Today we’d like to introduce you to Gloria.
Hi Gloria, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My inspiration to give back stems from my own struggles with homelessness, poverty, and depression. Having faced these challenges firsthand, I understand the feelings of hopelessness and invisibility that many people experience. At my lowest point, I battled and overcame suicide October 29, 2011, and it was through my healing journey that I realized the importance of mental health support. My personal experiences became the driving force behind my desire to help others who were suffering in silence, just as I once did.
I became passionate about breaking down the barriers to mental health care, such as cost, stigma, and limited access. This led to the creation of Hope Booth, which offers 24/7, free access to coping strategies, messages of hope, and connections to local support. I wanted to ensure that no one would have to face their struggles alone or feel that they couldn’t get the help they needed.
Hope Booth is my way of turning my pain into purpose. By providing accessible mental health resources, I hope to inspire others to choose hope, just as I did. The strength I gained through overcoming my challenges now fuels my mission to create a world where everyone has access to the support they deserve, fostering healing and resilience in our communities and using innovation and unconventionality to democratize mental health and pioneer a new solution for change.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all; it’s been anything but smooth. But every bump in the road has deepened my “why.” Starting Hope Booth was birthed from a deep burden: knowing that people, many of them overlooked, hurting, or forgotten could go months without being looked in the eye. That statistic wrecked me, and it still fuels everything I do. But bringing that vision to life? It’s been a process of grit, faith, and constant stretching.
There were seasons where I had to build while grieving, lead while exhausted, and keep creating even when I felt unseen myself. Fundraising for a mental health nonprofit that’s not “typical” in its approach as a young, Black, female hasn’t always been easy, especially when your mission is extremely unconventional. Explaining our concept in early stages to donors and stakeholders, while staying true to the boldness of our mission, has taken relentless perseverance. I realized quickly not everyone will understand or believe in your vision and that’s okay. Find the ones who do and run with them. Don’t waste too much time and energy trying to be a lawyer; focusing on convincing others will take away valuable time from the impact that your mission will eventually prove in itself.
There were also personal sacrifices, times I had to choose obedience over comfort, or walk through loneliness when my passion didn’t make sense to everyone around me. But through all of it, God’s faithfulness has been undeniable. What’s kept me going is knowing that this work isn’t just innovative; it’s deeply personal. Because behind every Hope Booth is a person who needs to hear, “You are not alone. You are seen.”
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m the founder of Hope Booth, a nonprofit that exists to make mental health support radically accessible, especially for people who often feel unseen. We design evidence based immersive, interactive installations using remodeled telephone booths that go beyond surface-level inspiration. They’re spaces where people can pause, breathe, and hear words that speak directly to their soul. Each Hope Booth experience is created with the goal of disarming someone in pain and reminding them they’re not alone all while connecting them to life changing support and help within the community.
My work lives at the intersection of innovation, empathy, and faith. I specialize in storytelling through immersive design and strategic brand-building that doesn’t just look good. It feels like a warm hug. I’m known for creating things that are bold yet gentle, joyful yet deep; activating all 5 senses.
What I’m most proud of? Honestly, it’s hearing someone say, “That Booth saved my life,” or, “I’ve never felt seen like that before.” or the mom who emailed me to tell me that her son who can’t afford therapy or traditional mental health care walks to a local Hope Booth in Atlanta and that has been keeping him alive. No award or metric could ever top that.
What sets us apart is that we don’t wait for people to come to us, we go to them. Our installations show up in jails, shelters, schools, and street corners. We refuse to be passive about people’s pain. And we don’t use shame or fear as motivators; we lead with hope, dignity, and beauty.
Hope Booth isn’t just a nonprofit. It’s a movement. It’s proof that being seen can be healing and that creative solutions can meet even the deepest human needs.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk, to me, is deeply tied to obedience. I don’t take risks just for the sake of being bold. I take them when I know they’re backed by purpose. Starting Hope Booth was one of the biggest risks of my life. I stepped away from security and predictability to pursue something that didn’t exist yet, an idea that felt impossible at times. There was no blueprint, no promise it would “work,” and I had to lead with vision when all I had was a burden and a conviction.
We launched the first Hope Booth with no massive budget, no big name partnerships, just a deep belief that people needed to be reminded they were seen. Financially, emotionally, spiritually; it was a risk. And yet, every time I leaned into the unknown, provision met me there.
I’ve learned that sometimes risk isn’t loud. It can look like continuing when it would be easier to quit. It can be releasing control, trusting the vision when outcomes are blurry, or being willing to fail in front of people.
I may not always feel like a risk-taker, but I’ve come to see that walking in faith often looks like walking in risk. And I’d rather risk obedience than live with the regret of playing it safe.
Pricing:
- Sponsoring a Hope Booth installation ranges from $15k – $25k
- People interested in being a monthly donor and joining The Movement can give as little as $5/month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hopebooth.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehopebooth/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehopebooths/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-hope-booth/?viewAsMember=true
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thehopebooth
