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When Kids Build a Foundation First

4/28/2017

“If you know your values, you know where you come from, you know what you have to do, you know your languages, and you know everything about yourself,” begins Shayan.

“Then you know that you're worth something,” says Youssef, finishing his friend’s thought.

Imagine kids and teens building a foundation of values and self-awareness as a platform for living a connected and purposeful life as a leader. This is how youth participants at Malik Academy in Roxbury, Massachusetts describe their Self Awareness work with Hope in today’s “Stories of Hope and Leadership.”

We see our work as empowering young, developing leaders to tell their stories—and to teach each other the fundamentals of being a leader and live an enriching life.

Today, Youssef, Mujadid, and Shayan pick the title Know Your Values as their team theme. They emphasize that knowing yourself allows you to truly know others, as you become comfortable with your makeup, strengths and weaknesses, background, and heritage.

“Be a leader,” Mujadid explains at the end of today’s piece. “You can change your country, your community. Start small. Build up. Start small, exceed yourself, exceed your limit.”

“Go up, build, become even better. Become a better human being.”

We say, Amen to that!

Watch "Know Your Values"

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Hope Launches in Sierra Leone

4/20/2017

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I am excited to announce the launch of Hope Collaborative's leadership development programming for at-risk kids and teens this week in Sierra Leone, Africa.

Working with the passionate and committed leaders of The Africa Girl Child Advocacy Network has been a real pleasure for our team here at Hope.

Kids and teens discovering their authentic leadership voice is a thrill anywhere. Crossing oceans to work with youth advocacy agencies who succeed despite substantial odds is a hopeful challenge that drives us and our mission.

We are inspired to work with the leaders at Child Advocacy Network Advocate who advocate for the rights of girls in their journey to self expression, freedom in education, and authentic leadership every day.

And we thought you would enjoy their photos of transcendence from Freetown!

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Singing About Humor in Leadership

4/14/2017

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Humor can be a powerful tool in a leader's tool box.

It was exciting for us to hear Hope participants at the Presidency School in Nizamabad sing about humor in becoming a leader in this week's Hope Clip.

Shravani says that the import of humor in one's life cannot be overstated. "It is just like salt in a dish," she says.

Similarly, Daksha sees it as a powerful method to redirect the energy of a tense situation.

"We can divert people with this powerful tool."

Srikar effectively uses humor in his home life. "I use humor in different situations," he reports. "Like when I quarrel with my brother." (But not at funerals, Srikar emphasizes. Which is funny in itself.)

Watch the Hope participants create a leadership skill building outline for humor that includes:

--Redirection methods

--Understanding your surroundings

--Assisting others with humor

--And learning from one's mistakes

At the 2:50 runtime marker, Shravani breaks into an original song, explaining that humor in leadership is the spice of life.

It's certainly the spice of life at Hope for us--able to watch these amazing kids tell their leadership stories some 8,000 miles away.

Watch Humor Video Clip

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Greetings from Hope in the Bronx!

4/7/2017

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I am excited to report that we successfully launched the Hope Collaborative youth leadership development program with the Family Life Academy Charter Schools in the Bronx, New York.

FLACS, and its parent organization LPAC, have served disadvantaged, low-income families and youth for over 40 years in one of the poorest zip codes in the United States.

Reverend Raymond Rivera who founded the organization recently celebrated 50 years in ministry. The powerful and lasting impact that he and his team of visionary professionals have had can be counted in the people you meet in the streets who have been touched by their work. And they are counted in the thousands. Sometimes, they have been lifted up for an afternoon. Sometimes, they have been transformed by the work the organization does.

The Bronx is a different place as a result. For Hope, partnering with them to deliver outstanding leadership development has been a privilege. Each visit brings new wisdom and insight.

This week, we met with middle school kids who are now scaling the height of leadership development. Our belief is that kids and teens who self-actualize—and find a calling and purpose bigger than themselves—are leaders.

Whether they are centers on their basketball team or rap dancers in the neighborhood who inspire those who watch, the young developing leaders at FLACS inspired us this week with their stories of struggle and perseverance, joy and creativity.

From hope and self confidence, and with the guidance of exceptional mentors, they are finding their voice—identifying as leaders—and blazing new trails uniquely their own.

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When Kids Build a Foundation First

Hope Launches in Sierra Leone

Singing About Humor in Leadership

Greetings from Hope in the Bronx!

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