Leadership - HopesIn

STAFF MEMBERS

Director, Co-Founder

Courtney McGovern

When Courtney McGovern was just 10 years old, she fell in love with service. Courtney’s family built two playgrounds that year in Guatemala. Courtney became passionate about Guatemala and knew she wanted the country and the people she met there to be in her life forever. Though she and her family traveled to other corners of the world building playgrounds, she eventually returned to Guatemala City when she was 14 and has been dedicated to empowering families in the city’s garbage dump communities ever since. At age 16, Courtney and her twin sister, Ashley, co-founded HOPE’S IN.

In January of 2018, Courtney graduated from New York University with a degree in Nonprofit Management. Upon graduation, she became the first full-time employee of HOPE’S IN. Courtney is a storyteller at heart. From a TEDx presentation and public speaking engagements to quiet coffee shops, Courtney eagerly shares all she’s learned from families in Guatemala and helps others discover their service passions.

Throughout her journey with service, Courtney has humbly accepted various awards and recognition for her dedication to HOPE’S IN. Amongst these are a merit based scholarship to New York University through the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship, the Paul Harris Fellowship through Rotary International, and being named one of Chicago Scholar’s 35 Under 35 at the age of twenty-three.

DIRECTOR, CO-FOUNDER

Ashley Steiner

As one of the Co-Founders of HOPE’S IN, Ashley Quigley has always had a heart for service and Guatemala. Since forming the nonprofit in 2012 with Courtney, she has helped grow the organization and has served on the Board of Directors as Vice President.

Steiner says: “I am involved because I am passionate about empowering those living in the communities of Guatemala City to improve their quality of life.” Steiner’s favorite memory in Guatemala is when she conducted a month long research study on the challenges and resources available to children with disabilities in the communities HOPE’S IN works alongside in Guatemala. She enjoyed learning about the various organizations in the country that were supporting the children through education and various forms of therapy. Ashley officially joined HOPE’S IN as Director in 2021.

Ashley studied at IE University in Madrid, Spain where she received the IE Fellowship Award and graduated in 2019 with a degree in International Relations. While at IE University, Ashley also completed an exchange program at Sciences Po in Paris, France. Ashley’s studies focused on International Development and Public Policy which helped her see how small organizations can make a big impact in underserved communities. Prior to joining HOPE’S IN, Ashley worked in Washington, D.C., at nonprofits including the Public International Law and Policy Group and AlphaMundi Foundation.

FORTALEZA LEADER

Katie Rosales

Katie Rosales serves at Chosen People International as their communications coordinator, and also serves at HOPE’S IN as their program coordinator for Fortaleza in Guatemala City.

Katie has a marketing degree from Harding University, AR. Katie received a full-ride scholarship to attend college in the United States through the prestigious Walton International Scholarship Program. In Guatemala, reports show that .01% of people obtain a college degree. This statistic and others make Katie all the more remarkable.

Katie met Courtney McGovern when she was a student at a local organization’s tutoring program called Potters House Association. The two became friends and shared a passion for serving and even dreamed of working together one day. Katie got fully involved with HOPE’S IN in 2018 when Courtney and she started talking about serving young mothers and at-risk teenagers in Zone 3 of Guatemala City. One idea and dream led to another, and that is how Fortaleza was born. Katie now leads the Fortaleza program which has been serving ten young mothers and at-risk teenagers for almost two years now.

HOPE'S INTERNS YOUNG ADULTS DIRECTOR

Lindsay Huegelmann

Lindsay Huegelmann serves as the Director of the Hope’s In Young Adult Internship Program. This program works with young adults with disabilities in the community with a goal to promote independence, develop professional skills, and be present in our local communities. Huegelmann says, “I am excited to see what the future holds for this program. It is my goal to really build the program to fit the needs of the interns and to best promote their independence and service within the community.”

Lindsay graduated from Illinois State University in May of 2021. She graduated with a degree in special education and currently teaches at Plum Grove Jr. High. In addition to her college education, Lindsay has years of experience working with individuals with disabilities. Her love for this population started at a young age as her cousin has a chromosomal disorder and her best friend since kindergarten has Down syndrome. In addition, she has participated and volunteered in many different programs that work with individuals with disabilities throughout high school.

Lindsay learned about Hope’s In while in high school. She was a part of a club that partnered with the organization throughout the school year. Lindsay also participated in the 2017 Hope’s In Style fashion show as a stylist for a peer with Down syndrome.

FORTALEZA STAFF

Luisa Mazariegos

Luisa is a very passionate woman who loves to serve Christ through empowering others. She grew up in a rural area of Guatemala, however she says her family and she moved to Guatemala City when she was 7 years old. Luisa lived many years near the garbage dump in Zone 3. But she says not close enough to see the true reality of the families who needed to work in the garbage dump.

When Luisa was 18 years old, she felt moved to become a psychologist to support children and their families who have educational and emotional difficulties. God moved her into different communities in rural areas in Guatemala, also, into complicated areas in Guatemala City including the garbage dump in Zone 3. Seeing the reality of many families opened Luisa’s eyes to understand that her service will help them to see the love of God for them. Luisa has worked for more than 5 year pursuing individual and family development in Guatemala, providing opportunities to grow with dignity and a good knowledge of Christ in their lives.