By Evertt Hurtado, Founder
I founded Valley of Hope because I have lived inside the systems most people only study from the outside — and I have seen exactly where they break down.
Over the years, I navigated the juvenile justice system, adult correctional settings, child support enforcement, and workforce reentry while trying to stabilize family life and remain economically productive. What became clear was not a lack of programs or good intentions, but a lack of coordination. People did not fail because they were unwilling. They failed because the systems meant to support them operated in silos, creating logistical barriers that compounded instability.
Valley of Hope was created to address that gap.
Our work is not service duplication and not advocacy for its own sake. It is navigation and logistics architecture — helping individuals and families move through complex systems without stalling due to missed documentation, housing gaps, compliance confusion, transportation barriers, or lack of coordination between agencies.
This organization is intentionally structured to complement, not replace, existing institutions. Courts, schools, child support programs, workforce agencies, and community partners retain full authority. Valley of Hope focuses on the connective tissue — ensuring that people who want to succeed can actually follow through.
Our approach begins with a disciplined pilot phase focused on justice-involved youth and families, with a long-term vision of place-based learning environments where education, workforce development, and family stability reinforce one another.
I am committed to building Valley of Hope with transparency, accountability, and strong governance. The goal is simple: fewer people falling through the cracks, stronger families, and a more stable workforce for Wyoming.
Wyoming incarcerates approximately 366 people per 100,000 residents, among the highest rates in the nation. At Valley of Hope, we believe justice should restore, not simply punish.
Our mission blends evidence-based international rehabilitation models — particularly community-based, humane, and skills-driven approaches — with American workforce development and entrepreneurship.
We focus on at-risk youth (ages 12–21) and justice-involved families, helping parents and children rebuild together through education, vocational training, certification pathways, and small-business creation.
The objective is straightforward: provide structure, dignity, and opportunity before instability becomes incarceration.
A Wyoming where justice-involved youth and families achieve self-sufficiency, meaningful employment, and long-term stability — strengthening communities and the workforce statewide.
Launch a family-centered navigation and stabilization pilot in partnership with existing state and community programs
Establish governance, data tracking, and accountability standards suitable for public and philanthropic funding
Formalize collaborations with Wyoming DFS, community colleges, workforce centers, reentry partners, and employers
Publish a data-driven Justice & Workforce Navigation Handbook documenting outcomes, lessons learned, and replication steps
Expand services to additional counties through coordinated partnerships rather than standalone programs
Develop place-based training and learning facilities where youth and parents learn, work, and build businesses together
Achieve a 25% reduction in recidivism through measurable strategies rooted in work stability, housing access, and mental-health continuity
Create a replicable national framework for family-centered rehabilitation and economic mobility
October 17, 2025 — Valley of Hope approved by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity
Months 1–6 — Planning and design phase: community input, needs assessment, and partnership development
Months 7–12 — Pilot launch serving an initial cohort of youth and families
Months 13–24 — Expansion across multiple counties with employer and probation-aligned workforce pathways
Leads the organization’s mission and vision. Oversees operations, partnerships, and strategic growth.
Oversees all medical advocacy components and financial sustainability, including budgeting and grant accountability.
Handles multi-state compliance, legal filings, policy alignment, and advocacy strategy.
Note: Valley of Hope is actively seeking high-impact board members including leaders to help champion this mission statewide.
Succession Plan: In the event of the founder’s death or incapacitation, Jennifer Castillo (Hurtado) shall assume full governance and control of Valley of Hope Inc., ensuring uninterrupted alignment with the founding mission.
Are you a policymaker, reform advocate, nonprofit leader, business owner, or community investor?
We are building something that lasts — but we can’t do it alone.
Interested in a Board Role?
Please email: ehurtado@valleyofhopewy.org