Hope Network

Fact: Kids who read at grade level by 3rd grade are 4x more likely to graduate high school. Michigan Education Corps is making that happen—one student at a time. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e6ccgWDs

At 16, a car accident changed Mike Rowe's life. But it didn't change his determination. Now 59, Mike has never let challenges slow him down. He stays active, loves to joke with staff, and is always up for a new project. His latest? Handcrafting an American flag. With the help of his rec therapist, Evan, Mike is cutting, sanding, and painting—completing his project one step at a time. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing his progress as this project comes to life. Stay tuned!

Staci, Kim, and Caleb bring so much personality, joy, and light to the world!? Today on World Down Syndrome Day, we’re celebrating them and all the amazing people with Down syndrome who make our lives brighter (and sassier), just by being in it.

Big day at the Capitol! Yesterday, our Advancement Team met with legislators in Lansing to talk about the impact of Hope Network’s work and the people we serve. Grateful for the chance to share our mission, further our initiatives, and keep the conversation going!

Over 60 years ago, Hope Network was born from a belief that no human is more valuable than the next. That no matter the disability, diagnosis, or disadvantage, everyone deserves to live in a world where they have the opportunity to thrive.? More than ever, this belief is at the core of what we do, today.

Join Hope Network at Disability Awareness Day 2025! Whether you're an advocate, represent an organization, or are someone navigating life with a disability, this event is packed with resources, strategies, and community support to help you thrive. Register now: https://lnkd.in/dYCM2Din

"I work in the mental health field because it’s natural to me; I find the work intellectually stimulating, emotionally fulfilling, and purposeful." As a case manager at our West Lake campus, Will Dawdy helps people reach their treatment goals and advocates for those who need it most. He believes in the power of social work to empower others, and every day, he works to make lives better with empathy, skill, and heart.

The people Hope Network serves are everywhere.? ? People who have been overlooked. Undervalued.? Or labeled "different." But we call these people what they really are.? ? Intelligent. Capable. Joyful. Creative. Human. Since 1963, Hope Network has been?helping people overcome life’s challenges.?Doing the work others can’t—or simply won’t— do. And our vision is a community that accepts?and includes all people equally.? Doesn’t label them as different. Doesn’t separate them into categories.? Doesn’t walk away, but walks toward. Imagine a community that fully embraced this belief.? Imagine the unconscious bias we could dismantle. Imagine the message that could catch fire.?? That all people are equally valuable. Equally worthy. Equally human.

Chances are, you know or love at least one person with autism. Or, like us, you may know quite a few. ?? Join us on Thursday, April 24th, to celebrate the amazing neurodiverse individuals in our lives! The Bridge Walk for Autism is a fun, sensory-friendly event for all ages—where everyone is welcome. Register or help sponsor the event today: https://lnkd.in/gdHK4C9x

"At the end of the day, we all need one another in one way or another to help each other in life and be successful. I strive to be that person for those who don’t have someone in their corner, to remind them they are not alone, and that they matter." Lyndsay Baculi, an MSW Care Coordinator for Hope Network Neuro Rehabilitation, became a social worker because she believes in the power of showing up—as an advocate, an educator, a steady hand in uncertain times. She walks alongside those navigating life’s hardest moments, reminding them of their strength, their resilience, and their worth. Because sometimes, all it takes is one person in your corner to change everything.