Today we’d like to introduce you to Hope Jean.
Hope, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started this organization when I was 13 years old. I always loved to be around teenagers and I felt they always had a powerful voice. One day I was at service and I seen a lot of kids from a group home come in and take a seat. (It was almost Christmas around that time too). I had this feeling that they needed a gift. A beautiful gift. The gift of love. So God placed it on my heart and had me just thinking like crazy. He gave me the idea and I presented it to my parents. Since I was named after my church, Divine Hope Restoration Ministries International, I wanted to include the name “Divine” in the organization. It meant sacred, delightful and excellent. It was the word that described what I wanted the group to be filled with. So, I finally got Divine Student Alliance. During Christmas we got to spend time with kids and teens at orphanages and we got to converse with senior citizens at group homes! It was a lot of fun and still is til this day. Now, we plan events for families and kids throughout the year based on holidays. I’m grateful that I get the opportunity to do that.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road all the time. I faved a few challenges along the way. Since I was 13 years old when I first started, I wasn’t as strong as I am now to stand my ground. Some of the people that worked under me were way older then me and along the way some of the focus lacked a little because of that. During meetings, instead of staying focus, most teens would slack off into conversation about things that were totally irrelevant to our job. I felt a lot of people was trying to ruin my process instead of seeing my vision. The toughest thing about that was I had to excuse those people which was my hardest thing because “firing” people isn’t really my thing. But to benefit the children and families in the world, you have to do what’s necessary I believe.
We’d love to hear more about your organization.
I plan events for children, adults and families during the year. I am mostly known for the events I’ve held in the past such as The Back to School Bash, Movie Night, And Christmas with Kindness. I am most proud of the effect our organization has had on people’s lives. What sets us apart from other organizations is that we put God First to open up our hearts to help provide others with a happiness that can last a lifetime. We love to help people. Our main goal is to benefit children because they are our future.
How do you define success?
I define success as an achievement of purpose. My criteria is I plan events based what I see that needs a change. I plan so that people can be affected by my organization’s work.
Image Credit:
Khory Fulton
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