Who We Are — Carlisle Hope Station

Hope Station was founded in 2000 to empower community members in the Carlisle area through youth programs, supportive services, and special events.

By leveraging the skills and resources of the nonprofit organization’s staff, volunteers, and stakeholders, Hope Station has been giving hundreds of individuals, youths, and families each year what they need to thrive in school, the workforce, and beyond.

Today, the team at Hope Station is taking a hard look at their role in the community so that they can ensure the organization can continue its legacy of impact and service for generations to come.

Hope Station promotes economic and social mobility of Black and Brown individuals as an advocate, and through strategic community partnerships.

A safe, thriving, and culturally vibrant Carlisle community

Following the departure of its longtime executive director and several board members, Hope Station launched a strategic planning process to establish its path forward. With support from Partnership for Better Health, the organization was encouraged to take a deep dive to better understand its position in the community and identify traits required of the next executive director.

A four-month process began in February 2024 and included a community survey. That data is complemented by feedback collected via focus groups and interviews with 45 stakeholders, including board, staff, partners, and community members. Interviews and focus groups encouraged participants to think about the big questions facing Hope Station, and ways it must evolve to meet changing needs.

Through this process, Hope Station identified four organizational goals that form the foundation of the strategic plan.

Assess the economic landscape of the Black community in Cumberland County.
Advance economic mobility for the Black and Brown community through leadership development and cultural programs.
Navigate community systems by expanding partnerships with existing organizations to improve the quality of life for our Memorial Park neighborhood.
Build Hope Station’s capacity to deliver and sustain its new mission.