Reflecting on 2022

As we embark upon a new year and reflect on 2022 and all its many challenges, we realize and marvel at what an amazing year it was. We celebrated the life of our Executor Director by presenting Amber's Night of Hope, our annual fundraiser, in June, at The Cleveland Art Museum, which was a tremendous success.

We continue recruiting young people and volunteers through Zoom and in person. We successfully created ten new communities between Covid and post-Covid, keeping existing communities motivated and stimulated. Most communities continued to meet via zoom, but many began to meet in person at restaurants, libraries, and homes.

Excited to get back to in-person gatherings, COH hosted our second COH picnic in September, allowing communities to leave isolation and share fresh air, fellowship, and grilled hot dogs. We also had our fourth Friendsgiving in November to appreciate our volunteers and youth. They engaged with laughter, costumes, pictures, and a 360 machine. It was a fun time for the youth, volunteers, and our Lorain communities that had never had an opportunity to meet our Cuyahoga communities and other youth because of Covid.

During Christmas again for the fourth year, we partnered with Fostering Hope to help youth with children get some Christmas cheer.

We are grateful to continue our work in Cuyahoga County next year, and we are excited to work with new staff that understand the importance of relationships. Unfortunately, we have discontinued the pilot program in Lorain, but we are continuing our support of the young people and their communities.

Relationships are fundamental for us all, and as we slowly transition out of isolation and separation, we will all be back together soon. We all know we are better together. COH wishes to thank you all for your unwavering commitment to your young person and COH and for the awesome work you have done in 2022.

We look forward to an even greater year in 2023!

People over programs

2020 has been quite a year for everyone. In March, we were able to get in our 2nd annual Night of Hope right before Covid came to Cleveland. We then transitioned our many Community meetings to Zoom, and got busy calling and checking in on our youth and volunteers. We all struggled with being physically distanced from one another.

As time went on, we came out of our homes and met in parks and porches and patios. We launched 10 new Communities this year, despite a global pandemic. Our volunteers were ready and willing to meet with youth who needed them in safe and new ways. Zoom became a new normal for meetings.

It was not ideal, but our work has continued. Youth continue to get love and support. At Thanksgiving, we were able to help 21 young people get a full turkey meal. We weren’t able to gather for our usual Friendsgiving celebration, but we were able to tell everyone how much we loved them. Our gratitude for volunteers and youth has only grown during this hard time.

During Christmas, we partner with Fostering Hope to help youth with children get some Christmas cheer. So, next week we will turn into Santa’s elves and help get some things passed along to our young families.

We will continue our work in Cuyahoga County next year and we are excited to announce that we will be launching a 2 year pilot project in Lorain County as well. We were asked by the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services Board of Lorain County to bring our HOPE model to their county to serve youth 18-25 impacted by different systems in their county. They understand, just like Cuyahoga County, that people and relationships matter more than programs.

We believe that surrounding each youth with their own team of people empowers youth to see life through different perspectives. We also know that our volunteers learn and grow from their new friendships and time with our resilient youth.

Relationship skills are fundamental for us all and as the pandemic drags on so to does the sense of isolation and separation. We are better together. We believe that we will be back together in person again, hopefully sooner than later, but for now we just wanted to say thank you to all the helpers. There are so many people working so hard to do good and we are thankful to everyone who has helped us continue our important work in 2020.

New programs, same mission

Our mission is to serve young people in Cleveland who have been impacted by foster care in their childhood—by helping to connect them to groups of caring volunteers. When they leave foster care, often at age 18, the majority are without many supportive relationships. Our program is about growth and learning. The work we do is about youth growing up, and communities growing together.

We are proud to launch TWO new programs that will serve young people in Cleveland:

The HOPE Program

• This is our very own Cleveland-based group mentoring program for youth impacted by foster care, homelessness, and poverty. It is trauma-informed, culturally humble, and filled with meaningful activities that help groups build life-long relationships with a young person.

  It has training for both volunteers and youth. Training that sets expectations and vision around what healthy relationships look like, and it really focuses specifically on working with young people impacted by trauma, abuse, poverty and loss. The trainings mirror each other so that by the time youth and volunteers meet they have all gone through similar preparation.

  We have trained staff supporting each Community (or Team) of volunteers. Our staff are the bridge between youth and their Communities when difficulties arise, and they are resource experts in Cleveland.

  The structure of our groups is individualized to meet the needs of the youth, with a tool kit of activities designed to guide our Communities into closer relationships with one another and with our youth. Each group is 5-6 people with 1 young person (18-29) and groups meet as a whole and in smaller subsets about 3-4 times a month. We believe that trauma makes it difficult for the youth to get to know everyone so we have designed some smaller group times to help accelerate relationship building.

  Our youth training was designed by youth who have lived-experience with mentoring groups and with foster care and trauma. The youth run the trainings and staff are also there as we develop trust and understanding with newer young people coming into our program. Youth who are in our program create their own vision for what they want out of their Community.

  Our desire is to create long-lasting relationships for our youth so that they have people in their lives supporting them well past one year. We believe the secret to our success is 1)training and preparation of everyone in a Community; 2)support and resources when crisis comes along; and 3)understanding the impact of trauma, poverty and culture on young people.

  Our program follows these core values: 1.) We have integrity. We do what we say we are going to do. 2.) We are transparent. How we show up matters. 3.)We are committed. We don’t give up when it gets hard. 4.)We don’t tear down, we build up. 5.) We create a space of peace and belonging. 6.) We grow stronger when we grow together.

• Urban Community School/Community of Hope Wolfpack Program

  We are excited to be in partnership with Urban Community School on the west side of Cleveland. Together, we are creating a new and innovative group mentoring program for students entering the 6th grade in the fall of 2019. Three mentors and one 6th grader will get together monthly for dinner, games, and support. Parental support and participation will also be a part of this work. Once relationships are built, we hope to see this Wolfpack of mentors and students grow together and stay together as students move through middle school and beyond. Training, support and commitment are at the core of this work as well.

What is Hope?

Written for the Night of Hope 2019

What is HOPE?

What does hope LOOK like?

It looks like people showing up together, day after day, week after week, year after year in houses, in parks, in libraries, in churches, in the YWCA of Cleveland, at bowling alleys, and ice cream parlors, and movie theaters, and on and on.

It looks like being seen--sometime for the first time--- and loved and accepted exactly as you are for exactly who you are.

It looks like a hug and a smile between friends who are becoming family.

It looks like a dream come true, that maybe—just maybe—there really are people who will do what they say they will do.

It looks like someone running out of jail after being released into the arms of people who believed in him and fought for his freedom for 123 days.

It looks like a diverse family---different backgrounds, different ethnicities, different races and religions---coming together with a shared purpose to love one another. 

What does hope SOUND like?

It sounds like laughter around a table over a game or an ice breaker.

It sounds like the crunching of leaves on the ground during a group hike in the woods.

It sounds like plates clinking together as they are piled in a sink after a fabulous meal together.

It sounds like the turn signal of a car and the encouragement of a mentor as a young person learns to drive for the first time.

It can sometimes sound like conflict and frustration because all of us are messy.

It sounds like the words “I am sorry” and “I messed up” on repeat, followed by the words “I forgive you” and “I messed up too”.

It sounds like the Happy Birthday song being sung to a young person by their community—celebrating another year of life together.

It sounds like a quiet, nervous voice of a young person opening up about her life story and her community quietly, purposely holding space for her to be who she is and share what has happened to her over the years.

It sounds like a reunion when someone comes back after being gone for a few weeks. 

It sounds like a party where everyone talks all at one time with excitement and energy when they celebrate what being together means to each person present.

It sounds like a newborn babies first cry, being welcomed into the world surrounded by love.

It sounds like heartbreak and grief, as we mourn the loss of loved ones, cry through diagnoses, and show up when there is a break up.

It sounds like the words “we love you and are with you---no matter what”.

What does hope FEEL like?

It feels like a shift in the story.  A new chapter, a blank page, a fresh start.

It feels like what was once thought to be impossible, is gradually, step-by-step possible because ME is now WE.

It feels like a space where aspirations and dreams can and do come true.

It feels like belonging and peace and security.

It feels like the beginning of healing.

It feels holy and sacred and reflective of the grace of God.

It feels like letting go of the belief that the past could have been any different.

It feels like I am enough because of who I am, not what I have or haven’t done.

If feels like a breaking of generational cycles of pain and regret because I choose a different life for myself and my children.

It feels too good to be true.

It feels scary and vulnerable and difficult to trust that I won’t be judged.

It feels like rest and restoration. 

It feels like freedom to thrive.

It feels like a different city when I have a community. 

It feels like I belong here, like I am important, like I am necessary, like I have a place in the world, like I have a purpose.

It feels like dignity restored.

Most importantly it feels like love.

The little office that could

We have been truly blessed in the last month to finally be in an expanded office space. We have space on Euclid Avenue, a few doors down from a Cleveland insitution—Rascal House pizza. We are across the street from Cleveland State University and there is never a dull moment.

Besides getting this new space, we received a wonderful donation from Covia Corporation of office furniture from a space that they were exiting. Their gift has enabled us to be up and running as an office almost instantly. And running is the appropriate word.

We have launched about 30 tables since January of 2018. We have one full time and two part time people (both working more than part time) supporting this effort. The team is amazing. Passionately loving youth and volunteers through all sorts of scenarios. We are a learning culture. We will always keep learning how to do things better. We will also always make mistakes and do what we can to learn from those also.

We see lots of struggling and lots of engagement and lots of laughing and crying. We see youth hungry for support and caring people. We see community members hungry to share what they know with young people. It is a great exchange and it is never boring.

We are about to have another informational meeting and we are inviting the community to join us to hear about all that has happened in 2018. This is a community initiative after all and without the community, we wouldn’t be here today. So if you are interested in coming to hear some inspiring stories please register and come on Oct. 25th at 6pm:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-of-hope-informational-event-tickets-49632695729?aff=eac2

Michael's story: These are my people

Guest blogger: Michael, young adult from the first table in Cleveland reflects back on four years with his group.

I had the first table in Cleveland, so I get asked about my experience on Open Table all the time. I like telling about it because it has been such a great experience for me and it's not over. I am still in relationship with my mentors--they are in my life.

I usually say, it's not a program.  It's like getting a family.  Overall, it's a real blessing. My mentors have helped me grow up and taught me how God has been watching over me, and they have all been there for me when I needed them.  We have had many great experiences together too.

We had to learn about each other first. But now we are comfortable with each other--we even have inside jokes. Debbie is called the Bank of Deb because she's always trying to get me to save money.

I recommend to other kids aging out, that they should get a table and their own mentors.  I say, these are my people---but you will get your own.

I've had more hope lately and even started to dream a little. Some of my goals are getting a better job and moving into a nice apartment with roommates and having a good relationship.

Debbie's story: Made for Relationship

Guest blogger Debbie Fedor, Director of Operations at Community of Hope and table member from the first table in Cleveland four years ago.

From the beginning of time, God said it wasn't good for us to be alone (Gen.2:18). He created us for relationship.  I'm convinced that most of what we're to gain and experience in relationships is to mirror the kind of connection God wants with us.  He shows us glimpses of Himself through those He puts in our lives.  The mutual love we share with each other is a tangible expression of God's love for us.  There is something in us that makes us want to belong, to be known, and to be understood.  

From the first meeting of our Table,  we all fell in love with Michael. The first year was the hardest--we were from very different backgrounds and cultures and we certainly had a lot to learn about the impact of trauma and lack of consistent relationships has on a young person. Michael has been on his own his whole life, he didn't trust and he was in a constant state of crisis. 

His greatest need was not getting out of debt, education, job training, housing, a good job or other middle class expectations---it was a deeper need---to be known.

All of our lives have been transformed since six volunteers gathered around a stranger, a young person with no hope, serving together. Four years later, we are still together.  We are family. I have been changed by love and as a result, last month I accepted the position of Director of Operations for Community of Hope.

Lately, Michael has become interested in finding some of his relatives whom he has never met.  Some relatives live in another state and he was considering their interest in seeing and getting to know him.  He asked me, "What do you think I should do? Do you think it's too risky-to give up everything and move....?"

I told him that he should probably go visit first, and see if he liked it, which seemed to make sense to him. 

I probed further, "What would you be giving up that's important to you here?"

He answered, "All of you guys."

To be known and loved is a great treasure.

What does it take to change a life?

What does it take to change a life?

Connection

Commitment

Consistency

It isn’t rocket science. It is relationship that matters most. I wish it were as simple as those three magic words, but it takes a lot of time and work to get to know a group of strangers. People often start off as strangers and week by week, they become friends and when their hearts are open to it—they become like a family.

I get a lot of questions these days about how things are working. We live in a society where numbers and data are used to determine whether something is worthwhile. I like storytelling better than numbers, but I think we have some pretty amazing outcomes and as the number of tables grow We have learned a lot about how our work is impacting lives.

Engagement

One of the things I am most proud of as I look at the tables we have launched is the level of engagement by youth. 97% of youth who begin a table stick with it for a year. This speaks to the three magic words above—connection, commitment and consistency. The first few months everyone is trying to decide how this group is going to work. They are trying to learn about one another’s lives and personalities. The youth are trying to decide if these people are trustworthy and will do what they have promised to do—which is show up in their lives.

Of course life happens and sometimes table members have to drop off, but 97% of table members who commit to serving on a table stick with it for at least a year.

The first year is not the end. It is just the beginning. Many tables continue to meet monthly after the first year because they enjoy being together. There is a comfort with this new community that they have created and they do not want to see it end.

Housing

When we look at youth leaving foster care around Ohio we learn that 28% of them have experienced homelessness at some point in the last 2 years. For youth at Community of Hope, they report that they were homeless at some point in the last 2 years about about a rate of 15%. Once youth are on a table though, we have a rate of 100% having stable housing. This is not to say there aren’t housing challenges, but the young people don’t have to figure them out alone.

Having a group of caring friends to help you when you face a housing challenge can make the difference between staying housed and becoming homeless.

Work and School

Our young people are busy. They are working and going to school at a high rate.

80% of young adults on tables are working. When we compare them to their peers in Ohio who left foster care, only 36% of their peers without table support are working.

60% of our youth are going to school. When we compare them to their peers in Ohio, the rate for youth without tables is 55%.

Incarceration

One of the worst statistics for youth who have left foster care without permanency is the incarceration rate. In Ohio, by the age of 21, 47% youth who aged out of foster care report being incarcerated at some point in the last two years.

Only 5% of Community of Hope youth have experienced incarceration in the past two years and to date we have never had any youth go to prison. We work hard to advocate for our youth who have legal challenges.

 

How many people are involved now?

 As we end June, we have 30 young adults, 30 children of those young adults and 226 people who have been assigned to tables since 2014. So, 286 people are in our Community of Hope family. We are growing by the week.

We have another 175 volunteers waiting to serve on tables and we are constantly meeting with young adults interested in having their own support system to help them achieve their dreams and goals.

By the end of 2018, we will have launched 46 tables in the four years since we began this work.

The growth we experienced in 2018 was a result of the Plain Dealer articles. How will we sustain this growth and support these tables? We have volunteer leaders who are launching with tables and helping them as they get to know the model and one another. We are fundraising so that we can hire staff who are trauma informed social workers who can help continue to grow and support our volunteers and young adults. We have hired a Director of Operations who will run the business side of things and help us develop strategy around sustainability.

What does success mean to me?

Young adults and young parents are not alone anymore.

They have people that they can call after that first year when they need advice, support, encouragement and celebration.

I am happy to report that 83% of our youth who graduated from their tables are still connected to their table members, maybe not all of their tables members—but most have between 1 and 5 friends that they talk to on a regular basis.

If you want to learn more about how to get involved or about how you can support this work, please send me an email at clecommunityofhope@gmail.com.

 

*Source for Ohio data: https://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Transition-Age-Youth_Ohio.pdf

The fabulous Ms. Bev

Community of Hope is a small operation.  Currently, there are two of us.  I want you to meet The Fabulous Ms. Bev.

Reverend Beverly Johnson is my coworker, my partner, my sister.  She keeps me in line and tells me to rest.  The pace we keep is pretty rigorous and the demands on our time these last few months have been somewhat overwhelming.  But, she has more energy than people half her age and she is always there with a quick smile, a word of wisdom and encouragement, and a way of speaking truth and life into difficult situations.

There is no other word for her than fabulous.  She is fabulous in every way possible.  She was in charge of the jury commission in Cuyahoga County for 30 years. Then she retired and became the head chaplain in the jails for the next 7 years.  Then she retired from that and came to work at the YWCA as a life coach for many more years.  Now for her 4th retirement, she works with me as the YWCA Open Table Recruiter and Table Supporter. 

We don't go ANYWHERE in Cuyahoga County where she isn't known---from the parking lot attendants to the mayor.  She knows everybody and she loves everybody and that love is returned to her a hundred fold. 

Ms. Bev is extra-ordinary and Community of Hope's Open Table initiative would not be where it is today without her love and her wisdom and her guidance.  Her thoughtful ideas, her gentle reminders to rest, and her eternal perspective that "God's got this"--brings peace that passes understanding.  Sometimes our beloved youth make tough choices that require tough love, and Ms. Bev is there to help them and to deliver the love.  She reaches down her hand to lift them up and tells them, "it's going to get better".  She knows that relationships change lives. Action also changes lives, not just talking about action so she is constantly challenging the faith community to engage with young people who need their love and their time. 

She has the respect of hundreds of pastors because she is the real deal.  She can sing like an angel and she can preach a powerful word.  She loves Jesus and she loves all of His people. 

When the YWCA invested in a position to help with Open Table, they suggested I meet Ms. Bev, so I did.  I instantly knew that she was the person I would need to help me.  She is really beyond words.  She is a rock. 

When tables meet weekly at the YWCA, often they see her in the evening running around from room to room checking in and making sure they have what they need as they get together.  She is a constant presence in the lives of many and we really couldn't imagine life without her.  So, if you decide to participate in an Open Table in Cleveland, you too will have the pleasure of meeting Ms. Bev.  She will become someone near and dear to your heart as well, because, well, she is simply fabulous.