In Washington, D.C., opportunity often contrasts sharply with inequality. In Wards 7 and 8 East of the Anacostia River, Academy of Hope (AoH) Adult Public Charter School is a transformative force that is attempting to balance the scales. For over 35 years, AoH has empowered adult learners to reshape their futures with education, career training, and hands-on support. Now, by partnering with AoH, the Jane Bancroft Robinson Foundation (JBRF) is deepening its impact, focusing on racial equity and addressing systemic barriers to career and economic opportunity.
AoH’s mission resonates deeply with JBRF’s commitment to reducing disparities East of the Anacostia River. Each year, AoH serves over 800 adult learners, providing pathways from GED preparation to career-specific training in healthcare, IT, and hospitality. With flexible programs and support, AoH creates bridges to economic self-sufficiency, meeting learners wherever they are in their educational journey.
“Adult education is the greatest lever for generational change,” shares Lecester Johnson, AoH’s CEO. “We see it as a way to increase wealth-building opportunities and strengthen outcomes for children and families.” AoH builds sustainable pathways to autonomy and success by offering more than diplomas and job placements.
In a city known for its educated workforce, Academy of Hope addresses a critical but often overlooked need: one in five adults in D.C. faces challenges with basic literacy, which limits their ability to navigate everyday tasks or pursue career advancement. AoH supports these learners with respect, resources, and encouragement, helping them complete education goals that can reshape their lives and communities.
Johnson, who has been with AoH since 2006, is especially passionate about addressing the barriers that adults with low literacy face in accessing employment. “If you’re struggling with low literacy, your chances of connecting with a workforce program are much lower,” she explains. AoH’s partnership with JBRF expanded its capacity to deliver workforce training that meets the unique needs of adult learners.
With JBRF’s multi-year funding, Academy of Hope launched the pilot for Hope Forward – a transformative program designed to bridge the employment gap for adult learners in healthcare. This six-figure, multi-year grant enables AoH to implement a comprehensive workforce development initiative, connecting their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Certified Phlebotomy Technician program graduates to employment opportunities at Sibley Memorial Hospital and other healthcare institutions in Washington D.C. This effort represents a multi-sector partnership combining government dollars with philanthropic funding from JBRF and also includes in-kind support from partners like PNC Bank and the NorthStar Institute, who offer financial literacy and skill-building workshops.
Along with AoH and JBRF, Sibley Memorial Hospital will play an important role as an employer partner, beginning with integrating graduates into the workforce development initiatives at the hospital. Through this integration, around 25 graduates will participate in intensive training, receive hiring and employability coaching, explore relevant roles, and apply, interview, and transition into employment at Sibley.
Johnson highlights the impact of this funding: “This grant allowed us to create a pathway for our graduates to secure stable, meaningful employment while receiving the support they need to thrive.” By focusing on providing essential resources like transportation stipends, coaching, and career tools, the Hope Forward pilot reflects AoH’s mission to empower adult learners and aligns seamlessly with JBRF’s commitment to advancing economic opportunities for Black women living East of the River.
One of the biggest challenges for AoH’s learners is navigating the “benefits cliff,” where taking an entry-level job can result in losing essential support systems without sustainable income. “Too often, workforce programs channel people into roles that lead to losing critical support,” Johnson explains. For AoH, it’s not just about placing learners in jobs but ensuring they access quality employment with living wages, benefits, and growth potential.
The collaboration between AoH and JBRF represents a transformative model of philanthropy. Instead of directing efforts, JBRF partners with grantees to co-create solutions. “JBRF shares power with the individuals they fund,” Johnson notes. “They don’t direct the work; they partner in it.” This partnership exemplifies how braided funding streams—government dollars, philanthropic investments like JBRF’s multi-year grant, and in-kind contributions from corporate partners—can align to create flexible and impactful programs. These aligned resources allow AoH to respond to learner needs effectively, creating programs that are impactful and sustainable. “When you take the time to do the work right, you get a much better outcome,” Johnson says. “And that outcome is reflective of what the community truly needs.”
For AoH, racial equity is both mission and practice. Inspired by her involvement in the Black Women Thriving East of the River initiative, Lecester Johnson has integrated more inclusive practices, from program design to hiring, using methods like blind interviews to ensure fair evaluations. “True racial equity is about including every voice at the table, from those with advanced degrees to individuals who didn’t complete high school,” says Johnson. JBRF’s support allows AoH to broaden this inclusive approach, reflecting D.C.’s diversity in its learner and staff populations.
Together, Academy of Hope, Sibley Memorial Hospital, and the Jane Bancroft Robinson Foundation are creating lasting impact in Washington, D.C., forging paths of opportunity and equity for adults historically left out of education and workforce programs. This collaboration ensures that learners receive comprehensive support—from training at Sibley to financial literacy and career coaching—necessary to thrive in today’s healthcare workforce by combining government funding, philanthropic dollars, and employer partnerships. By focusing on racial equity and inclusive development, AoH and JBRF are transforming lives and building a future where every adult learner has the chance to thrive.