"Hope Wood is currently a Project Director with New Organizing Institute, currently developing NOI University, our distance learning program focused on engagement organizing. Born and raised in sunny, suburban Southern California, on the back of Harley Davidson motorcycles, in Catholic mass, and on the dance floor of the local dance studio, Hope has devoted the last twelve years of her life to community organizing. She began first as elementary school teacher and then a dance arts educator in inner city Los Angeles, and then found her political voice in the Obama campaign where she volunteered as the Obama Team Coordinator for Congressional District 33 during the Primary election, and then was hired on as the California Battleground States Coordinator for during the General Election.
During the summer of 2009, as a participant in the pilot of Leadership, Organizing, Action: Leading Change course, the Harvard Executive online learning course taught by Professor Marshall Ganz, Hope co-developed the Courage Campaign Deputy Field Organizer program, which trained and supported volunteer organizers who helped develop over 40 Equality Teams, grassroots organizing groups mobilized in 23 California counties to build local progressive coalition around LGBT equality. Over the past two years, Hope has worked with Professor Ganz as a Teaching Fellow now coordinating and teaching in the distance learning course she piloted as a student, and helping to connect 190 change makers in over 20 countries across the globe.
Prior to her work as an organizer, Hope accomplished one of her childhood dreams of being a Los Angeles LakerGirl, dancing and representing the organization in various community events and military welfare tours across the globe. In addition to her current work with NOI, Hope volunteers on the core committee for Sistahs Steppin’ In Pride, the East Bay dyke march and festival that seeks to empower the diverse, East Bay lesbian and queer women's community to reclaim their lives from fear and celebrate their community and spirituality.