Hope in a Box
We equip educators with LGBTQ-inclusive books, curriculum, training, and mentorship. Together, we use literature to cultivate empathy and ensure every LGBTQ student feels safe, welcome, and included at school.
Every student deserves to feel safe, welcome, and included — no matter their gender or sexual orientation
Our mission is to help rural public schools cultivate empathy and fight prejudice by representing LGBTQ people, stories, and history in school libraries and classrooms. Amid the rise of book banning and censorship across the country, this work has never been more important.
How? We donate “Hope in a Box” — a unique, end-to-end program that helps educators build an LGBTQ-inclusive classroom. Educators receive curated books with LGBTQ characters, detailed curriculum for these books tied to Common Core State Standards, and extensive training and mentorship on how to cultivate an inclusive classroom. We build lasting relationships with our partner educators and ensure they feel supported over the long term to do this important work.
Hope in a Box is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and New York State charity.
“Hope in a Box is literally saving lives. When young LGBTQ people see themselves reflected in school curricula, their well-being improves and rates of bullying drop. By providing these resources to schools with little access to them, Hope in a Box is making a life-saving difference for young people.”
70,000+ students can access high-quality, positive LGBTQ literature due to our program
100% of educators say they feel better equipped to support LGBTQ students because of Hope in a Box
90% of educators say Hope in a Box noticeably improves the emotional well-being of LGBTQ students within one semester of receiving our materials
80% of teachers aim to formally include one of our books in their curriculum in the next academic year
“Our small rural district isn’t very diverse, and it’s been incredibly important for us to find creative ways to help students be open-minded and empathetic. I’m so grateful for the guidance and generosity of Hope In A Box because it sends our students such an important message: we recognize LGBTQ students and we appreciate them!”
As seen in…
“Hope in a Box has created the definitive primer in LGBTQ literature for young adults... The list features stories about people of all races, socioeconomic statuses, ages, time periods, and backgrounds in order to be as representative as possible.”
Will you help us?
