Cross to be keynote speaker at Heather's Hope Housing gala fundraiser on Aug. 8

Heather’s Hope Housing will be hosting its annual “A Celebration of Hope” Royal Gala fundraiser on Friday, Aug. 8 at the Duncan Golf and Tennis Club, 3415 N. Country Club Road in Duncan.

The keynote speaker will be Hope Cross, an author, inspirational speaker and founder of Cultivating Hope Training and Consulting. 

According to her LinkedIn profile, Hope Cross is a multi-dimensional, innovative leader who started working with at-risk youth and families in the most under-served and poverty-stricken communities in Florida in 2001. Her creative and “hope” driven approach to serving others has led her to take on seemingly “impossible” tasks and walk through on the other side of those tasks with success in her trail. 

Her years of service has taken her through the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice as a case manager and educator, Healthy Families Florida as a social worker, Henkels & McCoy as a career navigator, and Eckerd Connects as the community engagement manager for Central and South Florida. Throughout her service she has consistently served clients as well as managed teams who served clients with the highest risk factors, court-involvement, and in need of work readiness and job placement. 

Her innovative approaches helped her be a part of the Eckerd Connects team that was awarded the Youth Program of the Year Award at NAWDP for 2021 as well as the Service Excellence Award for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice in 2022. She served as a Plenary Speaker and Workshop Presenter for the ACT Workforce Conference in New Orleans in 2022 and will also be presenting workshops for the SETA Workforce Conference in March 2023. 

In addition to her work with staff and leadership, Cross also works with the Desoto County School Board to provide training and development to students on a career and leadership track as well as church organizations and other non-profit organizations to provide training and development to youth in the areas of Trauma and Resiliency, Leadership Development, Choice Impact, and Motivational Interviewing. 

The profile stated Cross embodies her creative innovation in all she does, including her development and training of Motivational Interviewing and Trauma Informed Care for Organizations throughout the United States. She believes success is possible and every person has exactly what it takes to find success for themselves, those they serve, and their organization if they know how to tap into their most powerful resources – their empathy, compassion, and determination.

She founded Cultivating Hope Training and Consulting in Sept. 2022. According to Cross’ LinkedIn profile, the organization works directly with the Workforce industry, non-profit organizations serving at-risk populations and churches to support the development of leaders, staff and clients.

“We create curriculum specific to each organiaiton’s needs utilizing tools and strategies from trauma informed care, resilency and motivational interviewing,” the profile states.

Also included at this year’s event will be a fashion show and bake sale. 

Table sponsorships are $500 for a full table of eight, $300 for a half table of four and individual tickets are $65.

For more information call The Hope Center at 580-439-6705 or email: sheila@chh-cares.com