Hope is the number one, necessary, secret ingredient to anyone's success. 

-- Nicole Lynn Lewis

History

Nicole and her daughter at the College of William & Mary Commencement 2003Generation Hope began in March 2010 when Nicole Lynn Lewis, a former teen mother who attended the College of William & Mary while raising her infant daughter, decided to put her dream of helping more teen parents beat the odds in motion.  She envisioned an organization that would encourage and support other teen parents in their pursuit of a college degree.  Nicole's life -- and her daughter's life -- was truly transformed by graduating from college, and she wanted to help others realize their full potential and obtain stable and successful futures.

Fueled by this passion, by November 2010, the organization was in full gear with two staff members, an eight-person Board of Directors, and filed Articles of Incorporation. 

Generation Hope is in its second year of program services and has already been featured in the Washington Post and on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams for its innovative work.  The organization's official kick-off event took place on Thursday, April 28, 2011 in Washington, D.C.

When asked in an interview with NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams in May 2012 what Nicole would tell young parents who were watching, she said, "It's not so much about what's happened.  It's about what are you going to do now?"

Generation Hope is helping D.C. area teen parents answer that question.  We hope you will join us in this rewarding work.