James has been a patient at Community of Hope since 2010. Back then, he was just looking for a new provider. What he found was something harder to name — a place that kept showing up for him through prediabetes, high blood pressure, and years of managing his health one appointment at a time. 

Grace had to make a decision no mother wants to face. With three young children, ages six, five, and one, she left an unsafe relationship and went to the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center, with almost nothing. They connected her to Community of Hope. She was 34, pregnant with her fourth child, and starting over from scratch. 

A Washington, DC native chef, wife, and mother of two who is also helping raise her 16-year-old brother, Laurencia was intentional about her birth experience from the start. Having had a natural birth before, she knew she wanted the same again and chose Community of Hope for its birth center, supportive care, and proximity to home. 

Since October 2025, Ella has been a regular presence in Community of Hope’s Fam-Club program, often volunteering one to two days a week. She spends her time playing games, coloring, and building relationships with children and families staying in our shelters. 

Today, Arica has built a stable life for her family—something she fought hard to achieve. But 22 years ago, when she found out she was pregnant with twins, she was facing housing instability. 

What brought Markesha to Community of Hope was simple: A dream to have a water birth, but what has kept Markesha connected has been a circle of support.

This Women’s History Month, we recognize the women whose work and generosity make Community of Hope’s mission possible

When Vernada, a mom of four, left Charlotte, North Carolina, she was focused on one thing—keeping her family safe. 

LaDonnae Wells, a mother of two, had been searching for stable housing while navigating motherhood. Now, as her youngest child celebrates their first birthday, LaDonnae is expressing deep gratitude to her perinatal care coordinator, who supported her throughout her pregnancy ensuring she had the resources, care, and guidance she needed while also experiencing homelessness. 

Black history at Community of Hope isn’t something visited once a year. It’s embedded in how we serve, how we grow, and how we invest in our people. It lives in the stories of staff whose work and leadership have shaped the organization over time. One of those stories belongs to Candice Jones – our longest-serving Black staff member.