As we approach a new year, Network leaders are looking to brighter days ahead. Advocates share what is giving them hope for the future. In the words of Vaclav Havel:

“Hope is not the same as optimism. It’s not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense.”

Read on for insight from more than two dozen leaders. Interested in sharing #WhatIsGivingYouHope? Reach out.

Ariel Taylor Smith, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Transform Education Now

@Ariel_Smith10

@TEN_Colorado

Daniel Walker, Executive Director, DelawareCAN

iamdanielwalker

@DelawareCAN

David Mansouri, President and CEO, State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE)

@davemansouri

@SCORE4Schools

Emily Anne Gullickson, Executive Director, A for Arizona

@GullyoftheSun

@AforArizona

Jana Wilcox-Lavin, Executive Director, Opportunity 180

@opportunity180

Josh Crosson, Executive Director, EdAllies

@JoshCrosson

@EdAlliesMN

Karen Hawley Miles, CEO, Education Resource Strategies

@ERStrategies

Leah Sutton, Director of Policy and Advocacy, BEST NC

@LeahSuttonNC

@BESTNCorg

Marcus Brandon, Executive Director, NorthCarolinaCAN

@KMarcusBrandon

@NCarolinaCAN

Maya Martin Cadogan, Executive Director, PAVE

@MMartinCadogan

@DCPAVE

Michael Petrilli, President, Thomas B. Fordham Institute

@MichaelPetrilli

@educationgadfly

Mimi Rodman, Executive Director, Stand for Children Illinois

@IllinoisStand

Natalie Tovani- Walchuk, Executive Director, GO Public Schools West Contra Costa

See the complete wellness campaign from GO Public Schools West Contra Costa here designed to share strategies and stories to help parents and caregivers support their families’ well being—as well as their own.

@NatalieTovani

@GOWCCschools