Seen. Heard. Loved.

Being a part of House of Hope is being a part of something so much bigger than yourself. We are a team, one that extends past the 25ish people in a space on any given week. It extends to hundreds of kids, parents, neighbors, and volunteers who have attended youth nights, Summer camps, and BBQs for nearly 10 years (plus an additional 5 years back in the day with Michael). Generational cycles that have been broken and lives that have been changed because they had a space where they could feel seen, heard, and loved.

At Sterling Heights, we had the kids help design a new shirt for themselves (with the help of our friends at Co x Lab). The goal was to give them ownership of the program, sort of like a jersey, to emphasize that we are all on the same team. A team that extends to their teachers at school and their leaders at church. A team that is kind and safe, helpful, and respectful. A team that builds each other up. A team that sees, hears, and loves.

Maybe it’s the hand-drawn people or the truth that they are proclaiming, but something about seeing these shirts on these little humans gives me so much hope for the future.

-Alyssa