About Us
Transforming Lives in Suffolk
We exist to empower people to flourish in all of their relationships – including their relationship with nature! We hire teenage interns to work on our organic farm. We sell the produce to our dynamite customers. We pay our interns and provide them with training, resources, connections and support through our stellar volunteer team.
Created to Serve Our Local Community
Hope for Suffolk was founded in 2010 as a community development initiative to assist families in crisis. Over the years, we have evolved into a youth development organization that has 2 components: (1) a paid internship and (2) training in life skills. Over 50 high school interns work on our organic vegetable farm and learn first-hand how to thrive, not just in the workplace but in life. The internships is 8 months and we work intensively with our teens to set and achieve goals, develop relationships and learn skills that will serve them throughout life.
We are explicitly Christian and teach from a biblical point of view, although our teenage interns are not required to be Christians.
We cater to youth who often lack access to opportunities.
We work with teens but support the whole family.
We have academic scholarships, college internships, volunteer & community service opportunities, leadership development opportunities and an amazing Harvest Festival that the teens put on.
In order to pay these amazing teenagers, we sell the organic produce they grow in a “CSA” (Community Supported Agriculture) or “Farm Shares.”
Our Mission
Our Vision
Our Purpose
Our Values
- Relationships: People are relational beings with 4 key relationships: with God, others, ourselves and creation. These relationships are of utmost importance.
- Reconciliation: Reconciliation is about making wrong things right. We believe that relationships are essential but are often distorted and in need of reconciliation.
- Access to opportunities: All people should have access to opportunities. We strive to make all of our services accessible to as many people possible by having extremely low barriers to entry and making necessary adjustments to accommodate differences.
- Participation: We are all participants in the process of community development, reconciliation, and transformation.
- Holism: We are whole people and so the physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, and relational aspects of ourselves are all intertwined and important.
- Integrity: Integrity results in behavior that reduces distortion in relationships, promotes a healthy conscience, reduces the need for reconciliation, and fosters an environment where transformation can occur and true leadership can be cultivated.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement
Adopted 12/17/25
Tagline: We believe growth happens when every voice has a place at the table. At Hope for Suffolk, diversity is celebrated, equity is pursued, and inclusion is lived out daily.
At Hope for Suffolk, we believe every young person carries inherent dignity, potential, and purpose. Our mission is only possible when every person feels seen, welcomed, and valued.
We are committed to building a community where diversity is celebrated, equity is actively pursued, and inclusion is practiced every day.
This means:
- Creating a place of belonging where teenagers and adults of all races, ethnicities, genders, faith backgrounds, abilities, and identities feel safe and respected.
- Ensuring equitable access to meaningful work opportunities, leadership development, and resources that support the well-being and success of each intern.
- Addressing barriers—social, economic, relational, and systemic—that disproportionately affect the youth and families we serve.
- Listening deeply to the lived experiences of our interns, families, volunteers, and partners as a source of learning, improvement, and accountability.
- Cultivating shared leadership where diverse voices shape decisions, strengthen our programs, and guide our mission forward.
- Modeling empathy, humility, and hospitality—the roots of a community where every person can grow and thrive.
Hope for Suffolk is committed to continually learning, adapting, and taking actionable steps to ensure that our organization reflects the just, compassionate, and thriving community we seek to build.
Staff
- Tristen Giezey, Executive Director, tgiezey@hopeforsuffolk.org
- Nyasia Johnson, Program Manager, nyasia@hopeforsuffolk.org
- Pete Nairn, Farm Manager
- Laurette Benefield, Farm Manager, laurettegrace@hopeforsuffolk.org
Board of Directors
- Crystal Artis
- Wes Barnes, Treasurer
- Hayden Blythe, hayden@hopeforsuffolk.org
- Tom Brown
- Brett Carl
- Jeff Davies, President
- ChiNiese Williams
- Bethany Leung
Get Involved
Find out how you can help make a difference in the life of young men and women in Suffolk today.
Email Us
Call Us
757-945-6991
Visit Us
3488 Godwin Blvd.,
Suffolk, VA