Meet our February Hope Partner!
RACHEL C.
Parents as Teachers
Your dedication to community, connection, and caring for neighbors perfectly reflects the heart of the Hope Movement.
Hope is not a feeling we wait for. It's something that can be built, strengthened, and shared. As we move forward, the Drew Lewis Foundation is deepening our focus on what research and lived experience both confirm: hope changes outcomes.
Hope is more than optimism. It grows when people:
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Believe their actions matter (agency), and
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Can see real options for moving forward (pathways).
When those two things exist together, individuals are better able to navigate challenges, pursue goals, and build long-term stability. We call this focus The Hope Movement — an intentional shift in how we talk about change, resilience, and opportunity in our community.
Introducing The Hope Movement
Research shows hope is measurable and teachable. It is rooted in two components:
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Agency – the belief that “I can do this.”
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Pathways – the ability to see multiple routes to reach a goal.
The Adult Hope Scale, developed by Dr. Rick Snyder, measures hope by assessing both agency and pathways thinking. Scores range from 8–64 and help identify whether someone is experiencing low, moderate, or high levels of hope.
The Science of Hope
Hope is not fixed. It can grow.
When people strengthen both agency and pathways, they are better equipped to:
Set Meaningful Goals
Navigate Setbacks
Improve Physical & Mental Well-being
Build Stability Over Time
Why Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Matter
Many of the individuals and families we serve have experienced significant early adversity. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) include events such as abuse, neglect, household instability, and other traumatic stressors before age 18.
Research shows higher ACE scores are linked to increased risk for:
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Substance use disorders
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Heart disease
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Chronic illness
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Mental health challenges
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Economic instability
However, ACEs do not determine a person’s destiny. Hope has been shown to reduce the toxic stress associated with high ACE scores and improve long-term outcomes.
At the Drew Lewis Foundation, we believe that no matter your past, your future can be different.
The Hope Movement in Practice
At the Drew Lewis Foundation, hope is not abstract. Rather than focusing only what has gone wrong, we center on what we can build next. It is something we work to make tangible every day. Through our programs and partnerships, we focus on:
Strengthening Agency
Expanding Pathways
Building Community Connection
Become a Hope Giver
Throughout the year, we highlight individuals and organizations whose actions help others see what’s possible. Hope Givers are educators, service providers, neighbors, advocates, and everyday leaders who open doors, encourage agency, make pathways visible, and help others believe in a better future.
They don't always see themselves as extraordinary, but their impact is. 💛
– Monthly Hope Givers –
