About Us
Step by Step Ministry Hope Project Inc. Minority-led grassroots 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in the heart of West Greenville, South Carolina. Our headquarters, positioned on the urban westside, lies adjacent to a community historically mischaracterized as a blighted area riddled with drugs and crime. This neighborhood, predominantly inhabited by black and brown residents alongside a few working-class white families, has faced significant challenges. Despite these difficulties, the community was known for its tight-knit relationships where neighbors supported one another and cared for each other's children, enabling families to thrive.
In the early 1980s, drugs infiltrated West Greenville, exacerbating existing social inequities and disproportionately affecting its youth. This led to a vicious cycle of marginalization, criminalization, and ultimately, mass incarceration, particularly impacting the black community. As crime rates soared, those caught in the web of addiction were often dehumanized and locked away, exacerbating the community's struggles rather than providing real solutions.
Step by Step Ministry Hope Project was founded in response to these systemic issues. We focus on supporting individuals reentering society from incarceration, particularly advocating for minority groups disproportionately affected by the prison system in America. By offering support and advocacy, we aim to reintegrate individuals into society and challenge the policies that continue to marginalize entire communities. Our presence and work in West Greenville not only aim to uplift the individuals directly impacted but also to restore the integrity and vitality of the community as a whole.
Locations
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Mailing Address
Step by Step
P.O. Box 553
Greenville, SC 20602
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Main Office
Step by Step
1225 Pendleton St., Suite 6
Greenville, SC 29611
Meet Our Founder
In 2002, Founder and CEO Angela Hurks was in the turn of her life after twelve years of substance abuse and incarceration. Her marriage was over. Her relationship with her children was close yet estranged and domestic violence was her fear. However, that did not stop her. She did not allow what had happened to her or surrounding the breakup to alienate or separate her from the love of her children, their love for her, or their future.
Hurks became a mover and shaker of her community. She completed the transcript for what is now Step By Step Ministry Hope Project, a reentry program for formerly incarcerated Non supported homeless women. Her dream has become a reality over the last 20 years: that vulnerable, formerly incarcerated women and their children could have a place to receive life transitioning help with resources of case management, peer support and wrap around support services to return home to their community.
Vice President Kamala Harris met with Step By Step's founder, Angela Hurks, regarding criminal justice reform and to better understand the challenges that Step By Step experiences to provide needed support to both the homeless and formerly incarcerated women in the upstate of South Carolina. Kamala commits on assisting reentry programs across the nation, prison reform, and homelessness that should not be treated as a crime.
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Board Membership
Step By Step Ministry Hope Project is accepting applications for its Board of Directors. We are looking for activists, advocates, and allies with skills to bring to the table and a passion for our mission.
For more information, please email angela@sbshopeproject.org.
Our Advocacy Efforts
Early on, we realized that changing the lives of formerly incarcerated individuals is not enough — we also have to seek change at a systemic level. Our goal is the full restoration of civil and human rights for people with convictions. Our team works toward changing state and local laws, policies and regulations through advocacy and community organizing around issues such as bail reform and the reinstatement of jury duty. We also believe our power is in our voices, and what better way to use that power than by voting? Step by Step does voter outreach in our communities and jails, registering our neighbors to vote, helping voters understand complex ballot propositions, and holding forums to bring candidates and voters together. We also do voter inreach, ensuring that people being held in local county jails are registered and aware of their right to vote.
Annual Report
We have a responsibility to our community and our donors and work hard to ensure long-term sustainability of the organization. Our annual report is available online for our investors and stakeholders who are vested in our impact of transforming the lives of the people who are helped with the revenue and expense cost invested in our community. If you would like to make a donation, please click here.