THE PLATFORM OF HOPE
was founded as a pilot initiative that provides holistic and self-directed support for cohorts of families of color experiencing economic vulnerability in the rapidly gentrifying Adams Morgan neighborhood of Northwest Washington, DC. Today we are proud to be a grassroots organization modeling family-centered practices to support individuals with pursuing socio-economic success and building community.
Our Pilot Years
POH launched our first year of programming in Fall 2018 with an inaugural cohort of 20 families based in Ward 1 and a vision to serve 100 families over 5 years. Learn about our model here. In 2023 we accomplished this initial milestone and completed a thorough strategic planning process to guide us into “Phase II.”
Our new completed strategic plan outlines the next five years of our work as we mature as an organization and evolve our program. Read more about our “Phase II” strategic plan here.
Outcomes
The Platform of Hope program is tracking a wide variety of outcomes for families related to social-emotional health, social capital and holistic goals. Check out our impact through our Annual Reports here.
Self-defined socio-economic goals
Family success is monitored through a comprehensive evaluation plan that tracks the progress of families in achieving outcomes related to family stability, health, financial position, education and employment. Our POH radar chart enables families to select their own milestone or “ideal” in these categories, which directly inform their personal goal strategy and the services they’re connected to.
Social Capital
We believe that by building stronger connection between one another, families will improve their ability to pursue their goals and improve social-emotional wellbeing. Social capital is measured through the mapping of connections between family members as well as the growth to their overall social network.
Our founding partners
Established in 2017 and launched in 2018, POH was stewarded by an alliance of non-profit organizations that are engaged in affordable housing, child development, arts, education, health and wellness for DC-area families. Our four founding partners have deep roots in Ward 1: Jubilee Housing, Jubilee JumpStart, Mary’s Center and Sitar Arts Center.
The Future:
After its initial years, The Platform of Hope team envisions bringing the program to a broader scale-- expanding to serve more families while inspiring others to follow in our footsteps elsewhere in the city and beyond.
“To be honest, I think a Platform of Hope is needed in every city.”
- Founding Family Care Lead Sylvia Stokes
