Charity Hope

Charity Hope (she/her) is the director of operations and innovations at Activating Change. Activating Change is an independent non-profit organization formed in 2021 after operating as the Center on Victimization and Change at the Vera Institute of Justice from 2009 to 2021. In her current role, Charity manages the day-to-day activities of Activating Change, helps develop and implement operational policies and guidelines for the organization, collaborates with executive-level management in the development of long-term plans for the organization, and serves as the Secretary for Activating Change’s Board of Directors. 

Prior to her current role, Charity served as the Deputy Director of the Center on Victimization and Safety. During her time as Deputy Director, Charity fostered collaboration among partner organizations; provided strategic direction and guidance to the complex change initiatives undertaken by the Center; made connections between partners and key stakeholders in the crime victims and related fields; and served as a liaison to project funders. One of the highlights of her tenure as Deputy Director was the National Resource Center for Reaching Victims, a $10 million initiative which she co-created and convened for victim service providers to identify, reach, and better support underserved victims of crime.

Charity has co-authored and contributed to several reports and curricula, including: Expanding Deaf-Specific Victim Services Nationwide: A 5-Year Strategy; Language, Culture, and Access: Key Considerations for Serving Deaf Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence; Creating Accessible and Welcoming Events Curricula; and the Vision 21: Transforming Victim Services Final Report.

Charity has worked on a variety of social justice issues, including housing and homelessness for people with HIV, violence against women, and on various aspects related to services for victims and survivors of crime. Charity has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and a master’s degree in public administration with an emphasis in organizational behavior from the Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.