Stories of Hope

Pride of a Lion

This year’s Disability Pride Celebration, held on July 22 at the Park Strip, was a day of collaboration, diversity and—of course—pride. Companies and non-profit agencies gathered to showcase services and programs that are available to individuals with disabilities and their families in the state of Alaska.

The day offered opportunities for attendees to interact with vendors within the disability community, enjoy tasty food and lively music, and come away with useful resources and products. There was even a petting zoo and guest star appearances from Star Wars’ R2D2 and an imperial stormtrooper!

At Hope Community Resources’ booth, visitors could spin the wheel for a chance to win assorted prizes, collaborate at our community coloring station, and learn about the services Hope has to offer, such as behavioral health supports, community living, deaf supports, foster care, and more.

But the highlight of our kiosk was our magnificent lion's head, designed and built by the talented staff and artists of Hope Studios. The lion doubled as a photo op and a symbol of pride. Each piece of the lion was made by an artist in the Studio, resulting in a collaboration of more than 40 people in its creation. Pedro Quintana, Community Engagement Studios Coordinator, shared insight into the significance of the majestic lion. “Lions roar to be heard and are kings of the jungle,” he said. “We must be lions for the clients we serve. We all need a lion in our hearts and this lion embodies what Hope does . . . using every single voice in the collaboration process.”

As we come to the end of July and ‘Disability Pride Month,’ we don’t want pride and recognition of the disability community to end with it. Disability Pride, and the millions of individuals who personally represent it, should be included in all we do, all year long. The contributions and talents of individuals—such as Jena Crafton and Ric Nelson whose leadership skills and passion for advocacy are making waves in Alaska and beyond; and Willie Boles (below) and the many other individuals who lend both their creative skills and friendship to Hope Studios—make our communities richer and more diverse and engaging.

We are proud to be part of this community.

#ADA33

Thirty-three years ago on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. This historic civil rights law protects the rights of people with disabilities. Did you know that the ADA National Network is a free resource that provides information and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act?

Advocacy for Recognition of DSPs

The nation-wide advocacy movement to recognize the value and talent of our Direct Support Professional workforce has taken a step forward with the passing of the S. 1332 bill, which will address the direct support workforce crisis. But your help is still needed to elevate our collective voice to move the “Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act" forward.

ANCOR, our national provider association, makes it very easy to advocate, so please take a few minutes to take action and let's make our voices heard!

Just Keep Moving

Our latest Wellness Bulletin informs on the importance of daily movement and its impact on our overall health and well-being.

Talent Show

We invite you to our Community Engagement Talent Show on Friday, August 11 from 4pm - 7pm. Enjoy the musical and entertaining talents of Hope's support recipients and staff!

Great Alaska Duck Race

Would you like the chance to win up to $10,000? It's as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Buy a duck(s).
2. Enter your information during checkout, and select ‘Hope Community Resources’ as your team.
3. Your duck(s) will start training for the big race, and on September 9th they will race to the finish line. If your duck wins, you win!

Board of Director Changes

We would like to announce some recent updates to our Board of Directors, including a new President, Vice President and Secretary.

Exciting Career Opportunities

We are actively looking for passionate caregivers to join our team. If you or someone you know would be interested in one of the following careers, please apply below or reach out to our Recruiting team at 907-433-1730.

• Lead Resident Manager, Kenai (live-in)
• Assistant Resident Manager, Kenai (live-in)
• Mental Health Clinician, Anchorage (full-time)
• Direct Support Professionals, Anchorage (weekends)
• Office Support Specialist, Anchorage (full-time)
• Deaf Supports Administrative Assistant, Anchorage (part-time)

Community Impact Awards

The Alaska Journal of Commerce's Community Impact Award honors non-profit organizations that have significantly impacted the lives of individuals and communities of Alaska. If Hope or other organizations have positively impacted your life, nominations will be accepted June 15 - August 18, 2023.