Chicago Mayor Issues Proclamation for the City to Shine Hope

Here’s what we are sharing for this week’s Hopebeat Weekly:?

• Chicago City Proclamation with Mayor Brandon Johnson and Public Health Commissioner Dr. Ige
• Hope Training for The Chicago Department of Public Health's City Staff
• Episode 49: Keeping Hope Alive, Featuring Chris Hodges
• Episode 9: Losing Loved Ones, PTSD, and Finding Hope; featuring Emily Brisben
• Our Partner Spotlight: Chicago Department of Public Health
• Shine Hope Story of the Week
• Hope-Inspired Reads: The Good Life
• Meet Veronica O’Brien

Chicago City Proclamation with Mayor Brandon Johnson

Mayor Brandon Johnson , Dr. Simbo Ige MD, MS, MPH , Chris Hodges, and the City of Chicago celebrated joining the Hopeful Cities movement with a special proclamation ceremony at City Hall this week. We are thrilled to be working with leadership on a comprehensive strategy to ensure all in the city know what hopelessness is, and how to build hope both individually and in community. A heartfelt thank you to Christopher Hodges and the Mayor’s team for their warm welcome and meaningful discussion on how we can continue working together to ensure all, in the City of Chicago, know how to Shine Hope. Read the full Story.

Hope Training for The Chicago Department of Public Health's City Staff

Hope is critical in the workplace, so we are grateful that Dr. Ige doesn’t just talk about Hope, she ensures her entire team is equipped with skills on how to cultivate hope.? This week, we trained over 400 employees in the Chicago Department of Public Health ’s Office, which includes Addiction, Violence, and Mental Health, and ensured all know the framework we are bringing to the community. Unprecedented challenges are happening at all levels of government, and Dr. Ige’s leadership to ensure that everyone is equipped with skills to activate hope. Reach out to bring Shine Hope Training to your workplace today.

Episode 49: Keeping Hope Alive, Featuring Chris Hodges

How does one Keep Hope Alive in challenging times? In this inspiring episode of The Hope Matrix Podcast, Kathryn Goetzke sits down with Chris Hodges - a faith coordinator and special events leader for the Mayor of Chicago. Chris shares his powerful journey of overcoming adversity—including surviving a life-changing car accident, battling depression, and losing over 300 pounds—all while maintaining an unwavering belief in Hope. Listen to the full podcast episode and read his Shine Hope Story.

Episode 9: Losing Loved Ones and PTSD, featuring Emily Brisben

How do you cope with loss while navigating the challenges of college life? In this episode of The Hope Matrix on Campus, host Avery Peel speaks with Emily Brisben about her journey through grief and PTSD after losing a loved one. Emily shares how hope, resilience, and support networks helped her manage overwhelming emotions and find strength during difficult times. Tune in to this powerful conversation and discover practical strategies for processing grief and building hope.?Tune in to this powerful conversation.

Our Partner Spotlight:?

We’re proud to partner with the Chicago Department of Public Health to make Chicago a Hopeful City! Their commitment to community well-being and safety is more important than ever. We can’t expect our residents to be hopeful unless we teach them how. If you are a resident of Chicago, you can access the no-cost resources to Shine Hope on the Chicago Hopeful Cities page.?

Shine Hope Story of the Week

Explore Avery Peel’s Shine Hope Story and get inspired to write your own here! Take our mini-course that offers an easy-to-follow video and a template to guide you in crafting a powerful narrative. You empower yourself and others to navigate future challenges by sharing your story. Find out more at?hopecourses.com.

Hope-Inspired Reads

The Good Life

Learn lessons from a book by the person who leads the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness, written by one of our experts at Hopeful Mindsets on the College Campus, Dr. Robert Waldinger. Learn more about this book.

Team Talks:?

Meet Veronica O’Brien,?our Research Analyst at The Shine Hope Company. She is also a Clinical Psychology Doctoral Candidate at Georgia Southern University, and her research is focused on mindfulness meditation and substance misuse. Please contact [email protected] if you want to partner with us on a research project to help advance Hope science globally.

Keep Shining Hope,

Kathryn

Kathryn Goetzke, MBA

CEO & Chief Hope Officer, The Shine Hope Company

Author of The Biggest Little Book About Hope

Founder of International Foundation for Research and Education on Hope (iFred)

Creator of Hopeful Cities?, and Hopeful Minds?

Creator of Hopeful Mindsets? Overview, Hopeful Mindsets? in the Workplace Overview,? and Hopeful Mindsets? on the College Campus Course

Podcast host of The Hope Matrix

Chief Mood Officer, The Mood Factory (taking a break, for hope!)

www.kathryngoetzke.com

We Want To Hear From You!

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Spread Hope:

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Content is created by The Shine Hope Company LLC's team of editors. We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our newsletter or website. This newsletter is designed to assist you in learning about Hope. They should not be used for medical advice, counseling, or other health-related services. iFred, The Shine Hope Company and Kathryn Goetzke do not endorse or provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information provided herein should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition. It cannot be substituted for the advice of physicians, licensed professionals, or therapists who are familiar with your specific situation. Consult a licensed medical professional, or call 911 if you need immediate assistance.

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