Reflections from the Hope House on Crotona Park ribbon-cutting
By Phoebe Strickland, Flawless Foundation High School Intern
Attending the Hope House on Crotona Park ribbon-cutting was an unforgettable experience. Representing a cause full of hope, care, and the promise of a better future, the event highlighted the hard work and dedication of so many, a sentiment that was felt in every moment.
With notable speakers, advocates, leaders, and community members in attendance, the speeches and dedications were filled with deep emotion and a shared sense of purpose.
Speakers emphasized that Hope House was the hard-earned result of over 12 years of advocacy, determination, and compassion, driven by perseverance at every step despite challenges and pushback. As Vanessa Gibson, Bronx Borough President, said:
“Greenburger never gave up.”
The district attorneys and members laughed as they recounted how many times they had asked when it would finally be finished. But beneath that laughter, I felt something deeply meaningful, the shared anticipation, excitement, and relief they had all held on to for so many years.
Even with that relief, almost every speaker acknowledged that while this first step is a remarkable victory, there is still a long way to go.
That outlook left me with a deep determination to stand alongside those fighting for better opportunities and greater hope for individuals living with mental health challenges—who deserve care, not confinement. After all, the fight and the path to improvement are far from over.
If those words alone were not enough to feel the importance of the day, what came next was. When Cheryl Roberts, Esq., Executive Director of Greenburger Center for Justice, returned to the stage, the crowd grew quiet. All eyes turned to the veiled painting in the corner that had been there the whole time, waiting.
Beneath the covering was a stunning painting of an elephant, and with it came a statement that has stayed with me since:
“The ethos of an elephant is never to leave an elephant behind.”
It was not just a piece of Greenburger history; it was a symbol of what Hope House stands for, a reminder never to leave anyone behind, especially those who have been overlooked. What I loved most about its mission is that Hope House doesn’t stop at simply removing individuals from the harmful environment of incarceration.
As Commissioner Stanley Richards said, Hope House will make the people who walk through the doors feel loved, seen, valued, and appreciated. It will aim to truly change the residents’ lives.
The idea that so many worked so hard, for so long, to give people that chance, selflessly, and with the belief that no one should be left behind, is what I will carry with me from that day.
Especially as a teenager, seeing New York political leaders not just praising this achievement but calling for even more action gave me so much hope for the future.
I am excited to see what comes next. Hope House is proof that when people dare to care, change is always possible.
