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Hope Street is The Greenhouse for People on 26th and Capitol. We provide housing and community to empower broken men, women, and children to cultivate a relationship with Jesus, themselves, and others to restore hope that flourishing is possible for us all.
Well moments
Well Moments: Stories inside a Greenhouse for People is a chapter book which weaves together stories of triumph, hope and love as the unlikeliest encounters leave people forever changed.
by: ashley thomas
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What is it? What is it about? What is it about Hope Street?
It is hard to put into words. What it is that makes this place special. We experience it. We want to invite others into it. We find ourselves trying to replicate it in other spaces. It reminds us we are on holy ground. Over a decade ago I began to reflect. My reflections looked like short phrases on miscellaneous pieces of paper, words I didn’t want to forget. In other cases it was many words filling pages of my journal. Moments engrained in my memory, hard fought lessons determining the trajectory of my life. Loss, laughter…life being lived inside of a special place that quite simply had the it factor. Something I chased in other arenas, and here, in Hope Street it chased me.
This book attempts to capture the Love found within a community of broken people. Love that honors boundaries but pursues without limits.A love that reminds until people can’t help but to remember. Love that unites, transforms and flips the norm upside down…to what could be or dare we say ought to be. Well Moments: Stories Inside of a Greenhouse for People is a glimpse of what it is that Jesus has for us when we simply receive the cup of living water He has been trying to hand us. It’s not complicated, but no less intentional. These are some of the stories, my own wrapped up in the beautiful people who have both lived and spent time at Hope Street, a nonprofit in Milwaukee, WI. My hope is that they usher you into the very presence of the Father who has a greenhouse waiting for you too.
meet the author
Ashley THomas, Hope Street CEO
Ashley has had the gift of serving in a variety of roles at Hope Street over the past fifteen years, including the past decade as CEO. It has been a deep privilege for her to help cultivate spaces that feel safe, welcoming, and empowering—places where each person is reminded of their God-given worth and dignity.
At heart, Ashley is a storyteller who believes in the power of gathering people together. Whether leading events, teaching at a local church, speaking to audiences of all ages, or contributing to Just Between Us magazine, her desire is simple: to point people back to what is true and to encourage lives marked by hope and flourishing. Well Moments: Stories Inside of a Greenhouse for People is a tender gathering of stories that whisper of God’s steady faithfulness—faithfulness that holds, even in life’s most fragile and stretching seasons.
What began as quiet journal entries has grown into intentional reflections. Each story invites us to draw near, to meet Jesus at the well, and to linger long enough to receive what our souls have always needed—the living water that restores, renews, and never runs dry.
When I began wrestling with whether the journal entries and scattered chapters I had written over the last decade were even worth sharing, Kendall was one of the first people I invited into that uncertainty. Much of what I had written predated her time at Hope Street, but I knew she understood the heartbeat of our mission and genuinely loves our community.
True to who she is, Kendall offered thoughtful suggestions, helped reorganize pieces so they flowed more clearly, and generously agreed to write a chapter herself. After a few long nights and many conversations, Well Moments came together. I’m grateful for what it has become, but even more grateful for Kendall’s quiet fingerprints throughout its pages. Her name may not be on the cover, yet her heart is woven into this work—as we both long for others to understand what makes Hope Street so special.
Kendall wears many hats at Hope Street, but she is perhaps most impactful in the way she leads the team at Shechem. She leads with quiet confidence and a genuine desire to see each person flourish. She is often our go-to problem solver, faithfully writing grants, stepping into gaps, and carrying more than most people realize. She is a gifted communicator, remarkably organized, and capable of holding many moving pieces together at once.
well moments for kids
written by: Ashley Thomas
Illustrated by: Hannah Carpenter
Well Moments for Kids is a colorful book of stories for people who desire authentic connections with others and with God.
When Ashley became a mom, the Lord placed a new longing on her heart—to help her children understand the beautiful work happening at Hope Street. Well Moments for Kids is a project that grew from that place. It shares the story of Hope Street through the eyes of her children, offering a glimpse into the love, restoration, and faithfulness of God woven throughout it all.
Hannah has been part of Hope Street for just over two years. She has written for several online publications, including Her View From Home and Daughter of Delight. A lifelong artist, she loves blending faith and creativity to encourage and uplift others. Hannah’s artwork is often found on walls, canvases, and throughout Hope Street — not inside a book! This is her first illustration project, and she has loved bringing the heart of Hope Street to life in a fresh, playful way. She believes art helps us see beauty in ordinary moments and reminds us that growth is always possible. Hannah lives in Brookfield with her family and enjoys creating joyful, whimsical artwork for homes, communities, and spaces where hope is being cultivated.
a sneak peek of our children's book....
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launch, sponsorships and more
Book Launch
Join us for the Well Moments book launch on May 3rd, from 2:00 - 5:00pm. We will gather at Good Harvest in Pewaukee!
Be sure to swing by to pick up your own copy of the book and get it signed by author, Ashely Thomas.
Stay for appetizers, drinks, live acoustic music, book readings and socializing.
RSVP not required, but helpful as we plan for a guest count.
Launch Sponsor
At Hope Street we are thankful for the partnership with every event sponsor! When we can cover the behind the scenes costs of an event, it allows for 100% of proceeds to go directly back into programming here at Hope Street.
See our event website to learn more about event sponsorship opportunities and the benefits of partnering with Hope Street in this way.
learn about hope street!
Hope Street is the Greenhouse For People on 26th and Capitol. We empower broken men, women and children to cultivate a relationship with Jesus, themselves and others, to restore hope so that flourishing is possible for us all.
Want to learn more about Hope Street? Visit our website or follow us on social media!
Hope Street Ministry
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