Leadership
The HOPE Board of Directors is made up of representatives from each member congregation. The Board is the primary decision-making body of the organization, voting to approve policy changes and set agendas. While HOPE maintains a small team of paid staff, their role is to facilitate and train rather than to set agendas and policy.
Executive Officers of the Board (25-26 officers pictured below) are elected at the HOPE Annual Convention. They assemble strategic plans to bring to the Board for consideration, and assess progress in the strategic plan, giving recommendations to the Board accordingly.
Co-President
Fr. Mike is the Pastor of Nativity Catholic Church in Brandon. He is committed to working for justice because it is what we ought to be doing as leaders of faith communities.
Fr. Mike Smith
Co-President
Rev. White is the Pastor of Bible-Based Fellowship Church Tampa Bay in Carrollwood. He is committed to working for justice as an ambassador for Christ because it reflects his heart.
Rev. Dr. Anthony White
Vice President
Rev. Chris is the Pastor of Waters Avenue Church in Central Tampa and Associate Pastor of Bayshore Baptist Church in South Tampa. He believes all people of faith are called to do justice and work for the most vulnerable.
Rev. Chris Kravitz
Treasurer
Ms. Aranha is a member at St. James House of Prayer Episcopal Church in Central Tampa. Her commitment to building power to achieve justice is inspired by the call of God found in Micah 6:8, as well as other scriptures.
Arlene Aranha
Recording Officer
Ms. Henley is a member at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Citrus Park. Justice ministry is important to her because in joining with others, she has the power to make changes in our community.
Sherre Henley
Correspondence Officer
Mr. Boileau is a member at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa near Temple Terrace. He does justice because he wants to put his UU principles into action to better our community.
Robert Boileau
At-Large Officer
Ms. Theodore is a member at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in downtown Tampa. She is answering a Biblical call to be in solidarity with the poor and oppressed.
Bommi Theodore
At-Large Officer
Pastor Georges is the Pastor of the First University Seventh-Day Adventist Church. He wants to build people power because he stands for justice and for those who cannot stand alone— together we rise.
Pastor Georges Fleurimond
At-Large Officer
Rev. Justin is the Pastor at the Portico in downtown Tampa, a satellite campus of Hyde Park United Methodist Church. Justice is important to him because following Jesus in the way of love demands we fight for those who cannot.
Rev. Justin LaRosa
At-Large Officer
Ms. Barzelay is a member at St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church in Brandon. She believes that to whom much is given, much is required; she feels a responsibility to work for the good of others.
Judy Barzelay
At-Large Officer
Rev. Loli is the Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Seffner. She is involved in justice ministry because God created us to do it, Jesus calls us to do it, and the Holy Spirit compels us to do it!
Rev. Lolimarta Reiter