Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Kerr
Hi Emily, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
2011: Charleston Hope was founded by Emily Kerr after learning from her sister, a teacher in a high-poverty school, about the unmet needs of her students. Emily, then a high school senior, started the Adopt a Classroom initiative, providing holiday gifts to 40 students.
2012: While attending The College of Charleston, Emily expanded the program to reach 900 students with overwhelming community support.
Growth & Evolution: Charleston Hope evolved beyond holiday giving into a comprehensive nonprofit focused on teacher empowerment, student wellness, and academic support in Title 1 schools.
2016: Emily became the full-time Executive Director after earning a degree in Early Childhood Education. She focused efforts on Mitchell Elementary, one of Charleston County’s most underserved schools.
2022: With the support of Empower Charleston, we underwent a strategic planning process that led to a mission shift, centering our work on mental and behavioral health.
Present: Charleston Hope now provides critical mental health services through the THRIVE counseling program and Step-In Afterschool Empowerment Program, partnering with graduate-level colleges to scale services. Since April 2023, we’ve provided nearly 2,000 hours of therapy and afterschool programming, with plans to expand across the tri-county area.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not a smooth road! COVID threw a huge curveball our way, and shifting our mission afterward was a journey in itself. Financially, recovering from one-time COVID relief grants was tough, and figuring out how to sustain and grow beyond that took a lot of strategy. But through it all, our team, board of directors, and community have been incredibly supportive. Their belief in our work has kept us moving forward, and we’re stronger because of it!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At Charleston Hope, we’re all about creating lasting change in high-poverty schools by providing mental and behavioral health support. Our THRIVE counseling program brings licensed clinicians into schools to provide therapy during the school day, while our Step-In Afterschool Empowerment Program helps students build confidence and leadership skills. Since realigning our mission, we’ve provided nearly 2,000 hours of therapy and afterschool programming, and we’re just getting started.
What sets us apart? We listen first. Everything we do is based on the needs we hear directly from educators, students, and families. We don’t just bring in programs—we work with schools to fill the gaps in a way that makes sense for them.
Beyond Charleston Hope, I launched Catalyst Nonprofit Coaching to help other nonprofit leaders avoid the struggles I faced when building and growing an organization. I took everything I learned from scaling Charleston Hope and turned it into coaching, resources, and a grant writing course that empowers nonprofit founders to secure funding and build sustainable impact.
I’m most proud of the lasting impact we’ve created—not just in schools but in the nonprofit space as a whole. Helping other leaders turn their passion into real change has been just as fulfilling as the work we do with students.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
If you’re interested in Charleston Hope and the work we’re doing to provide mental and behavioral health support in high-poverty schools, visit www.charlestonhope.org.
If you’re a nonprofit leader (or know someone who is) and need a grant writing coach to help secure funding and grow your impact, check out www.catalystnonprofitcoaching.com!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.charlestonhope.org
- Instagram: charlestonhope
- Facebook: charlestonhope12
