Two important notices from JustHope

Final Letter, April 2026: With Gratitude from JustHope as We Close

Update January 2026: JustHope Update

JustHope Update

Dear Friends of JustHope,

 

Over the past few years JustHope activities have been in transition. During 2025, several JustHope partners visited Chacraseca, Nicaragua to continue our collaboration.  We celebrate that we saw continuing success and growth of the microcredit women’s groups, ongoing commitment of the Stitching Hope women; and impressive progress of the scholarship students!  Clearly, JustHope continued to generate creative blessing in 2025.

 

The biggest change we now face is one we’ve been working toward for years - the transition from being a North American based non-profit to becoming a truly local Nicaraguan organization led by Nicaraguans!  This transition includes endings and beginnings, with reasons to celebrate and also to grieve. The Nicaraguan political system and international relations with the U.S. government have continued to deteriorate, making travel and organizational partnership more difficult. Although we have generous and faithful donors who continue to share financial resources, our mission and model must adapt to the changing context on the ground.  Therefore, we will be closing down the Tulsa-based operations by July 1, 2026 and transitioning operational and administrative leadership to the new independent organization established by the women who have been leading JustHope’s micro-credit program for the last 17 years.

 

These amazing women have been in the complex and rigorous process of legalizing their own indigenous organization for over two years.  And have continued to embody stubborn hope in the face of numerous road-blocks!  Now they are ready to take on the hard work of not only managing their highly successful microcredit program, but also supervising the scholarship programs they are inheriting, managing the 8 acers that served as the model farm, welcoming friends and groups from the US, and pursuing other ideas and projects toward the dream of a thriving Chacraseca!

        

As part of the legal transition from being US based to being Nicaraguan based, we will be transferring all donated project funds to this new Nicaraguan-led organization.  We ask you to please continue your financial support of JustHope through June of 2026 to make it

possible for us to complete the legal and ethical obligations in both countries to make this transition successful.  Beyond June, the new leaders in Chacraseca will treasure your ongoing support.  We will provide more information in the Spring about the ways you can continue your support.

 

Leslie Penrose wrote these words that appeared on the JustHope website for years:

 

“JustHope’s mission is to create long-term global partnerships between Nicaraguan

and U.S. communities in order to combat extreme poverty and increase global understanding.

By engaging one another in cultural exchanges, cooperative learning, mutual dialogue, and sharing resources, we work collaboratively to develop local leadership, empower self–determination, and embody our core values of collaboration, solidarity, mutuality, and sustainability.

 

    Indeed, across the past 19 years, JustHope has lived out its mission.  Together with all of you, we have coordinated long-term partnerships that have resulted in lifle-changing cultural encounters and will continue to develop in new ways going forward.  And hrough our programs in agriculture, health, education, and social enterprise we have made a significant contribution to the present and future well being of people who live in Chacraseca and La Flor. We celebrate the rich relationships and sacred encounters we have shared in both countries, and look forward to watching how the work we started grows and develops in the hands of new indigenous leaders.

 

    THANK YOU for your part in JustHope’s story!  We hope friends of JustHope will continue to form teams and travel to Nicaragua in future years.  If you have questions or want to discuss these changes, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our board members. (listed below).  We will update you again in the Spring as the transition progresses.  In the meantime, please continue to share generously as you are able. Your donations are still changing lives!

 

With Sincere Joy and Hope,

 

 

Kathy McCallie,                                                         Leslie Penrose                                    

Board President                                                          Founder of JustHope and Board Secretary

Kathy.mccallie@ptstulsa.edu                                     Revlesliepen@gmail.com

           

Michael Quintin                                                          Lynne Bradley

Board Treasurer                                                          Board Director

T150scouter@gmail.com                                           lbradley93168@gmail.com

 
 
 
civil unrest Wine for Water

It has been almost five months since anti-government protests propelled Nicaragua into a state of civil unrest. The question we get most often is “What can I do to Help?”

In our minds, the answer is simple: Continue to support JustHope. Although we have shifted priorities and suspended particular programs — such as our partner, global education, service-learning and medical trips — for the time being, JustHope remains committed to our mission and continues to support vital programs in our partner communities.

We plan to be around long-term as an organization supporting the people of Nicaragua — and we believe we are needed now more than ever. In the face of uncertainty and instability, our work provides stability and continuity. The Model Farm continues to experiment with agricultural methodologies and engage local farmers in valuable conversations. The Chacraseca Cultural Center continues to host art, music, and dance classes, providing a safe haven and healthy distraction for children and youth. We have redistributed medications we had in storage to JustHope-supported health clinics and continue to install hand-washing stations and latrines in area schools. A local family just moved into a new home complete with a green stove and latrine thanks to continued partner contributions, and our microbanks and the micro-enterprises they support offer financial stability when tens of thousands of Nicaraguans have lost their jobs and thousands of businesses have closed.

At the end of the day, the work was always supposed to be by Nicaraguans for Nicaraguans.

JustHope’s Nicaraguan staff and partners are well-equipped to carry out JustHope’s mission and have shown courage and determination in a time of great challenge. Part of our mission is to nurture sustainable communities so that in moments of social shocks, those communities are adaptive and resilient. As a member of our staff recently remarked, “This wouldn’t have been my first choice on how to test our community development models, the strength of our programs, and the resilience of our partner communities, but that is the real-time context we find ourselves in.” At the end of the day, the work was always supposed to be by Nicaraguans for Nicaraguans.

Now more than ever, we are compelled to exemplify our core values of Solidarity, Mutuality, Collaboration, and Sustainability with our Nicaraguan neighbors, yet the trip programs we have had to suspend were expected to generate 30% of JustHope’s annual operating funds. This means that fundraising efforts such as Wine for Water, our annual fundraiser and dinner taking place in 4 weeks, need be that much more successful to ensure the long-term sustainability of JustHope’s programs.

Come to Wine for Water

What You Can Do to Help

  1. Come to Wine for Water (W4W) on October 11th and bring your friends. Tickets are available through October 1st: $100 per person and $1,200 for a reserved table of 10. 100% of the proceeds from this event go to JustHope’s programs in Nicaragua.
  2. Buy a Pick Your Paradise Raffle ticket for $100. The winner will be announced at W4W, but there is no need to be at the event to win.
  3. Be a W4W Sponsor. There is still time and a variety of sponsorship opportunities are available.
  4. Donate an Auction Item, or help us reach out to local companies for things and experiences to include in the silent and live auctions (email us to get a script for making the ask).
  5. Buy Auction Items.  At the event and online, you will have a chance to bid on premium silent auction items, and we have some fun live auction items that are sure to be entertaining. The online auction catalog will be available on September 28th.
  6. Plan a Patron Party to collect wine for the W4W wine pull or to introduce your friends to JustHope. Get a 15% off discount on wine at Tulsa Hills Wine Cellar when you mention “JustHope.”
  7. Volunteer to Help. Email us to get involved with W4W or a number of other projects, including selling artisan items at community events or helping us plan the annual International Artisan Market in November.
  8. Give to the Sustainability Fund. Every bit helps. Considering making a one-time or recurring gift to ensure the sustainability of JustHope's programs.
  9. Support Sales of Artisan Goods by coming to see us at events like Festival Americas on September 22-23.
  10. Share our Story on Social Media. Help us tell others what we are doing in Nicaragua by sharing our social media posts:


JustHope
2900 S. Harvard Ave., Tulsa OK 74114
office@justhope.org
918-932-3209

© JustHope, Inc.