Hope Station’s History
Building a Legacy of Empowerment
Hope Station was founded in 2000 by Jim Washington to empower community members in the Carlisle area through youth programs, supportive services, and special events. By leveraging the skills and resources of the nonprofit organization’s staff, volunteers, and stakeholders, Hope Station has been giving hundreds of individuals, youths, and families each year what they need to thrive in school, the workforce, and beyond.
Over the years, the needs of the community grew and evolved, prompting Hope Station to embark on a strategic planning process to redefine its mission, vision, and direction. Guided by insights from a community survey, focus groups, and interviews with 45 stakeholders, the organization uncovered key challenges and opportunities for growth. Strategic redefinition in 2024 to address systemic barriers.
Hope Station promotes the economic and social mobility of Black and Brown individuals as an advocate and through strategic community partnerships
Our vision is to have a safe, thriving, and culturally vibrant Cumberland County community
Hope Station’s Leadership Team
Rogette M. Harris, MPA MBA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
rharris@carlislehopestation.org
Rogette Harris became Executive Director for Hope Station in September 2024. She grew up learning about and participating in social justice. Her mom, Paula Harris was an NAACP President. As a teenager, she became involved with civil rights issues and became President of an NAACP Youth Chapter. At the age of 16, she worked with the PA House of Representatives to draft a bill to investigate nonpublic schools that receive state and/or federal funds but are not held to the same scrutiny, regulations, and policies that public schools are held to due to discrimination incidents that occurred to her.
While in graduate school in D.C, Rogette worked for nonprofit advocacy organizations. After graduate school, Rogette moved back to Pennsylvania and worked at the PA House of Representatives, where she spent 10 years writing and creating policy.
Rogette is currently a contributor opinion writer for Pennlive.com/The Patriot News and on the editorial board. In 2023, Rogette was elected a Derry Township Auditor by the voters of Derry Township, PA. She is currently the only woman on the board.
Rogette’s passion has brought her several achievements, which include being the first person in Pennsylvania to win the Gloster B. Current national Leadership award from the Nat’l NAACP and the first to win it for three consecutive years. She was a 40 under 40 award recipient from the Central Penn Business Journal in 2010, a Woman of Excellence Recipient from the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg in 2016, and an MLK Jr. DREAM Catcher Award recipient 2019. Educationally, Rogette has a Master's Degree in Public Administration as well as a Master's Degree in Business Administration. She also has her CRCR certification.
Kiara Ganther
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
kganther@carlislehopestation.org
Kiara Ganther was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She attended Dickinson College, where she majored in Environmental Science and was awarded a full-tuition scholarship as a Posse Scholar. Her time at Dickinson College allowed Kiara to do research opportunities, community engagement, and study abroad experiences.
She has worked with several nonprofit organizations, including Friends of the Los Angeles River and The Posse Foundation, where she coordinated programs and events to strengthen community engagement.
Now based in Carlisle, Kiara is proud to return and contribute her experience and dedication to the mission of Hope Station.
Board Leadership Team
Tavares Tyler, President
Yvette Davis, Vice President
Jennifer Smith, Treasurer
Terri O’Neal, Secretary
Board Members
Karen Wronski
Delonte Plamer
Dr. Chavonne Dantrell Momon-Nelson
Click on the button below to learn more on how to become a board member of Hope Station!
Hope Station’s Strategic Plan
In 2024, Hope Station launched a strategic planning process to establish its path forward. With support from Partnership for Better Health, the organization was encouraged to take a deep dive to better understand its position in the community.
This four-month process included a community survey. That data is complemented by feedback collected via focus groups and interviews with 45 stakeholders, including board, staff, partners, and community members. Interviews and focus groups encouraged participants to think about the big questions facing Hope Station, and ways it must evolve to meet changing needs. Through this process, Hope Station changed it’s mission and has expanded its services to include all of Cumberland County.
