Napa, California, Joins the Hopeful Cities Movement to Teach Hope as a Measurable, Teachable Skill

NAPA, CA / ACCESS Newswire / February 4, 2026 /The County of Napa has joined the Hopeful Cities movement, a whole-of-society initiative designed to help communities teach Hope as a measurable, teachable skill by bringing together schools, families, healthcare, workplaces, nonprofits, and local leadership to show how Hope is built, strengthened, and sustained in everyday life. The Napa activation is sponsored by Arik Housley and Alaina 's Voice Foundation, reflecting a local commitment to prevention, youth wellbeing, and community resilience. Resources are now available at www.hopefulcities.org/unitedstates/california/napa.

The Napa Hopeful Cities activation launched with support from a growing coalition of community partners, including Alaina 's Voice Foundation, Napa NEWS, City of Napa, Napa County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), First 5 Napa County, Monarch Justice Center, NAPA County Office of Education, Community Resources for Children (CRC), Community Health Initiative Napa County, Seneca Center, CopeFamily Center, Aldea Children & Family Services, One Mind, CommuniCareOle, and Mentis, with the shared goal of expanding access to Hope education across the county and beyond.

Hopeful Cities is evidence-informed and grounded in decades of interdisciplinary research on Hope, well-being, and human flourishing. New longitudinal research led by Carol Graham shows that Hope is one of the strongest predictors of long-term life outcomes, more predictive than many traditional economic and health indicators. Studying more than 25,000 adults over 14 years, the research found that higher levels of Hope are associated with better mental and physical health, stronger educational and employment outcomes, greater resilience, more trust, and faster recovery from adversity.

What Makes Hopeful Cities Different

Rather than focusing only on treatment or crisis response, Hopeful Cities focuses on upstream prevention, education, and activation of all. It normalizes moments of hopelessness as something we all experience, and teaches people how Hope works and how it can be intentionally strengthened through practical, learnable skills. These include those that help us Shine Hope, including Stress Skills, Happiness Habits, Inspired Actions, Nourishing Networks, and Eliminating Challenges, the negative thinking, behavior, and emotional patterns that get in the way of hope. The more challenges we have, the more we Shine Hope.

Understanding Hopelessness

Research consistently shows that hopelessness is the single most reliable predictor of the most serious negative outcomes across mental health and well-being, yet it is rarely named, taught, or addressed directly. Everyone experiences moments of hopelessness throughout life. Hopeful Cities fills this gap by providing a shared language and practical framework to help people navigate those moments in healthier ways and build the skills that return them to Hope, together.

"This approach aligns with what we see every day in mental health services, " said a spokesperson from Mentis. "When communities teach Hope as a skill, they strengthen wellbeing across the lifespan and reduce the intensity and duration of suffering. "

"For me, Hope is not abstract, " said Brandon Staglin, co-founder of One Mind. "Living with schizophrenia, Hope played a key role in my recovery. Hopeful Cities brings that understanding into the community by showing that Hope can be learned, practiced, and strengthened over time. "

Napa 's Shine Hope Hero

As part of the launch, Napa County named Megan Dominici as its Shine Hope Hero. A Napa-based youth director and mother, Megan tragically lost her daughter, Addie, in an accident at the age of six. Her Shine Hope Story and companion podcast, now available on the Napa Hopeful Cities portal, share how she navigated profound loss and continues to serve her community in ways that honor her daughter 's legacy.

"After losing my daughter, I had to find ways to move through moments that felt unbearable, " said Dominici. "I didn 't have language for it at the time, but I learned how to manage stress, stay connected, and take small steps forward. Learning about Hope has helped me put words to that experience, and I hope sharing my story helps others navigate their hardest moments. "

What 's Available to the Community

Through the Napa Hopeful Cities landing page, residents and organizations can access two core offerings:

1. A Public Health Hope Campaign
A downloadable, print-ready campaign that anyone can use to make Hope visible across the community. Materials include posters, flyers, postcards, and social media assets designed for sharing in schools, workplaces, places of worship, community spaces, and online.

2. Curricula and Guides for Teaching Hope
Evidence-informed curricula and guides designed for educators and facilitators working with children, teens, parents and families, after-school programs, places of worship, veterans, individuals in recovery, and incarcerated populations. A Parent 's Guide supports the use of Hope language at home. All materials are designed so educators, parents, and community leaders can begin teaching immediately.

A Growing Movement

With hopelessness at historic levels nationally and globally, Hopeful Cities invites cities, counties, states, and countries, as well as workplaces, nonprofits, and philanthropic partners, to sponsor and activate Hopeful Cities initiatives in their own communities.

"Hope is not something we wait or wish for, " said Kathryn Goetzke, Founder of iFred and CEO and Chief Hope Officer of The Shine Hope Company. "It is something we can teach. When communities learn how to shine together, they change life trajectories. "

About The Shine Hope Company

The Shine Hope Company is a social impact company dedicated to teaching Hope as a measurable, teachable skill. Through evidence-informed frameworks, public health campaigns, and educational curricula, The Shine Hope Company equips individuals and communities with practical tools to navigate moments of hopelessness, strengthen wellbeing, and build Hope across the life course. Learn more at www.theshinehopecompany.com.

About Alaina 's Voice Foundation

Alaina 's Voice is a nonprofit organization founded in memory of Alaina Housley, whose life and legacy inspire a commitment to kindness, connection, and prevention. Alaina 's Voice works to foster safe, inclusive communities by supporting initiatives that build resilience, promote mental wellbeing, and empower young people and families to navigate life 's challenges with Hope.

Press Inquiries:

Janelle Kutter
janelle@theshinehopecompany.com
912 704 6465

SOURCE:The Shine Hope Company

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

© 2026 ACCESS Newswire. All Rights Reserved.