CCEW Participates in National People of Hope Project

Gordon Wright, director of The Catalyst program at Catholic Charities Eastern Washington, had a unique summer trip on his calendar. He headed off to Washington, D.C. and Virginia, but not to take in historic monuments or brush up on U.S. history. Instead, he was on a mission: “I had the good fortune to be able to travel to Washington DC to participate in CCUSA's People of Hope program in August,” says Wright. “It was a chance to meet with staff from Catholic Charities from all over the U.S. and discuss those participants who have impacted us in our work, to share their stories, and the impact that our work has had on us- as people who work to help people.”

As part of the People of Hope initiative, CCUSA called on Catholic Charities staff and volunteers nationwide to share inspirational stories of people they’ve served in their work. Wright, who submitted the story of Catalyst resident Michael Gossett receiving two new prosthetic devices for his legs, was one of just 40 people selected to fly to Alexandria, Virginia and have his story professionally recorded. Wright’s narration of Gossett’s story will be part of CCUSA’s nationwide storytelling exhibit, which will travel the country beginning in the spring of 2026. People of Hope: Faith-Filled Stories of Neighbors Helping Neighbors will visit some 90 cities over the next couple of years, serving as a mobile marketing campaign for the great work Catholic Charities’ workers do around the country.

“These stories are meant to show the breadth of our work and the impact that we have as a community of workers, and the impact that those we help have on us,” says Wright.

For Wright, this was more than a summer trip that happened to include a great cultural experience. It was a chance to communicate his passion and appreciation for the work we do every day. “The trip impacted me immensely,” adds Wright. “I think that at times I forget that my microcosm is just one part of a much larger community of people working to help- to do the hard work in the often times overlooked spaces. We genuinely live our mission- which in the modern world is a rare and privileged space to occupy. At the end of the day what we do is help people. People who we share space with, break bread with, share tears with- both on amazing days and on the tragic days. Ours is the honest story of the human condition and I was very grateful to share and receive these amazing stories.”

Learn more about the People of Hope Project at this link.