"The past is your lesson. The present is your gift. The future is your motivation." – Zig Ziglar

At the start of the year, we shared with you some of Hope’s primary goals for 2024 in the form of a Vision Board. These included building inclusive communities, celebrating joyful events, elevating community partnerships, advocating for progress, and more. The year brought both hardship and moments of magic, the latter made possible by the people and families who choose our services and the ardor and perseverance of you all—our supporters. This month, our Executive Leadership Team gathered to reflect on our progress, and we are proud to share that we made great strides toward every goal.

Progress Toward Our Vision Goals

Thanks to a grant from The Alaska Community Foundation, we increased attendance in our Community Engagement Center’s Summer Camp, creating opportunities for inclusivity and joy. Campers engaged in meaningful activities with their peers, building relationships and a sense of belonging. Renovations and upgrades to many of our assisted living homes—funded by The Rasmuson Foundation, The Mat-Su Health Foundation, and the Reitman Family Trust—improved accessibility, security, and quality of life for the residents and their support staff. These changes also checked the box of sustainability by modernizing facilities to meet current needs.

We continued working on the design and build of a new intentional neighborhood initiative called Denali Village, a project that combines advocacy in action, impactful partnerships, inclusive communities, and innovative and sustainable strategies. It focuses on a holistic approach to inclusive living and our vision is that it will become a vibrant, accessible neighborhood where people of all abilities live meaningful lives with choice and independence.

We faced a variety of challenges with a “how can we say ‘yes’” mindset and worked hard to remove barriers to better serve people in need. We have been actively partnering with the Office of Children's Services, the Department of Health, and Licensing to find a path to support children with complex needs so they can be supported in Alaska. Our innovative Travel Direct Support Professional program gave us continued flexibility in addressing staffing challenges and continuity of services for the people we support.

We hosted and participated in more events than we can count—surpassing even some pre-pandemic years—including Hope's Disco Gala, the Walk & Roll for Hope, and Night to Shine; summer picnics, First Friday events, Disability Pride, and holiday celebrations, to name a few. Events like Deaf Awareness Week, DSP Appreciation Week, and the showing of Intelligent Lives offered moments of advocacy and partnership.

Celebrating the exceptional work of our team was another highlight of the year. Joelene Fortin received the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award, and Diana Medina was named Alaska’s 2024 DSP of the Year! This marks two consecutive years of recognition for our staff—Sharon Miranda received the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award, and Masaneh Jatta was Alaska’s 2023 DSP of the Year. These deserving tributes highlight the quality of our staff—the people behind our mission—and the amazing work they do for people with disabilities—the people at the heart of our mission.

Looking to the Future

We carry the lessons and successes of the past year and beyond, and in preparing for the coming year, we have set our sights on updated goals for our organization. Our 2025 Vision Board focuses on strengthening community engagement, continuing to build inclusive communities, ensuring a meaningful and sustainable impact, and more. Together with you, we are looking forward to a year of great purpose, connection, and progress.

Because he was outstanding in his field!

Laughter is a universal language that lightens our emotional load and creates connection. Incorporating humor at work isn’t just about having fun—it’s about reaping tangible physical, emotional, and social benefits.

In our busy lives, it can be easy to become preoccupied and overlook the power of a simple smile or friendly exchange. Laughter can lift our spirit and create an environment where others feel safe and valued. Making the effort to share a lighthearted moment just might make someone’s day—including your own!

Sharing humor with others also offers a variety of health benefits. It stimulates our heart and lungs, increases oxygen intake, and releases endorphins. It can strengthen the immune system, relieve pain, improve mood, and reduce stress. Studies show that humor improves team morale, job satisfaction, productivity, and leadership effectiveness. A smile or shared laugh can create a ripple effect of positivity, strengthening both individual well-being and organizational culture. A workplace that embraces humor also embodies stronger connections, creativity, and a relaxed environment, making difficult tasks and situations feel more manageable.

So, how can you sprinkle a little humor into your workday? Start small. Make a team tradition of sharing a weekly joke, create a shared joke board, add a touch of humor to your emails and text messages, or celebrate fun days like National Joke Day or National Donut Day. Just remember, humor should always be inclusive and kind—it should never come at someone else’s expense.

Laughter isn’t just a quick pick-me-up; it brings moments of levity that can reset your perspective and is a tool for long-term wellness and resilience. So, take a moment today to smile, laugh, and share joy with your friends and colleagues. You may find that it truly is the best medicine.

Resources for Clean Humor and Jokes:

• Aha! Jokes (www.ahajokes.com)
• Reader’s Digest Humor (www.rd.com/funny/jokes)
• Jokes 4 Us (www.jokes4us.com)
• National Day Calendar (www.nationaldaycalendar.com)
• Laughter Online University (www.laughteronlineuniversity.com)
• Laugh Factory (www.laughfactory.com)
• Culture Amp Blog (www.cultureamp.com/blog)

Today, we honor Human Rights Day—a reminder that every person deserves dignity. Every person deserves freedom. Every person deserves equality. We stand united in promoting the rights that bind us and building a world where these rights are the standard for all.

From earthquakes to wildfires to extreme winter storms to power outages, Alaska is no stranger to severe and unpredictable natural disasters. Many of us feel anxious and overwhelmed when faced with events beyond our control. But preparing in advance for potential emergencies can give us peace of mind and a sense of security.

Emergency preparedness is crucial, especially for events like earthquakes and power outages, which are sudden and can leave us without essential services. Start by creating a family emergency plan so that each person knows their role, responsibilities, and where to meet if an emergency occurs. Determine an evacuation route and practice it occasionally to ensure everyone feels comfortable and prepared. Along with this, assemble a disaster preparedness kit with essentials such as food, water, prescription medications, blankets, a whistle, a multi-tool, and first aid kid. For power outages, keep extra batteries, a portable phone charger, and, if possible, a backup power source for critical electronics, particularly for anyone relying on medical or assistive devices. Make sure your home and workplace are equipped with working smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers.

Staying informed can also help alleviate stress. Sign up for local emergency alerts, follow trusted news sources, and check weather updates to stay aware of any developing situations. Practicing self-care is also important. Regular exercise, mindfulness, and adequate rest contribute to a calm and resilient mindset. Connecting with friends and family can provide mutual support.

Taking proactive steps to prepare for potential emergencies now will help ease anxiety and allow us to respond to any unknown challenges safely and strategically.

Items to put in your emergency preparedness kit:

• Water (minimum of one gallon per person per day)
• Non-perishable food
• First aid kit
• Prescription medications
• Flashlight and batteries
• Battery-powered radio
• Portable phone chargers
• Whistle
• Dust mask and gloves
• Emergency blanket
• Multi-tool or Swiss Army knife
• Copies of important documents (in a waterproof container)

Situational anxiety is a common response to unfamiliar, worrisome, or stressful events, such as job interviews, public speaking, social conflicts, and major life changes. It's normal to feel a minor fight-or-flight response when faced with situations where we feel a lack of control. Fortunately, there are many effective strategies you can use to manage and reduce the impact of situational anxiety.

Anxiety has a tendency to magnify the fear of negative outcomes. When you picture the worst-case scenario and considering its true likelihood, you may find that even at its worst, there is hope for a good long-term outcome. Connecting with someone supportive and like-minded can also provide comfort and clarity, and reduce feelings of isolation or fear. For situations that cause heightened nervousness, such as giving a speech or presentation, do several practice runs to help build confidence. Rehearsing and preparing in advance will remove some of the uncertainty and give you more of a sense of control. Stress management techniques are also a powerful tool to calm situational anxiety. Deep abdominal or meditative breathing can trigger your body’s relaxation response almost instantly. Focus on slow, deep breaths to calm your nervous system and help you regain control over your emotions. Lastly, not all stress is harmful, and in fact, some level of anxiety can be motivating. Instead of viewing healthy levels of stress as something to avoid, try to reframe it in a positive light and harness its power to help you perform well in challenging situations.

Situational anxiety is a normal part of life, but implementing these strategies will help you reduce its negative effects and face challenging circumstances with calmness and confidence. When left unchecked, however, anxiety can intensify to the point that it affects both your mental and physical well-being. If you feel a persistent cycle of anxiety that is not tied to one event or environment, or if at any time you find that your feelings of anxiety are too much to handle on your own, reach out to your primary care provider or a mental health professional for support. A therapist can give you personalized strategies to manage anxiety and address any underlying issues contributing it. You do not have to navigate anxiety alone.

More resources for situational anxiety:

• Careline Alaska - call or text 988 24/7, or call 1-877-266-HELP
• Alaska Behavioral Health
• National Alliance on Mental Illness NAMI) Alaska
• Stressing Out: 7 Ways to Cope with Situational Anxiety (Clay Behavioral Health Center)
• 11 healthy ways to handle life’s stressors (American Psychological Association)
• What is situational anxiety? (Talkspace)

Scams are deceptive schemes designed to defraud individuals or organizations of money, personal information, or other valuables by exploiting trust and manipulating emotions. The digital space presents numerous opportunities for fraudsters, and scams can take many forms, including but not limited to:

Online scams: Examples include phishing emails, fake websites, and social media fraud. Scammers may impersonate legitimate companies to acquire personal information or money. Phone scams: These scams involve calls from people claiming to represent reputable organizations, such as banks or government agencies, and they may request sensitive information or payments. Hostage Phone Scams: Scammers claim to have taken a loved one hostage, demanding immediate payment through untraceable methods like wire transfers or gift cards. In-Person Scams: Scammers approach victims directly, often posing as service providers or charity workers and using high-pressure tactics to solicit money. Investment Scams: These involve schemes that promise high returns on investments with little risk, often leading people to lose substantial amounts of money. Prize Scams: Victims receive messages claiming they've won a lottery or prize but must pay a fee to claim their winnings. Relationship Scams: Scammers build online relationships with people, eventually asking for money under various pretenses. Tech Support Scams: These scammers impersonate tech support representatives and claim that there are issues with the person’s computer, leading them to provide access or pay for unnecessary services.

To protect yourself from scams, trust your instincts—if something seems suspicious or too good to be true, it likely is. If you are targeted by a scam, try to stay calm, avoid giving personal or financial information, and end the communication immediately. Verify the scammer’s claims by contacting the relevant person or organization directly, and report the incident to authorities like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or local police. If you’ve shared financial details, contact your bank to secure your accounts. Taking these precautions and educating your loved ones can help prevent you and others from becoming the victim of a scam.

Today is Hope Community Resources' anniversary!

On October 28, 1968, our organization was founded by Nancy Stuart Johnson, whose pioneering spirit led her to care for children with developmental disabilities in Alaska. From our beginning as "Hope Cottage" with 14 foster children in Anchorage, we've grown to become a statewide non-profit dedicated to supporting Alaskans who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and mental health challenges.

Nancy started a legacy of service that continues to thrive today. Here's to 56 years of Hope and the many lives positively impacted along the way!