Hopebeat Weekly: December 18, 2024
2024 Highlights: Impact of Hope
As 2024 comes to a close, we reflect with gratitude and pride on the collective strides we’ve made to activate Hope worldwide. This year, with your support, we’ve achieved incredible milestones, launched impactful programs, and connected with inspiring individuals and organizations committed to building a brighter future.
We could not have done it without all of you, so thank you.
New Hopeful Cities Activated
We welcomed Las Vegas into the Hopeful Cities® movement, equipping communities with tools to measure, teach, and grow Hope citywide. We have engaged over 280 students monthly through the ReInvent Afterschool Program. We’ve got some big news for January of 2025, so stay tuned for more! Read the latest on Las Vegas.
Speaking Engagements, Keynotes, and Workplace Activations
We’ve hosted community workshops on writing a Shine Hope Story and train schools, community health workers, nurses, and workplaces to teach Hope as a skill. We are honored to collaborate with NASN, School Health, Walmart, One Mind At Work, Veterans Affairs Arkansas, BUILD Chicago Inc., YouthWell, NAMI Nevada, Kevin Song’s Conference, Legend Life Global, Compassionate Las Vegas, Cencal Health, Global MindEd, Manhasset Public School, Schrodinger, MedEdge MEA, Safe City, URAC, Charter for Compassion, Strides for Peace, and more…
Partner Collaborations
Through collaborations with Green Our Planet, Hope Means Nevada, Compassionate Las Vegas, Mayor’s Fund for Las Vegas LIFE, we are able to spread Hope to schools, campuses, workplaces, underserved communities, including sunflower gardening initiatives in Las Vegas. Teen Action & Support Center (TASC), The Warren Patrick Robertson Foundation, and Miss Arkansas USA, Madeline Bohlman, also helped us in activating Hope across Arkansas. Walmart is helping us activate hope in diverse communities.
Key Supporters
We are so grateful to our key supporters including Gard Jameson, Darla Minamyer, Chris Robertson, Dawn Spragg, Kathy Pike, Patrick Kennedy, Dr. Edward Barksdale, Dr. Myron Belfer, Dr. Maurizio Fava, Dr. Shekar Saxena, Scarlett Lewis, Jason Gray, Celine Dion, Mo Siege, Kathy Keefer, Augusto Miravalle, and Oak Park and the inspiring high schoolers from River Forest High School, Julian Miravalle, Vitoria Tosin, and Bella Brown.
Campus Activations
We’ve engaged with students at the University of Arkansas to promote Hope science through flyers, peer-to-peer activations, and our Hopeful Mindsets on the College Campus Course. We also collaborated with Dr. Brownlee Mordecai, President of the Community College of Aurora, following the GlobalMindED conference. Dr. Mordecai recently interviewed me for his podcast.
Veteran Programming
We developed a new Hopeful Mindsets for Veterans program, thanks to a collaboration with the Little Rock VA innovation group. We built out both a facilitator guide and workbook, and aim to expand this program nationally. We are passionate that this population is equipped with skills for ‘how’ to hope, especially as they transition back to civilian life after service. Check out the program here.
Hopeful Minds Impact
Over 2,600 educators downloaded the Hopeful Minds curriculum, empowering youth with skills to manage stress and cultivate Hope globally. We’ve also had the opportunity to train educators from Chipochashe School in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Families’ Alliance on Mental Illness (FACEMI) in India. We also activated a school on an Indian Reservation in Northern Michigan with very positive results. We are thrilled for their students to learn how to Shine Hope with these dedicated teachers and the Hopeful Minds program.
New Course Launched
Our team worked hard on updating our curriculums and programs to make our resources more efficient and accessible for all. And this year, we have developed and launched a new course including the Hopeful Mindsets for Veterans and the My Shine Hope Story Course.
New Research Publications & Key Press Moments
Our Hopeful Mindsets on the College Campus Course was published in the Journal of American College Health this year. Our work also gained media recognition, with features on Vegas PBS Nevada Week and News 3, amplifying our mission to spread hope. Additionally, Europe Diplomatic published an article showcasing our message of hope at the United Nations, while GlobalMindED’s newsletter featured our story, reaching thousands of leaders, educators, and students worldwide.
Podcast Growth
The Hope Matrix Podcast has re-launched this year and expanded with impactful stories. We’ve featured inspiring episodes highlighting stories from different populations including Shining Hope at Build in Chicago, featuring Bradly Johnson, Faith, Hope, and Face Transplant Journey, featuring Robert Chelsea, and Navigating Breast Cancer to Shine Again, featuring Ciara Byrne. Plus, we’ve launched a new podcast edition, The Hope Matrix on Campus Podcast hosted by our very own Avery Peel. To reach the college population, the college edition focuses on students’ personal experiences throughout college and ways to overcome challenges, like The Importance of Hope when Starting College, featuring Ms. Arkansas USA, Madeline Bohlman, and more.
Event Participations
From the Violence Prevention Expo in Chicago to meeting several Ambassadors like Ambassador H.E. Osama Abdelkhalek and Ambassador H.E. Teburoro Tito of Kiribati. We are working hard to get the International Day of Hope at the United Nations established and bringing the message of Hope to critical platforms. We are making progress!
20 Years of iFred and Sobriety
This year holds special significance as we celebrate two incredible milestones: 20 years of iFred, the non-profit we proudly support, and 20 years of my sobriety. What began as a personal struggle with depression has grown into a global mission to ensure everyone knows how to Shine Hope. The journey has been extraordinary, and I truly wouldn’t be here without the support of this amazing community. You can see my story here.
Team Growth
Our small but incredible team has expanded this year. We were also able to honor each team member and advisor for all their contributions, most especially for Dr. Edward Barksdale for his remarkable contribution in the community. We’ve added new team members too!
To our partners and supporters — thank you for believing in our mission and making these accomplishments possible. Together, we’re changing lives and shaping communities.
In 2025, we aim to activate Hope in more cities, teach Hope to more classrooms, and advocate for Hope globally. We can’t wait to continue this journey with you.
Wishing you a Hopeful holiday season and a bright new year! Let’s continue to make a difference together in 2025, making it a year of HOPE!
Keep Shining Hope,
Kathryn
Kathryn Goetzke, MBA
CEO & Chief Hope Officer, The Shine Hope Company
Author of The Biggest Little Book About Hope
Founder of International Foundation for Research and Education on Hope (iFred)
Creator of Hopeful Cities, and Hopeful Minds
Creator of Hopeful Mindsets Overview, Hopeful Mindsets in the Workplace Overview, and Hopeful Mindsets on the College Campus Course
Podcast host of The Hope Matrix
Chief Mood Officer, The Mood Factory (taking a break, for hope!)
