About Us – Hope Rising Oklahoma

Our Mission

We empower people, families and communities to better their lives through the science of hope.

Our Vision

Through our efforts in communities across the state, Oklahoma will become a beacon of hope to the nation and the world.

Our Story

As children growing up in Oklahoma, both Sarah Stitt and Chan Hellman experienced the pain of childhood adversity and trauma. But they also experienced the gift of hope when they needed it most, and it shaped their lives in incredible ways. Now they’ve joined forces to bring the science of hope to organizations and communities across Oklahoma.

Sarah Stitt

First Lady of Oklahoma and Co-Founder of Hope Rising Oklahoma and the Sarah Stitt Hope Foundation

Oklahoma First Lady Sarah Stitt is committed to raising hope among all Oklahomans, particularly the most vulnerable. She is a passionate advocate for those impacted by mental health issues and works to build awareness about the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES). Sarah’s efforts through the Sarah Stitt Hope Foundation are inspired and guided by Dr. Chan Hellman’s extensive hope research, including his framework for building hope across organizations and communities.

Chan Hellman, PhD

Co-Founder of Hope Rising Oklahoma and Founding Director of Hope Research Center

As a professor at University of Oklahoma-Tulsa and the founding director of the Hope Research Center, Dr. Chan Hellman focuses on sharing the science and power of hope in our ability to overcome trauma and thrive. He has worked with numerous human service organizations, state agencies, school districts and national coalitions to develop strategic plans to become hope-centered. He is the co-author of “Hope Rising: How the Science of Hope Can Change Your Life” and has published over 150 scholarly publications.

Hope Rising Oklahoma is an initiative of the Sarah Stitt Hope Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, and a proud partner of the Hope Research Center at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa. To learn more about how your foundation or organization can support our work through a tax-deductible donation, please contact us.