If their needs go ignored on these issues, ineffectively addressed, our society as a whole is faced with the challenge of how do we address repeat offenders, child abuse issues, escalating poverty levels, higher taxes, the need for more prison space just to name a few.  This presents a HOPEless future world to our children which emphasizes incarceration and higher taxes - not information, rehabilitation and the importance of the true meaning of public safety which defines to a great degree and refers to the quality of life in any given city.  We all have the power and the opportunity to make a difference.

It is for these reasons (and others) that a group of Marion County agencies, neighborhood groups, centers, individuals, and churches decided to come together and begin to discuss how we can best address these issues and service people; to communicate our resources, programs and the means that already exist – but to come together and share this information equally and without hesitation.  This city is rich with resources – funders, neighborhood leaders and a variety of agencies, organizations and programs that can help individuals on a variety of issues from leadership development, peer mediation, self-help, public assistance, housing, youth services, elder care, etc.  We began to discuss how we could change the mindsets of “that’s not my job” to one of how can we grow together, help each other - and in turn, help people learn and have better access to the wealth of resources our city does has to offer where we all can stand to gain and prosper.

This “holistic” idealism is not a new concept, but it does beg the question – has it ever really been effectively applied?  The lure of participation in The H.O.P.E. TEAM is not out of money, prestige or notoriety, it was birthed out of a sincere, unpolluted desire of people who already have programs, staff, services and identifiable plans of action in place – and want to do it better.  The resources are here, but have they been effectively utilized?  A true collaboration is the one way in which people within our city from all walks of life can learn and benefit from the wonderful resources that our city has and (for the most part) have been in place for quite a while.  Is the reason why an offender becomes a repeat offender due to a lack of desire, or a lack of information? Does the woman stay battered because of wanting to be in that type of environment or because she does not know what choices she has or who she can go to?  Are children and people missing the target on education and the desire to seek a higher education due to a lack of desire to excel in school or the student/parent not knowing what choices they have at their disposal for financial assistance, career planning, etc.?

While we at The H.O.P.E. TEAM don’t have all the answers, we are moving forward – and that success in this effort is almost always accomplished by people simply taking the time to talk and commit to helping one another and in turn, we will all move forward which will have a positive economic impact on our city in less taxes for services and prisons and the like.  We will have begun to inform people within the community of the variety and wealth of the resources they want and need to help themselves – empowering the people and securing our city’s future and growth as a whole.