With full hearts and grateful spirits, we are pleased to share this year’s Gratitude Report—a look back at all we’ve achieved together as a community. Please take a moment to look back at the past fiscal year with us.

In the report, you will find more than numbers and metrics.

You will see how our collective efforts are making a positive difference in people's lives, how Hope has risen above challenges and deepened our roots, and how we have continued to reach outward and forward. You will see how every hour volunteered, every grant awarded, and every dollar donated has become a stepping stone toward our shared vision of a world where everyone has equal opportunities to lead full, meaningful lives.

And you will see a mission that grows stronger because of people like you who believe in it.

And most of all, you will see our gratitude to you, Communications. To our donors, grant funders, community partners, families, staff, and champions of our mission. Hope continues to rise because you continue to stand with us.

We invite you to explore the 2025 Gratitude Report. We hope this report brings you pride, joy, and renewed confidence in what we are accomplishing together.

Today, tomorrow, and every day forward—still we rise.

Explore Hope's Gratitude Report

Across every neighborhood, culture, and lived experience, people share core needs and desires—connection, belonging, purpose, safety, and the opportunity to contribute. One of the most powerful things we can do to build strong, resilient, peaceable communities is to remember our commonalities.

Human beings share a universal set of traits—Maslow’s hierarchy of needs demonstrate that all people seek safety, connection, esteem, and self-actualization—that transcend differences and remind us of our shared humanity. When we recognize these shared needs in one another—including those we don’t get along with or feel we can’t relate to—our interactions naturally become gentler, more patient, and more understanding.

Strong communities grow from consistent, meaningful engagement. Participating in local events, shared projects, or interest groups creates opportunities to meet others and build trust. Activities like community gardens, workshops, neighborhood clean-ups, or potlucks give people natural ways to connect and discover common ground. These experiences strengthen a collective identity and build mutual support that sustains us during difficult times.

Looking for commonalities and making an effort to see things from another person’s perspective also helps us listen to different voices more openly, challenge our own assumptions, and create space for others to feel respected and valued. When people feel seen and heard—which is another universal need—relationships thrive.

In good and challenging times alike, it’s good to remember that kindness and empathy are not only crucial but contagious. And as the saying goes, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” Focusing on what unites us rather than what divides us will help create the safe, connected, and supportive communities we all long for.

How to “Step into Someone Else’s Shoes”:

1. Pause before reacting. Give yourself space to respond thoughtfully.
2. Listen with curiosity. Give your full attention and focus on the other person’s words.
3. Assume positive intent. Most people are trying their best with the tools they have.
4. Ask gentle, open-ended questions. “Can you tell me more about that?”
5. Notice what you have in common. Even a small shared experience helps bridge gaps.

With generous grant support from the University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Human Development, Hope Studios is excited to host twice-monthly Art Nights now through April 2026. These hands-on DIY workshops are designed to bring people together through creativity and self-expression. No prior art experience is required for any of the classes.

Each Art Night features a different guest art instructor and medium, offering participants the chance to explore something new in a relaxed, supportive environment. Whether you’re painting, screen-printing, or experimenting with mixed media, you’ll learn approachable techniques, enjoy a fun night out, and leave with something you made yourself.

Art Nights are open to all abilities and skill levels and are perfect for a friends’ night out, date night, or taking time for yourself. Space is limited for each class to keep the experience personal and welcoming, so we encourage early registration.

Sign up for one—or more—of the upcoming Art Nights! We look forward to seeing you!

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