in space, and when you’re up there looking down at Earth from a distance it is so clear that what we have is fragile and we need to take care of it, But the other thing that is clear is that we need each other: we have this common ground. I’m not from Ohio, I’m from Earth. And we are all earthlings.”

The Governors Office for Children funded this project under award number 2025-ENGH-008, all points of view in this document are those of the author and do no necessarily represent the position of any state agency. Bester Community of Hope is an initiative of San Mar Family & Community Services, and ‘Building Bridges’ was made possible by support from the Governor’s Office on Children ENOUGH Initiative, the Washington County Department of Human Services, the Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Foundation and Casey Family Programs.

ENOUGH Grant Provides Unprecedented Opportunities for South End

February 3, 2025

On Thursday, close to 100 leaders including representatives from the Governor’s Office for Children gathered at Meritus Park to announce signature investments in the South End of the City of Hagerstown through Governor Wes Moore’s signature policy, the ENOUGH Act. The award originally announced at a press conference with Governor Moore on December 12th, will be overseen by the San Mar Family & Community Services initiative known as Bester Community of Hope.

The kick-off event highlighted the history of the Bester Community of Hope effort focused on prevention and root causes, and the next steps to fill strategic community gaps. It also highlighted the need for a marriage between the needs of downtown economic development and the needs of current families living in the community with a goal to move the South End from “Surviving to Thriving”. The initial award of $3 million, will expand to $6 million in FY26, with additional funding potential the following two years, focused on tackling generational poverty and shifting long-term outcomes for families.

BCOH plans to spend the month of February finalizing contracts with partner agencies and working with partners to recruit staff and residents to join the comprehensive effort. The group will post the initial committee structure, members and leadership table to the community at the end of February and plans to aggressively pursue implementation throughout the Spring. There will be a variety of information and opportunities initially shared through besterhope.org website, social media and other outlets. The initial five areas of focus from the needs assessment include: Housing, Poverty & Concrete Supports, Workforce Development, Mental Health & Substance Use, and Child care. These areas will be targeted within a resident driven framework of neighborhood improvements of the compliment not only services to children and families but addressing the lived environment and spaces that residents live and play. Only about 15% of the grant program will support new staffing, whereas the vast majority of initial funding will go directly towards investments in families, neighborhoods and their identified needs. The initial funding and partner agencies include but are not limited to:

Resident Driven Neighborhood Opportunities – Bester Community of Hope, a San Mar Initiative

Neighborhood Revitalization Zones – Focused on arts & culture, belonging, environmental and safety improvements. Creating spaces for families.
Annual Special Events – South End Block Party, Babypalooza, and new signature resident events
Annual community training and evidence-based practices
Lead Neighborhood Ambassador
Six Neighborhood Ambassadors/ 20 hours monthly
Parent Peer Navigator (2 positions)
Data & Neighborhood Impact manager
Neighborhood Partnership Coordinator (core funding)

Housing

Housing support moving from emergency assistance to home ownership, with a goal of serving existing South End residents to plant roots from renter to owner. Washington County Community Action Council (WCCAC)
South End Housing Navigator (WCCAC)

Poverty

ENOUGH Family Subsidy – Incentives for working poor between 125% and 200% of poverty to access financial assistance to support basic needs while pursuing education and workforce development for a sustainable living wage. The initial target is 150 families with focus on childcare, transportation, and food. Consultation from UMD Innovation Institute to blend access to opportunity with accountability metrics.
After school subsidy to underwrite enrichment clubs for school-age youth in South End; Cash N’ Dreams Scholarships for SHHS

Substance Use Support and Education

Two Care Coordinators supporting Parents and Youth impacted by Substance Use (Potomac Community Services)

Trauma and Grief

South End Bereavement Coordinator (Hospice of Washington County)

Concrete Supports

Mobile Resource delivery vehicle including bright start newborn supplies (WCCAC)
South End Mobile Resource Coordinator (WCCAC)
Bilingual Community Worker- 2 positions (Hagerstown Area Religious Council & Asian American Center of Frederick)
Resource Wagons for Young Families (Children in Need)
South End Hygiene Supplies for Families (United Way of Washington County)

San Mar Family & Community Services

ENOUGH Subsidy Manager
ENOUGH Grant Finance Manager
Community Solutions Hub data portal – ENOUGH performance measures

Workforce Development & Child Care

Planning two new roles – Processing Coordinator, Business Development Manager to support expanded childcare resources (Partner to be decided)

Interested in learning more and getting involved? Reach out here: connect@besterhope.org

Check out today’s front page story from the Herald Mail Media by Julie Greene: Hagerstown’s South End to Benefit from Millions through Enough Act Anti-Poverty Grant

Photography courtesy of Wertman Photography

PRESS RELEASE 1.24.25

January 24, 2025

PRESS RELEASE

*****For Immediate Release 1/24/25****

NATIONAL SPEAKERS COMING TO HAGERSTOWN, MD CATALYZING INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION IN SUPPORTING CHILDREN & FAMILIES

Bester Community of Hope is proud to announce our annual community training “Building Bridges: Lessons on Vision and Grit for Families and Communities” with national speakers focused on cross sector collaboration and innovative strategies to address the expressed needs of children, families, and communities. Join us at the magnificent Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown, MD on March 26, 2025, as we explore the importance of vision and grit in overcoming barriers and together building a brighter future for all.

Featured Speakers

Caroline Adams Miller: Caroline is a globally renowned expert in positive psychology, with a special focus on goals and grit. For over 30 years, she has been a trailblazer in advancing these fields, helping individuals and organizations reach their most ambitious goals and improve overall wellbeing. She was among the first to earn a Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006, a program pioneered by Dr. Martin Seligman, the founder of positive psychology. Caroline also graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, laying the groundwork for her future achievements in psychology and personal development. She is a black-belt martial artist and a Masters swimmer.

Astronaut Don Thomas: Don is an astronaut, scientist, professional speaker, educator, and author of Orbit of Discovery about his STS-70 mission aboard space shuttle Discovery. A veteran of four flights, Don has spent 44 days in space and orbited the Earth nearly 700 times. His impossible dream of becoming an astronaut had constant obstacles from the beginning, and his ultimate success and commitment to giving back to the next generation has become the ultimate testament to perseverance.

Dr. John Gaines: John shares his personal journey from hopelessness to hope, sharing his unwavering drive to uplift others. It is through his own story that he earned the nickname “PUSH” (Persevere Until Something Happens), symbolizing his firm belief in the transformative power of perseverance. As the Founder and CEO of his own non-profit PUSH for Dreams, he passionately encourages individuals to embrace a mindset of resilience and approach life’s obstacles with love, ultimately becoming the best versions of themselves.

Sheldon Spotted Elk: Sheldon is Senior Director of Judicial and National Engagement of Casey Family Programs. Sheldon is also a graduate of University of New Mexico School of Law. He and his two sons are Tsistsas (Northern Cheyenne). Sheldon Spotted Elk is an agent of change, improving legal outcomes for children and families involved in the child welfare system. He works regularly as a strategic partner with 20+ Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Courts developing an orientation of proximity to family, community, and culture into practice.

Tickets are available HERE for purchase. Continuing education credits are available for social workers. Group registration discounts available.

Funding and support for the annual community training is made possible by an ongoing partnership with multiple community stakeholders, and lead support from the Washington County Department of Human Services, Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Foundation and the Governor’s Office for Children under award number ENGH-2025-0020. For more information on this year’s event, please contact Brittany Hernandez at 240-513-6370; bhernandez@besterhope.org or visit us at www.besterhope.org .

***All points of view in this document are those of Bester Community of Hope and do not necessarily represent the official position of any State or Federal agency.***

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Governor Moore Announces Historic Grant for South End of Hagerstown and Bester Community of Hope

December 16, 2024

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has announced the inaugural class of 27 ENOUGH grant recipients for his signature anti-poverty initiative, with the South End of the City of Hagerstown and the Bester Community of Hope initiative as the identified Community Quarterback for a Track Three implementation grant. With an initial award amount of $3 million amongst a network of local stakeholders, and potential expansion in future years as implementation deepens, the San Mar Family & Community Services program joins both Cherry Hill Strong and Park Heights Renaissance in Baltimore as initial Track Three programs.

Governor Moore shared, “We know that there are many root causes of child poverty – and the solutions are unique to the challenges on the ground. So, we are directly partnering in the work to create safe and thriving communities; support healthy and economically secure families; and ensure access to high-quality education. Because partnership produces progress – and nothing else does.”

Since its formal launch in early 2014, the Bester Community of Hope initiative has focused on upstream efforts to meet the needs of families and communities in the South End of Hagerstown. “This amazing grant opportunity recognizes the unique needs facing diverse communities, such as our rural neighborhoods in Hagerstown, Maryland. We’ve been waiting a long time for a day like today,” explained San Mar Family Community Services President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Fanjoy. “ENOUGH will enable San Mar Family and Community Services to deeply address root causes of poverty such as housing and difficult living conditions. Today is about recognizing the quiet persistence and grit of parents who work to open doors of opportunity for their children. And those in the community who listen and sacrifice greatly to join them to break down those barriers to access.”

Bester Community of Hope initiative Director Jen Younker echoed those comments and said, “Thanks to the valiant and transformative leadership of Governor Moore and his administration, the ENOUGH Grant Program will dramatically change the trajectory of our children’s future in Maryland for generations to come. This funding will not only expand our place-based efforts in the South End of Hagerstown and cultivate opportunities for all children to thrive but will empower communities to lead the charge. As the community quarterback, we are eager to collaborate with local residents and community partners to solidify accessible pathways to economic mobility making dreams possible, no matter where you live.”

The Bester Community of Hope team is currently in the preliminary phase of planning a late January convening in the South End of Hagerstown open to the public to share the key details of the initial proposal with stakeholders and the community driven process that will follow. Announcements will be posted at the initiative website besterhope.org, and various other social, digital and print media outlets.

The Governor’s Office for Children funded this project under award number 2025- ENGH-008. All points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of any State agency. Photography courtesy of the Office of the Maryland Governor, managed by the Maryland State Archives.

State of Maryland media releases

Governor Moore Press conference 12/12/24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tchpSIe8KI4

Governor Wes Moore – (8:25- 27:50); San Mar CEO Keith Fanjoy (35:30-40:30); Harlem Children’s Zone Founder Geoffrey Canada (40:30-48:00)

Governor Moore Press release 12/12/24 https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press/pages/governor-moore-announces-inaugural-enough-grant-awardees.aspx

Governor Moore Press release 12/13/24

https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press/pages/what-they-are-saying-governor-moore-announces-inaugural-enough-grant-awardees.aspx

A Day of Connection and Celebration

September 30, 2024

Hagerstown City Park was the site of the 9th annual South End Community Block Party this past Saturday, September 21, 2024. Bester Community of Hope, an initiative of San Mar Family and Community Services, and in collaboration with Hagerstown City Parks and Recreation’s Fall Fest, hosted a day filled with free, family-friendly activities and events capped off in the evening by a fireworks display. The event welcomed approximately 2000 people during the 4-hour celebration. “I look forward to this event every year! I know this will be a day my daughter and I can enjoy spending time together and having fun,” offered Chris, a longtime South End resident.

Cruel Summer, a live band tribute to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, headlined the event playing over 2 hours of the greatest Taylor Swift’s songs. Over 40 resource vendors attended, providing vital community resources focusing on health, early childhood education, community services, and childcare. Again this year, St. John’s Episcopal Church and Families Helping Families joined forces to provide a free clothing giveaway, while Deirdre “Mama Dee” Norris, the founder of the local non-profit It’s A Blessing To Be A Blessing, graciously provided attendees with snacks, school supplies and hygiene bags. Joint Training Facility returned with their inflatable laser and archery tag activities and the day even saw Lego Man join in on the fun of families creating long-lasting memories. New to Block Party this year was the South Hagerstown High School Marching Band, who kicked off the event marching through the park and offering guests a chance to hear several songs from their ensemble.

Maggie, a South End Neighborhood Ambassador, reflected on her first South End Community Block Party, “The Block Party was an incredible experience. As a first-time attendee and volunteer, I felt so much pride in being a part of the Hagerstown community. The generosity of the vendors, the appreciation from the community, and the all-around warmth that the community members shared with one another filled my heart. I had no idea how many different support systems were already in place and ready for those in need. The food, music, laughter, and community connections I witnessed during the event reinforced my love for this quaint town. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Hagerstown community and Bester Community of Hope. I am already looking forward to next year’s event!”

Bester Community of Hope is a community initiative of San Mar Family & Community Services, focused on strengthening and improving outcomes for families who live in the South End of Hagerstown, Maryland. This effort is made possible by the significant support and collaboration of the Washington County Department of Social Services, and their focus on prevention and upstream efforts as a way to make a collective impact for families. Strategic neighborhood programs and efforts are made possible by philanthropic support from the Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Foundation. For more information about this holistic approach to supporting families and communities, please visit www.besterhope.org.