Project HOPE

Chan Hellman, Ph.D., is the founder of Chan Hellman LLC and a professor in the Anne & Henry Zarrow School of Social Work and Founding Director of the Hope Research Center at the University of Oklahoma. He has written more than 150 scientific publications and has presented at numerous national and international conferences worldwide. He also presented his work on hope for TEDx Oklahoma City in May 2021.

Hellman’s research is focused on hope as a psychological strength helping children and adults overcome trauma and adversity. This research informed the development of the “Hope Centered and Trauma Informed®” training program. He is the co-author of the award-winning book “Hope Rising:  How the Science of Hope Can Change Your Life” with his co-author Casey Gwinn published by Morgan James.

Angela Pharris, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Anne & Henry Zarrow School of Social Work at the University of Oklahoma, and director of the Center for Child Welfare Training and Senior Research Fellow at the Hope Research Center. Her research is focused on the application and implementation of hope-centered and trauma-informed practices that impact human service programs. Pharris’ current research is in child welfare and human service organizations and the application of the Hope Centered and Trauma-Informed framework. This research informed the development of the “Hope Centered and Trauma Informed®” training program.

Romero Davis is a director of practice excellence at Social Current. A mentor for professional development and community justice champion, Davis has worked nationally with agencies in areas such as poly-victimization; trauma in families; equity, diversity, and inclusion; juvenile justice; and domestic violence. He is a member of the technical assistance team for Child Safety Forward.

Amy Templeman is the director of Within Our Reach, and senior director of child and family well-being at Social Current. In these roles, she works to support families and promote equity. Before joining Social Current, Templeman served as executive director of the federal Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities, leading the effort to produce a report to the president and Congress.

Undraye Howard is the vice president of equity, diversity, inclusion, and engagement at Social Current. He leads Social Current’s efforts to provide strategy, solutions, and support for the development of leaders in the social sector, with an emphasis on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Through his strategic leadership and direction, he and a team of network leaders have co-created helpful resources, consultation, and workshops that uplift and disseminate best practices to help community-based organizations advance their EDI journeys.

Josh Friedman is the founder and lead consultant of Ten Eight Innovations. Through “Ten Eight,” he uses his experience of 10 years on a police force to provide insight and guidance on police culture, dynamics, procedures, and the shared realities of police work. With “Ten Eight,” Friedman hopes to impact some of the significant issues plaguing law enforcement in the U.S., like the current staffing shortage, by addressing existing officers’ needs, enhancing the recruitment process, and improving the quality of future officers.

Laura Pinsoneault, Ph.D., is president and CEO of Evaluation Plus. She has more than 20 years of evaluation, philanthropic strategy, organizational development, and leadership experience and has worked on a wide range of issues to advance equity and build resilience in families, communities, and the systems that surround them. Her approach prioritizes assets and engagement as drivers of solutions in areas of health, education, economic security, environment, and social entrepreneurship.

Kristen Gardner-Volle, MS, is a research and evaluation associate at Evaluation Plus. She has over a decade of nonprofit funder and program leadership experience, with skills in program development, project management, and evaluation. She has worked with individuals and organizations from a variety of sectors including education, financial stability, aging, healthcare, and biomedical research.

Jennifer Devlin is a communications consultant who has provided communications services and technical assistance to a broad range of projects, including Child Safety Forward, the federal Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities, the White House Conference on Mental Health, and more. She has more than 30 years of communications experience in government, nonprofits, agency roles, and as a consultant. Previously, she served as communications director to Tipper Gore in the Clinton White House.