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Our Programs
About Our Programs
The Healing Oasis for Peace and Empowerment Circle® or H.O.P.E. Circle functions as a youth-led participatory research intervention, grounded in a transformative framework that integrates principles of critical allyship. Through weekly meetings H.O.P.E. fosters mutual respect, co-learning, and shared agency between adults and youth. By prioritizing youth voices as key catalysts for change, H.O.P.E. underscores the vital role of genuine partnerships in breaking down systemic barriers.
The H.O.P.E. 's Youth-Led Participatory Action Research (YPAR) approach engages youth to identify problems and advocate for their solutions; thus topics and curriculum are not predetermined. Instead every cohort is dynamic and consequently topics are created and curated for the cohort’s interests. Integrating YPAR into an out-of-school, third space not only elevates youth voices but provides avenues for their life experiences to be valued and shaped into policy.
Annual Day of H.O.P.E.
In partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, the H.O.P.E. Circle hosts a year-end, culminating social-action event, with at least two dozen education and social service community vendors where over 300 children and families will be served. H.O.P.E. Circle will craft policy based on the areas of focus for the academic school year.
H.O.P.E. Huddles
H.O.P.E. Huddles function as opportunities to (re)engage with existing H.O.P.E. participants. Like a sport, a huddle H.O.P.E. is targeted toward instilling intrinsic motivation in participants. The huddles serve as a catalyst to remind H.O.P.E. participants of their purpose and worth in the game of life. This means to not be reactionary but strategic in their words and actions. H.O.P.E. Huddles can take place anywhere and through an electronic medium.
