We are Hope Street, The Greenhouse for People. We help broken men, women and children cultivate hope by providing a safe environment for building community, developing self-sufficiency and experiencing the love of Christ.
“Our neighborhood is one in whose reputation precedes it. We have addiction, poverty, crime and abuse. All of it, eventually feels like the norm if you stay long enough. Yet, on our corner, we fight against it all, by inviting it in. We acknowledge we bring our own mess in with us, yet somehow together, beauty is made from the ashes. The day I chose to walk into Hope Street, was the day I realized I could never not return.”
Ashley Thomas began at Hope Street as a volunteer in 2012. She joined the Hope Street team in December of 2013 as the Operations Director. In 2015 she was promoted to Assistant Executive Director, and in April of 2016 she was unanimously voted in as the Executive Director. Every day is different but usually includes connecting with people, writing and planning. Ashley has a pulse on the organizational health from the board to staff, our volunteers, and the Hope Street community. Living out the Greenhouse for People brand is essential in all that she does, all in the hope of seeing people flourish.
Ashley received her BA in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin - Madison on a full-ride athletic scholarship for basketball. When Ashley is not at work she is working towards her Masters in Theological Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. She also enjoys reading, coloring and being outdoors.