ReelBob: ‘Tomorrow’s Hope’

By Bob Bloom

“Tomorrow’s Hope” is more of a promotional film for a worthy endeavor than a comprehensive documentary about an inner-city program called Educare.

Educare is a program that brings early childhood education to youngsters living and surviving on the South Side of Chicago, one of the poorest and most violent areas of the Windy City.

The program instills not only the basic tools for education, but skills needed to thrive and succeed in life.

The film follows three members of Educare’s first class — Jamal, Crystal and Jalen — now high school seniors on the cusp of graduation.

“Tomorrow’s Hope” also looks at those who are trying to help these children, most notably Jackie Robinson, a woman determined to nurture and give children a sense of self-worth and purpose.

The program also reaches out to parents to assist them in being not only positive role models, but supportive adults who can guide their children on the right path.

The film, at a brisk 45 minutes, is inspiring and passionate, as it deals not only the mission of Educare, but the economic, political and social challenges such programs face when communities such as Chicago’s South Side seem to be tossed to the wayside and their residents abandoned by an uncaring and unfeeling government.

The main message of “Tomorrow’s Hope” is not only the children, but their parents and society as a whole benefit when such programs are successful and initiate steps toward a better future.

I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, 4K UHD, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook at ReelBob.com or the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My movie reviews also can be found at Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.