Target Hope

Target Hope is a 501 [(c)3] tax exempt organization that was formed in 1993 and is committed to enhancing opportunities for minority students attending public schools in the Chicago Metropolitan Area. Our monumental objective is to create innovative and non-traditional academic retention strategies which can ultimately eradicate the attrition rate crisis in public education. Furthermore it is a secondary objective to increase minority graduation rates in higher education while introducing them to a global leadership opportunity. Target Hope receives no public funding from governmental agencies in support of students attending public schools. Funds are raised from private donors, alumni and friends of the organization. We encourage every parent or supporter to contribute to this worthwhile cause.

Alumni Spotlight

Candace Williams

MSW Mental Health concentration Clinical option Washington University in St. Louis '09
George Warren Brown school of social work
BA Psychology University of Missouri Columbia '07
Kenwood Academy '03

Candace works for BJC Behavioral Health serving severly and emotionally disturbed children and adolescents. She interned at BJC August 2008-May 2009 and began working full time in June 2009 as a case manager.

Brittany Hogan

MSW Social and Economic Development concentration Washington University in St Louis '09
George Warren Brown school of social work
BA Psychology Hampton University '07
St Scholastic '03

Brittany has worked at Beyong Housing since September 2009 as a social worker.

Jannyse Starks, RN, MSN, FNP-BC

Jannyse is a 24 year old board certified family nurse practitioner, residing in Nashville, TN. She is a 2003 graduate of Morgan Park High School. During her time at Morgan Park, she studied nursing with the Chicago Public Schools Practical Nursing Program. At the tender age of 18, she was already a licensed practical nurse. Jannyse attended Fisk University in Nashville, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. While at Fisk, she excelled academically. She graduated with highest Latin Honors, Summa Cum Laude, and was granted membership into the oldest and most prestigious national honor society, Phi Beta Kappa.

After graduating from Fisk, Jannyse enrolled in Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. There she completed an RN bridge program and continued on to receive a Master of Science in Nursing degree in August 2009. At Vanderbilt, she was trained as a family nurse practitioner, which prepared her to provide health care services to individuals of all ages. Her matriculation in Vanderbilt continues. Currently, she is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student. The DNP is a practice-based doctorate, which is different from the solely research-based PhD. Its purpose is to prepare advanced practice nurses to evaluate the most current medical evidence and practice evidence-based nursing. Upon completion in May 2011, in addition to practicing as an FNP, she hopes to obtain a nurse faculty position at a prestigious University.

Jannyse acknowledges the importance of support and gratitude. Being a member of Target HOPE since 2001, she realizes this amazing academic journey would not have been possible without the love and support of her Target HOPE family. Her matriculation through Fisk and Vanderbilt was seamless because of the bonds she developed over the years. For this, she expresses deep gratitude to Mr. Williamson and her Target HOPE family.

Richard Thigpen

Born in Chicago, IL, Richard Thigpen, the second of six children did not have a great start to life. His mother's drug addiction, and the abscence of his father placed Richard and his siblings in foster care at an early age. While living with his great-grandmother, Richard attended public school at Edgar Allen Poe Classical School, on Chicago's South Side. He later attended Morgan Park Jr. High School and Morgan Park High School (MPHS). While at MPHS, Richard was a phenomenal athlete, lettering in Football and Volleyball. His life changed, however, when he sustained a leg injury during football training during his junior year. The time away from sports while recuperating allowed Richard to realize that professional athletes was not in his future. Richard refocused his sights on academics. Always a bright student, his teachers often commented on his unrealized potential. He started taking more challenging classes, became a member of the Academic Decathlon team, and joined Target hope during his junior year of high school. He was intrigued about the director, Euclid Williamson's, promise of getting anyone who wanted to go to college into college. Mr. Williamson, and the staff of Target H.O.P.E., focused not only on getting students in college, but on ensuring their success in college as well. While a member of Target H.O.P.E., Richard attended Saturday classes, and participated in two college tours. It was during one of these tours that Richard learned about Fisk University, the nation's oldest historically black college or university. With the help of Target H.O.P.E., Richard applied, was accepted, and was offered a scholarship to attend Fisk University to study Physics. Richard also traveled with Target H.O.P.E. during his senior year of high school to attend its inaugural Leadership Conference at Kokrobitey School outside of Accra, Ghana. Richard, along with Mr. Williamson and other Target H.O.P.E. members spent 2 weeks in Ghana. Richard still considers this one of the best experiences of his life.

While a student at Fisk, Richard became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He also started a graphics design company, 18th Letter Graphics. After four years, Richard graduated from Fisk University in 2003 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Physics, Cum Laude. After graduation, Richard accepted an offer to teach Physics and coach football at Hunter's Lane High School, In Nashville, TN. Although he loved teaching, Richard realized that this was not his true calling. After two years of teaching, Richard went to medical school at The University of Michigan Medical School, in Ann Arbor, MI. He is currently in his final year of medical school, and plans to specialize in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Richard is married to Christine Lipscomb Thigpen, and they have two children, Richard and Pierce.