Recently, I stood in the kitchen with a staff member, Silas. We took a pause to look out the window at the sunny spring day. We could see our Elizabeth Magnolia blossoms, redbud, blossoms, and a flowering crab tree. We could see spring flowers amidst fresh green grass and freshly leafed trees. He said, “It looks like a fairy tale.” And I agreed. In fact, I sometimes feel like Hope & A Future is a fairy tale that has come to life. Don’t get me wrong, we often work like Cinderella, but we have accomplished bringing the first phase of a dream to reality! And we are closer to seeing the rest of the vision come to reality. That feels amazing! 
Getting to the point of building is complicated at all times and more so in our current environment. In spite of that people continue to send in matching donations and we are working hard to move forward.
I read something recently about finding your passion that hit home with me. The idea was that when you looked at a situation that people were working on, but you are still bothered by the same lingering issue, you probably found your passion.
What I keep seeing in spite of the good work going on with the loneliness epidemic across generations and the way under resourced families, children and frail seniors live is the need to know you are not invisible and you are important and loved in your community. Many people don’t know that because their reality doesn’t match that experience and they don’t have the resources or time to be a part of their community. Many people are happy in senior living until their lives are made smaller by frailty. That is why we are creating a new kind of intentional community that empowers everyone to stay involved and be known and cared for by their family of friends from cradle to grave. I am often cautioned that talking about the end of life is sad. For me, it is another time of growth. It is another opportunity for all of us to grow together and to carry what our loved ones have taught us into our own everyday experiences. Relationships live on.
At Hope & A Future I watch young people grow roots in our community and take off in beautiful ways. And I can say the same for our frail seniors. Here, no one is invisible. We support each other and our relationships live on.
For the next phase we are looking into possibilities for low cost home ownership for our workforce housing and seeking donation matches for the affordable daycare spaces and spaces for intergenerational programs open to the greater community. We are excited by the help we have received! Matching grants came from the Pleasant Rowland foundation and an anonymous donor. We are so grateful. This is a great time to give! And robust interest in our 55+ housing continues.
I am optimistic that the rest of our vision will move from fairy tale to reality and it will happen because a community built a new kind of intentional community!
Thank you,
Karin