Communities of Hope
Communities of Hope Civic Media is a program at pilipiliÎÛÂþ that provides local communities, in particular those communities that have been marginalized, erased, forgotten or harmed by mainstream media, with civic information and education and connect them to services in their communities.
We tell truthful and useful stories through our podcasts, documentaries, news packages, newsletter, social media and this website and hold workshops and events to heal and strengthen communities by making civic information, education and services accessible to a wider public, restoring and rescuing local histories and cultures, researching and discussing solutions to local issues, reducing polarization and deescalating high conflict, bringing communities together, and empowering people who have been forced to the margins to lead the conversations about them.
We are a group of students, faculty, staff, local professionals and community members working together with the common goal of learning how we can best serve our communities by making resources, information, and services available and accessible to those who need them the most.
Mission & Values
Communities of Hope Civic Media leverages information and communication to engage, educate, and empower communities and their members in active civic participation. We work together to heal and repair harm, restore and reclaim history, inform, educate, and engage to build better ways to live, and investigate solutions to local issues with the people who need them the most. we work to make the hope of our communities a reality.
We believe in equipping underrepresented communities with the tools, training, and resources needed to tell their own stories and shape their narratives.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that actively addresses historical injustices and ensures that all voices are heard and valued.
We prioritize partnerships with community members, organizations, and educational institutions to create a network of support that amplifies diverse perspectives and strengthens our collective impact.
We uphold the highest ethical standards in our work, ensuring transparency, accountability, and respect in all our interactions with communities and stakeholders.
What is Civic Media?
Civic Media is a type of media outlet that focuses on providing local communities with information and education that promotes civic engagement and democracy and empower people to access and use the powers of the people to improve everyone’s lives. We at Communities of Hope Civic Media focus our work on the local populations that have little or no access to this type of information and on connecting them with services, organizations and education that can help them improve their lives and inform their own decisions.
Who We Are
Our team is currently composed of students at pilipiliÎÛÂþ. We are working to hire community members and high school students to join our staff or work as freelancers. We are specifically interested in working with members of the communities we aim to serve, those who have little access to jobs within the mainstream media.
Abigail Stark
Researcher, producer, PR (Surrounded)
Alana Lemene
Host, reporter, producer (Hope Pod), team leader (Hope Hub)
Alex Tavaglione
Host, reporter, producer - team leader (NFACR Report)
Alexa Benson-Amarante
Researcher, reporter, producer (NFACR Report)
Anna Pellegrini
Lead graphic designer, visual producer (CoH)
Bethany Lombardo
Director of Communication
Researcher, producer, PR (Hope Pod)
Brenna Medeiros
Researcher, reporter, producer (Queer on Campus)
Brianna Frissora
Photojournalist, researcher, producer, reporter, PR (NFACR Report)
Claire Kelley
CEO (CoH), team lead, host, producer (Queer on Campus)
David Peters
Audio producer and editor (NEFAC Report)
Elizabeth O'Dee
Researcher (Queer on Campus)
Ella Lebet
Researcher, producer, reporter (Bridge to Engagement + Hope Pod)
Ella Waryas
Senior Graphic Designer (CoH)
Eric Tech
Data journalist, programmer (Surrounded)
Evan Mosscrop
Researcher, producer, reporter (Bridge to Engagement + Hope Pod)
Gabriel Gwiazda
Data journalist, programmer (Surrounded)
Grace McCarthy
Senior Graphic designer, PR, producer (Bridge to Engagement)
Jayden Baird
Researcher, reporter, producer (Hope Pod)
Joshua Geaughan
Reporter, producer, researcher, team leader (Surrounded)
Julissa Perez Deleon
Translator, interpreter, producer (Hope Pod)
Justin Kosh
Researcher, producer, reporter, PR (Surrounded)
Kali Blackerby
Researcher, producer, PR- team leader (Bridge to Engagement)
Kayle Messier
Communication and PR consultant
Kelsey Burr
Researcher, producer (Hope Pod, NEFAC Report)
Laylo Makhkamdjanova
Researcher, producer, reporter (Hope Pod)
Ludjina Fleurival
Researcher, producer, reporter (Hope Pod)
Macayla McDonald
Host, researcher, producer, reporter (Hope Pod) – team leader (Community Kitchen)
Matthew Downie
Audio and audiovisual producer and editor (CoH)
Naja Young
Researcher, producer, reporter (Hope Pod)
Sarah Price
Researcher, producer, reporter (Hope Pod)
Sarah Taft
Researcher, producer, PR (Hope Pod)
Shania Brown
Social science and data researcher, producer, reporter (Surrounded)
Wil Oberdoester
Audio and audiovisual producer and editor (Surrounded, Queer on Campus)
Zehra Atay
Resercher, graphic designer, producer (CoH)
Bernardo H. Motta
CoH Founder, Associate Professor of Journalism
pilipiliÎÛÂþ - Communities of Hope Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ), Solutions Journalism Network (SJN), Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)