Hope Ignites

We are thrilled to welcome Lena Washington as the Executive Director of Hope Ignites New York!

Lena joined Hope Ignites New York in 2024 as Chief Operations & Programs Officer and quickly became a driving force behind the affiliate's growth. She has built partnerships with more than 30 corporate, philanthropic, and community organizations, strengthening workforce development, volunteer engagement, and institutional investment.

Over the past year, she has worked closely with the Board of Directors and Hope Ignites Network Headquarters on governance, strategic planning, financial stewardship, and fundraising. She came to Hope Ignites New York with program leadership experience at the Institute of Entrepreneurial Leadership and Harlem Children's Zone, and holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership from Columbia Business School.

Please join us in congratulating Lena. We look forward to her continued leadership as Hope Ignites New York empowers motivated young people to reach their full potential.

Boys Hope Girls Hope of New York

Thirty-three scholars. One week in Silicon Valley. A whole new sense of what is possible.

From a hands-on AI workshop to a look inside Stanford Health Care, our scholars spent the week discovering just how many careers and how many kinds of people it takes to make big things happen. One of the most important takeaways: there is no single path to a meaningful career, and the opportunities out there are bigger than they imagined.

Read the full recap on our blog to see how the Silicon Valley STEAM + Business Camp unfolded, with thanks to World Wide Technology, Intel, Google Cloud, Emerson, QTS Data Centers, Santa Clara University, Edward Jones, Stanford Health Care, the Nanda Family Foundation, the Johnson Scholarship Foundation, and The Tech Interactive for making it possible.

Read the full story here: https://hopeignites.org/2026/07/29/silicon-valley-steam-business-camp-2026/

From the flight deck of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier to the classrooms of Cleveland State, Bishop Jennings has never stopped building.

A collegian of Hope Ignites Northeastern Ohio, Bishop spent five years as a Navy aviation technician before coming home to study environmental science and carry forward his family's trade. This summer, he gave back as a Legacy Leader in our Envision U program, mentoring rising high school seniors from across the Network.

"You have options. Go follow your dreams, go do what you want to do. And I'll help you any way I can."

Read Bishop's full story here: https://hopeignites.org/2026/07/28/built-by-hand-bishop-jennings/

Beyond the campus tours and career panels, our scholars spent the week at the Silicon Valley STEAM + Business Camp rolling up their sleeves. In the Stepping Stone challenge, teams had to get everyone across a "polluted river" using only a limited number of stones, and any stone left unattended floated away. It took planning, communication, and a lot of teamwork to get the whole group to the other side. Later, scholars tried their hand at cyanotypes, a camera-less printing process that uses sunlight and light-sensitive paper to turn everyday objects into striking blue-and-white images.

Teams also put their creativity to the test in the Innovators for Impact Challenge, developing and pitching original ideas to a team of tech professionals in just three hours, learning and getting valuable feedback in real time. The hands-on learning carried into Thursday at The Tech Interactive, where scholars explored the exhibits and watched a documentary on the Lost Wolves of Yellowstone on a giant IMAX screen. To close out the week, everyone gathered for a Glow and Grow reflection, a chance to celebrate the highlights and recognize how far they had come.

STEM, career exploration, and big ideas in Silicon Valley.

Our scholars kicked off the second-ever Silicon Valley Immersion STEM Camp with introductions, icebreakers, and a Rock, Paper, Scissors World Cup that crowned one champion with a soccer ball to match. From there, the week dove straight into the future: a campus tour of our amazing partner school, Santa Clara University, a hands-on AI workshop led by World Wide Technology and Intel, and career roundtables where scholars tackled real-world challenges, solved problems under pressure, and pitched creative ideas with growing confidence.

The evenings were all about connection. Scholars heard from friends of Hope Ignites working in business, AI, and healthcare, picked up networking advice from the Edward Jones team, and capped it off with Silicon Valley Networking Night, emceed by Hope Ignites Cincinnati alumnus, board member, and San Francisco 49ers coach Gregg Scruggs, with remarks from CEO Kristin Ostby, Santa Clara University President Julie Sullivan, and two alumni who shared their own journeys.

More service, more culture, more connection in Guatemala. This week our scholars served at the local schools, learned to hand-wash their clothes alongside Guatemalan scholars, and shared meals, games, and dancing at the residences. They celebrated one of the scholars' 18th birthday, explored the historic city of Antigua, and toured a coffee farm from bean to cup, racking up new experiences and making lasting friendships at every turn.

Esperanza Juvenil, Guatemala

One of our flagship summer programs, the Guate-Maya Immersion Experience is underway, and scholars from across the U.S. are living, serving, and learning alongside their peers at Esperanza Juvenil, Guatemala (Hope Ignites Guatemala). They are exploring Guatemala City's historic cathedral and artisan markets, discovering Mayan traditions and learning about chocolate making and craftsmanship in San Juan La Laguna. Every day brings new experiences and new friendships that will last long after the trip ends.

For our Guatemalan scholars, it's a chance to share their culture, their homes, and their generous hospitality. For our U.S. scholars, it's a window into a world beyond their own. For them all, it's an experience they'll carry for the rest of their lives.

Wednesday, July 1, was the final full day of Envision U, and it was all about college!

Scholars listened intently to talks on important topics such as making a final list of schools, how to apply for college and financial aid, writing a winning application essay, choosing your major, how to think about your direction during and after higher ed, and much more.

After a break for lunch, scholars were treated to a campus tour of St. John's United, one of our great partner schools, getting a better look at one of their college options.

Then it was time for the college fair! Representatives from 19 of our partner schools from all over the country met with scholars to answer their questions and give them the best possible insight on why their school might be the right choice for our scholars as they decide their future paths.

The day rounded off with a presentation on the admissions process, led by reps from St. John’s. At night scholars enjoyed free time, dinner, fun group activities, including a positive affirmation activity, and reflecting on the week before getting ready to head home the next day, full of new ideas and perspectives!

Envision U is one of our flagship summer programs and we are grateful to our partners for making it possible, and to the scholars for bringing their curiosity, enthusiasm and energy to New York!

Day 2 of Envision U was all about professional development!

The day started off with breakfast on campus, followed by a morning reflection led by our Vice President of Mission Effectiveness, Brian Hipp, talking about the core pillars of being a Hope Ignites scholar - being a well-educated, career ready man or woman for others.

Then, scholars got to meet and hear from New York State Assemblywoman Phara Souffrant Forrest, who represents Brooklyn's 57th District. Mrs. Souffrant Forrest spoke about the importance of resilience and being able to pivot and reinvent yourself when your circumstances demand it. Drawing on her own experience as an Uber driver, ICU nurse and tenant activist before entering politics as a member of the New York State Assembly, she inspired the scholars by encouraging them to not impose limits on their own potential.

Later in the day, scholars traveled to the St. John's University's Greenberg School of Risk Management in the East Village, Manhattan. First attending a panel discussion on professional networking led by Hank Watkins, the Executive Director of the Greenberg School, scholars picked up tips and tricks that they then put to the test during the Networking Night. Meeting with friends and supporters of Hope Ignites and St. John's, scholars practiced their networking skills and made new connections to set them up for future success in their college and professional lives.

The day was capped off with a baseball game at the iconic Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Scholars got to see the New York Yankees take on the Detroit Tigers, while donning stylish NY Yankee hats, courtesy of Hank Watkins and St. John's!

Phara for Assembly St. John's University St. John's University New York Yankees

Envision U 2026 is a wrap!

Last week, 83 young people (76 scholars and seven Legacy Leaders) from across the Hope Ignites Network gathered at St. John's University in Queens, New York! They were joined by affiliate and Network Headquarters team members and Hope Ignites collegians and recent alums - Legacy Leaders - for a week of team-building activities, reflection, and exploring college options with our partner schools.

Arriving on Sunday June 28th, scholars stayed in the dorms on the beautiful 102-acre campus of our great partner school St. John's University. Sunday was spent getting settled into the dorms and campus, hearing from St. John's reps, attending a welcome dinner, and doing introductions and ice-breaker activities.

Since Hope Ignites is always focused on being of service to others, Monday, June 29th, started off with the scholars joining NYC H2O, a non-profit water ecology organization, to clean up Baisley Pond Park in Queens!

After a quick reset on campus for lunch, scholars took a sightseeing trip of New York, taking the Staten Island Ferry into Lower Manhattan and Battery Park before making their way to Central Park and Times Square. Seeing the famous sights of Manhattan for the first time was a highlight for many scholars and set the stage for the rest of the week!

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