Informational Video

H.I.P.S. Summer Day Camp and Mentoring Program Focuses on seven necessary elements of self-development: EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT, ETIQUETTE, LEADERSHIP, SELF-ESTEEM, OUTER AND INNER BEAUTY, & CELEBRATING SELF ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

In 2018 the H.I.P.S. Summer Day Camp was hosted at Messiah Missionary Baptist Church. H.I.P.S.; Volunteers and participants from various churches, and community agencies were welcomed with open arms by the new senior pastor, Rev. Daniel Smith.

Rev. Smith gave his blessings and honored the written endorsement dated June 18, 2016 by the former Pastor Emeritus, the late Rev. Dr. Clifton Rhodes Jr.

This year theme was "Living Your Life Like It's Golden" and "Following God's Golden Rule Will Lead You into Success". H.I.P.S. Day Camp is designed to meet the needs of the individual group of girls whom we have the opportunity to work with.

H.I.P.S. has accomplished developing our own tailored workshops, which allow the H.I.P.S. Summer Camp to be delivered at a variety of locations such as churches, afterschool programs, community centers, and agencies.

H.I.P.S. Summer Camp provided Educational Enrichment Workshops, Activities, Peer Participation, and Leadership Opportunities. Each young girl was referred to as an "Ambassador" throughout the program and learned the meaning and expectations of wearing such a title. The ambassadors ended each session dinning with their peers enjoying a full catered balanced meal.

H.I.P.S. Summer Camp operated four hours on a bi-weekly basis for eight weeks, ending with a surprise celebration that was held at the Grand Rapids, Michigan Amway Grand Plaza Conference Center.

Gerald R. Ford Ballroom was H.I.P.S. location for the morning session, where the ambassadors met with an author, and motivational speaker, Ms. Shaloria Mitchell, who wrote "Diamond in The Rough", Teen Edition. The ambassadors were able to engage with her during their Amway prepared elegant breakfast and later participated in her workshop session and a surprise book signing. Each ambassador was gifted a copy of. Ms. Shaloria's book.

The afternoon Surprise Celebration was held at the Pantlind Ballroom. Again, the girls were greeted with a beautiful lunch fit for the Golden Ambassadors that they are.

The ambiance of the gold trimmed, pearl painted walls - of the historical Elegant Pantlind Ballroom - was a great fit for the H.I.P.S. theme: "Living Your Life Like It's Golden".

Upon continued arrival of other H.I.P.S. Ambassadors their verbal expression of excitement was observed and confirmed. They were special and important people, deserving of being celebrated for their uniqueness, intelligence, and commitment for completing the H.I.P.S. Summer Camp Program. The ambassadors sensed that there were more surprises to come, and indeed the surprises came.

There was a planned structured program that honored the ambassadors with a song, by teen leader, Ambassador Brooklyn, instrumental music, gifts, certificates of program completion, and words of inspirations from their peer key note speaker, teen leader, Ambassador, Makaila and a very special guest, the third African American that was crowned Miss America of 1990, Dr. Debbye Turner.

Ambassador Brooklyn expressed a captivating, uplifting medley, as she sangs to her peers, "God's Eyes Is on The Sparrow and I Know He Watches Over Me". She set the stage for her peer key note speaker, Ambassador, Mikaila.

Ambassador Mikaila delivered a powerful speech, challenging the Ambassadors with the question, "How Do You Live Your Life Like It's Golden", bringing awareness on being positive and the best individual one can be. She then asked the Ambassadors to stand and take a pledge to be that "Best Individual." Ambassador Mikaila ended her speech by introducing the third African American to be crowned Miss America, of 1990, Dr. Debbye Turner.

Dr Turner's humble sprit and encouraging words were well received by all Ambassadors. They both exited the stage to the song "Living Your Life Like It's Golden" together passing out gifts to the Ambassadors.

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