A Letter from our Directors & Hope’s in Style Team

Claudia, Zulma, Monica, Ely, and the list of women’s names goes on. These are the women that have dropped out of school in their teenage years due to pregnancy in Jody’s family that have yet to return to school to get their high school diploma. These are the names of women that have relied on the garbage dump in Guatemala City to support their family. Through the HOPE’S IN Fortaleza program in Guatemala, Jody put an end to this cycle of educational poverty in her family. She is the first EVER female in her family’s history to get a high school diploma.

During the pandemic, an extremely challenging time for families around the world and especially those in vulnerable communties, HOPE’S IN set bold goals to come alongside families. Not only did we want them to survive the pandemic, but to thrive. Jody is one example of how we were able to do this. She now has the opportunity to find work outside the garbage dump and provide for her daughter, Darsy, who she had we she was just 17 years old. She will continue to recieve life changing counseling, mentorship, and career development through our Fortaleza program. 

Young women with special needs waiting for a forever family grew in independence and dignity through education by an occupational therapist we trained and sponsored at a residential home for women with developmental disabilities aging out of Guatemala’s child protective services. Hundreds of people recieved medical care through our HOPE’S IN Health program.

Locally, we ran our HOPE’S INterns program for high schoolers and even launched a sister program HOPE’S INterns for Young Adults where young adults in the Barrington area can learn about social advocacy and find purpose through giving back. In a time where young people were told to isolate, we brought them together, safely in community, to change the world. 

This year we are running a hybrid event that will be both in person and online for our 10th annual Hope’s In Style! It will be an incredible event celebrating a decade of HOPE! Let’s put hope on the runway!

Ashley Quigley, Courtney McGovern & the Hope’s in Style Team