Passing by the store front on 6^th Street in Racine, Wisconsin, one would never realize that two ordinary storefronts would be the home base for such a monumental program.  The HOPES Center provides unique services to all who enter.  Whether it is a steaming hot mocha topped with frothy cream served with a smile, or a fine set of fair trade jewelry handcrafted from another country in our world, the HOPES Center provides a welcoming environment for all.  Not only does the HOPES Center offer fair trade goods and coffee, it also is a site that provides assistance to those in the community who are less fortunate.  This includes people who are: homeless, mentally unwell, those in transition, and the disadvantaged. 

The idea for HOPES Center was started by seven Racine Dominican Sisters.  Sister Maryann McMahon, Executive Director at the HOPES Center said, “We reflected on our backgrounds and how our collective gifts and talents could be shared to help make a positive impact on the community.”  After doing studies, the program focused on the basic mission to assist those with mental health problems, the homeless and others in less fortunate positions.  Thanks to the Sisters’ backgrounds in healthcare, pastoral ministry and counseling, and the support of the Racine Dominican community the program began and continues to grow.

The name HOPES Center is actually an acronym which stands for:

 Healing, Opportunity, Peace and Justice, Ecology, and Spirituality.

The HOPES Center’s mission focuses on the causes and consequences of poverty, both locally and globally.  By promoting certified fair trade products, customers are able help others around the world.  Safe working conditions, a just and living wage, production done in an environmentally friendly manner and no child labor are the main principles of fair trade.  “Even though we can’t see who we are dealing with, or know who were helping, just knowing that the product is certified fair trade means that someone in this world is truly being treated in a respectable manner. That is very rewarding,” commented Sister Maryann. 

On the local level, the Center helps through counseling.  By assisting people to get the services they need—mental health care, job placement, and even social security—they become more productive citizens, contributing positively to the community.  The HOPES Center gains most of their clients through referrals from other local transitional resource centers in Racine.  Places like HALO (Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization. Inc.) and Crossroads (Assisted Living Facilities) provide the referrals to allow HOPES to effectively aid local citizens who are in need. 

What is spiritually enriching about the HOPES Center is that it is run by mostly volunteers.  With the direction of the managers, including Sister Maryann, volunteers provide a cheerful environment and accompany it with a welcoming smile.  Sister Maryann shared that she lives out her job spiritually by “helping all the people who work here understand that every person, no matter who they are, or where they are, deserve respect and dignity and that we should treat everyone well and greet everyone warmly and respectfully.  Whoever is on the other end of my smile or greeting, or that of my staff, is welcomed and shown love and dignity. To me, helping another to build a positive self-image and improve their self-esteem makes a huge impact on the day-to-day life of that individual and all those they come in contact with.”

The fair trade store and the Cup of Hope café are not the common retail shopping center or ritzy chain coffee shop.  “It is a destination,” said Sister Maryann.  “Customers go there on purpose in search of a unique gift or a special taste that provides a rich feeling beyond just the mass produced items one would buy at a big box store or restaurant.” 

So the next time you’re driving around downtown Racine and pass the HOPES Center, stop in and experience the feeling of love and warmth of the environment. Indulge in a fair trade coffee beverage and peruse the intriguing items for sale.  Volunteers are always welcome to join in the mission of the HOPES Center to provide needed services to the Racine community.