Read our open letter to the Generation Hope Board of Directors

On August 2, 2024, the Hope United Organizing Committee sent this comprehensive letter to the Board of Directors of Generation Hope, detailing serious concerns about the organization's practices, culture, and leadership. We sent this letter after Generation Hope leadership declined to recognize the 14-9 vote in favor of unionization and filed three merit-less objections to stop the union from forming, even after a long anti-union campaign and the voice of its staff was democratically heard.

This 12-page document outlines systemic issues including:

• Alarming turnover rates and leadership instability

• Equity and inclusion issues

• Financial mismanagement and labor law concerns

• Union suppression tactics and retaliation against organizers

We appreciate that the Board has acknowledged receipt of our letter and stated they are taking our concerns seriously. We look forward to further communication and constructive dialogue to address these important matters.

We invite you to read the full letter and join us in calling for meaningful action to address these critical issues. Our goal remains to create a workplace that truly embodies the values of equity, inclusion, and empowerment that are at the heart of Generation Hope's mission.

We believe in the power of collective action to create positive change.

Our unionization effort is rooted in a deep commitment to the mission and values of Generation Hope, an organization that has made a significant impact on the lives of teen parents, student parents, and families under the leadership of our founder, Nicole Lynn Lewis, and its amazing staff.

A supermajority (over 70%) of Generation Hope's non-supervisory staff signed union authorization cards to form a union. After presenting signed union authorization cards to leadership and requesting voluntary recognition of our union, leadership declined to recognize our union, so we filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to hold an election. After a long anti-union campaign, the union election was held on July 1, 2024 and counted on July 22, 2024. In that vote, the Hope United Union won by a count of 14 - 9. Seven days later, Generation Hope filed three merit-less objections to stop the union from forming.

We believe that by unionizing, we can create a more equitable, transparent, and supportive workplace that will enable us to better serve the scholars, student parents, and families who depend on us. As employees, we are dedicated to advocating for the rights, benefits, and working conditions that will enable us to best serve our community. By coming together and having a collective voice, we believe we can foster a more equitable, transparent, and supportive workplace culture that aligns with the values of inclusivity and social justice that Generation Hope champions. Explore our website to learn more about our unionization efforts, why we’re unionizing, our team, union mythbusters, updates, and how you can support us in this important endeavor.

Together, we can create a brighter future for Generation Hope and the communities we serve.