Vision Matters

Hope Haven Ambassadors: Changing the Narrative

By 7017444915 • June 26, 2026
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others…” 1 Peter 4:10 At Hope Haven, we believe every person has God-given gifts to share. That belief is at the heart of the Hope Haven Ambassadors, a group of individuals served through Hope Haven’s My Day program who are learning to use their voices, share their stories, and advocate for themselves and others. The Ambassadors were formed in January 2025 after a community experience sparked a bigger conversation about inclusion, dignity, and the way individuals with disabilities are perceived. Since then, the group has been working to help change that narrative. The Ambassadors have presented to community groups, attended advocacy trainings, traveled to the Capitol, and spoken about issues that matter. Along the way, they are building confidence, developing leadership skills, and helping others understand that every person deserves to be included and respected. For Maggie, being an Ambassador is about helping her community see people with disabilities as equals. “I want individuals with disabilities to be treated as equal to everybody else,” she shared. “I want my community to know it’s okay to be different.” For Lori, the message is simple but powerful. “We are regular people who have different challenges,” she said. “I want to help my community understand that people with disabilities are not less of a person because of their disabilities.” For Octavio, advocacy means using his voice not only for himself, but also for others who may struggle to speak up for what they need. Through his experience with the Ambassadors, he has learned something important: “Our voice matters.” Programs like My Day are about so much more than daily activities. They are about friendship, confidence, purpose, community, and belonging. They create opportunities for people to discover their strengths, build relationships, serve others, and take part in the world around them. Your support helps us continue creating opportunities like the Hope Haven Ambassadors, where individuals can build confidence, share their stories, and discover the power of their voice. Your gift allows us to keep growing alongside those we serve, making an impact that lasts. If you wish to contribute, plea se CLICK HERE to donate today. Thank you for your continued support, prayers, and partnership in Hope Haven’s mission .
Show More
A group of people are playing instruments on a stage in front of a crowd.

Dueling Duo’s: Keys to Love

By Hope Haven • October 24, 2025
February 13, 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
A large group of people are sitting at long tables in a large room.

Benefit Auction

By nicole.andree • October 6, 2025
March 27, 2026
More Posts →

Imagine you and I are sitting in church together and the pastor opens the Bible to the story of David and Goliath. If we stopped and polled the congregation in that moment most would probably guess the message was going to focus on faith. The greatest underdog story of all time certainly has a lot to do with faith. 

I read something recently that focused on another part of the story. The author talked about the crucial matter of vision to David’s success. His ability to see the situation differently and to take a different approach than the fight the giant was asking for was a big part of that faith victory. 

How and where we place our vision matters. That fact is on my mind at Hope Haven. For starters we are just kicking off a new Strategic Plan with seven core directives. We are going to be moving Hope Haven forward in several important ways in the next three years. 

We’ve also had to see differently when it comes to mental health services. A program that had been struggling because of limited income possibilities ended in June. That’s a big shift in our services but aligns with the need to proceed wisely for the best interest of Hope Haven’s future. It’s hard to end any program but we rest assured that the people we served will have plenty of choice at other providers for continuing their services.  

Finally vision applies to how we do employment. The state deadline for closing employment workshops has arrived and Hope Haven complied with that big change even though we don’t entirely agree with it. We have moved initiatives forward to engage people in their community with employment or our My Day programs for meaningful day activities. 

In all of this vision matters. We have to see the fight as a matter of faith. We continue to open new homes. We continue to lead in the state on who has the opportunity to work. We continue to have a statewide impact on training of best practices. God is leading Hope Haven. He’s giving us faith to stay strong and eyes to proceed well. 

Matt Buley CEO

The post Vision Matters appeared first on Hope Haven.