Hope Community Resources, Inc. is honored to be recognized in the 2025 Best of Alaska Awards, receiving Platinum in Assisted Living and Gold in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

To be recognized in this way affirms that our mission, values, and the work we do every day are seen, felt, and valued across our state. These awards are especially meaningful because they were determined by your votes and voices—our community!

Our organization exists to ensure that people who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities have equal opportunities to direct their own lives, participate fully in their communities of choice, and be valued for who they are. This commitment extends not only to those we support, but also to our diverse workforce—people from many backgrounds, cultures, identities, and lived experiences who bring their whole selves to this work every day.

To be recognized in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is a powerful affirmation that our pursuit of disability inclusion, belonging, and respect is resonating beyond our organization and into the broader culture of Alaska. It also acknowledges the importance of fostering a workplace where our employees feel seen, supported, and celebrated, because we know that meaningful inclusion begins within.

The Platinum award in Assisted Living acknowledges the high standards of person-centered supports that our employees provide each and every day. It reflects their commitment to supporting meaningful lives—filled with choice and independence.

We extend our most sincere gratitude to the people and families who choose our services, our remarkable employees statewide, the partners and advocates who strengthen our mission, and everyone who recognized our work with their votes.

View all Best of Alaska award winners

Hope will be at the Best of Alaska Showcase at the Dena'ina Center this Saturday, November 8 from 12pm-5pm to celebrate these awards with our community. Join us for a one-of-a-kind event of the very best Alaska has to offer. It's FREE to attend, with food & drinks, local vendors & creators, live music, kids' activities, and more.

Come experience all the best of the best in Alaska. We hope to see you there!

As children, play was our natural state. Yet somewhere along the road to adulthood, many of us lose touch with our playful spirit and sense of wonder. Between busy careers, family obligations, and endless to-do lists, play can feel frivolous or unproductive. But play is not just beneficial for children—for adults, it is essential for stress relief, creativity, emotional health, and building empathy and social skills.

Play helps calm and rejuvenate both body and mind. When we engage in activities that bring us joy, our bodies release natural mood-boosting endorphins. Even a few moments of lightheartedness each day can help us stay optimistic and counterbalance daily pressures. Regular opportunities for play also keeps the brain flexible and alert, improves focus, and encourages imagination and curiosity. Play refreshes us in ways that rest alone cannot.

Play in adulthood isn’t always obvious, and it looks different for everyone; one person might find delight in solving a puzzle, where another finds it in geocaching or singing. Your idea of play may come from something active, like kayaking, or something creative, like bullet journaling, or something social, like hosting a costume party, or something solo, like learning to play the drums, or even something unstructured, like doodling. The defining features of play have nothing to do with the activity itself, and everything to do with your motivation and attitude. When we approach an activity with a sense of freedom, enjoyment, and presence, that is playing.

Even if it’s been years since you embraced your playful side, all you need is a willingness to try. Think about what made you feel alive as a child—dancing, exploring, storytelling—and find ways to bring those magic moments back into your routine. Play doesn’t have to be structured or practical; it just needs to bring a smile to your face.

We are never too old to play. So add “recess” back on your to-do list and give yourself permission to live in the moment, laugh, and seek enjoyment—not just in times of celebration, but in everyday life.

Three-step plan for rekindling a playful spirit:

1. Discover your play personality. Are you a storyteller, a mover, a collector, or something else? Think back to the activities you loved as a child—that will give you clues as to what may bring you joy today.
2. Experiment with different ways to play. Play can be social, physical, creative, or object-focused. Your play personality may guide the style that feels most natural, but don’t be afraid to experiment.
3. Try things that sound fun. Don’t worry about how good you are at it or how it looks to others. Play is about enjoying yourself, not perfection. If it doesn’t feel right, try something else.

Spending time in nature is one of the simplest and most effective ways to support whole health. Research shows that even small doses of time outdoors has big benefits—reducing stress, improving mood, sharpening focus, regulating emotions, reducing the risk of mental health disorders, improving sleep, and even faster healing.

Nature offers abundant opportunities for connection through every season. Spring brings blooming flowers and longer days, inviting activities like planting a garden that can inspire fresh energy and creativity. Summer offers rich ways to immerse in the outdoors through hiking, biking, camping, fishing, or boating. Autumn’s crisp air and colorful leaves create moments of reflection, perfect for photography walks or berry picking. And Winter reveals quiet beauty that encourages mindfulness with activities such as snowshoeing, ice skating, or building a snowman.

Nature is especially valuable during periods of stress. Simply stepping outside can create a physical and mental break from daily pressures, offering perspective and grounding. The simple acts of watching a sunset, breathing in fresh air, or feeling leaves crunch beneath your feet can bring the nervous system back into balance.

Time outdoors benefits the body as well as the mind. Physical activity in nature—often called “green exercise”—supports cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure, and strengthens the immune system. Exposure to natural light helps regulate circadian rhythms, and fresh air increases energy and vitality. Even patients recovering from illness or surgery show faster healing when they can see greenery from their surroundings.

Even two hours per week in nature can deliver many of these lasting health benefits. Connecting with the rhythms of the natural world year-round will lead to better physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and help us develop a deeper sense of peace and harmony in everyday life.

Ways to engage in “green exercise” in Alaska year-round

• Spring
  • Trail hiking
  • Gardening prep
  • Wildlife watching
• Summer
  • Hiking under the midnight sun
  • Berry picking & salmon fishing
  • Trail walking or running
  • Glacier and ice trekking
• Fall
  • Wildlife viewing cruises
  • Mountain biking
  • Scenic drives
• Winter
  • Skiing or snowshoeing
  • Watching the northern lights
  • Walking in freshly fallen snow

This year marks “Munification”—the 50th Anniversary of the unification of the City of Anchorage and the Greater Anchorage Borough. To commemorate, the Municipality invited Hope and many other local organizations, communities, and cultural groups to share their histories.

We are excited to share this new resource highlighting the history of Hope and the disability community. Please take a moment to read through and reflect on how our history—along with many others—have made a difference in our community and in people’s lives.

View Hope's Cultural Histories webpage

A Summer to Remember

Stories from our Community Engagement Summer Camp

Summer is coming to an end, and we've made some great memories and shared wonderful activities that made this season so special. One of the highlights was our Community Engagement Summer Camp, a seven-week program filled with adventures, new experiences, and friendships. We’re excited to share some of the stories that made this year’s camp so special.

This year's Camp brought together 13 amazing young campers, including three brand-new participants! Together with our Lesko Discovery Center team, they explored Southcentral Alaska, with more than 20 park visits and guided excursions ranging from Anchorage to Willow to Girdwood. The campers especially loved the Reindeer Farm in Palmer, the private tour, planetarium show, and science demonstrations at the Anchorage Museum, and the Botanical Gardens, where they participated in a scavenger hunt and "Nutrition in the Garden" cooking class. Other highlights included the Anchorage Trolley Tour, a Fourth of July barbecue, and a karaoke party to celebrate the last day of Camp. In between excursions, campers also participated in recycled art projects, themed activities, group games, and visits from community partners like the Anchorage Fire Department, Alaska Native Heritage Center, and more. These partnerships gave campers hands-on learning, exposure to Alaska’s history and culture, and unforgettable experiences they would not have had otherwise.

Camp Stories

Each camper experienced moments of growth and joy. One camper, Lindsey, who usually prefers quiet activities like coloring, listening to music, and reading, impressed everyone with her kayaking skills—confidently crossing the lake and showing off her strength and independence. Her mother said, "Lindsey loved [Camp] and it got her out and about and doing many fun things she may have not ever done. Our family is thankful for this camp that Lindsey has got to participate in. We appreciate the opportunity."

In the play area at the Aviation Museum, the campers took turns playing pilot, navigator, and passenger—they loved making their own announcements, offering food and beverage service, and choosing the next destination for "Hope Airlines." One camper conquered her fear of the dark at the planetarium show and the movies and tried every activity that was offered to her. At the Pioneer Peak “you-pick” farm, the group encountered an unexpected rainstorm and used giant rhubarb leaves as makeshift umbrellas. At the karaoke dance party on the last day of Camp, the campers sang, wore costumes, and waved twirling ribbons, making it the best way to end such a fun summer together.

Parents consistently shared their gratitude and expressed appreciation for the team’s care and commitment, and many shared excitement about returning next year and even transitioning into adult programming at the Lesko Discovery Center. One grandparent said their non-verbal camper came home in a good mood every day, and another parent described the program as “the best we’ve seen.”

Looking Ahead

We are already planning for Summer Camp 2026, with goals of building partnerships with schools to welcome interns, expanding music and theater programming, adding camping and outdoor skill days, and inviting family members to volunteer so they can experience Camp alongside their loved ones. We hope to continue offering an wide variety of meaningful experiences for campers.

How You Can Help

Our Summer Camp thrives with the support of our community. You can make a difference by donating to help keep Camp affordable, volunteering your time or talents, suggesting activities and excursions, or connecting us with musicians, artists, or other community partners. We are especially interested in adding music and theater components next year. If you have an alma mater with a disability program or know someone who might like to collaborate, please reach out—we’d love to connect.

Contact our Community Engagement team

Check Out Some of Our Favorite Photos