EMPOWER at-risk youth to dream beyond their circumstances and excel despite their disadvantages
OUR STORY
Deliver Hope is a central Arkansas-based, non-profit organization with a passion to help teens see themselves the way God sees them.
​
Emotional and relational chaos, dangerous choices and emptiness are plaguing the lives of at-risk youth in our communities. Through relentless pursuit, we exist to empower those young people to dream beyond their circumstances and excel despite their disadvantages.
​
2013
DELIVER HOPE WAS FOUNDED BY
DANIEL TYLER
Countless
LIVES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED
78%
REDUCTION IN JUVENILE INCARCERATION
Bridging the Gap
OUR TEAM
Ryan Long
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ryan was a member of the Deliver Hope Board of Directors from 2021-2023, and is currently the Associate Pastor at the Church Alive, where his family has served for the past forty years. He brings with him a wealth of ministry leadership experience and has a deep-rooted passion for making a positive impact on the lives of young people in Central Arkansas.
​
As the executive director, Ryan is responsible for overseeing the organization's day-to-day operations, expanding outreach initiatives, and furthering collaborations with key partners. His vision for Deliver Hope comes with a strong drive to see a beautiful impact in the lives of at risk teens.
He enjoys spending time with his wife Whitney and son Harrison. When the weather permits, he is out on the golf court sharpening his golf skills!
​
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Kayla Plante
Kayla first started at Deliver Hope in 2016 as the office admin, otherwise known as the "office-catch-all". Initially, she did not have working with teenagers on her mind, but
as she slowly started volunteering additional time in programming she fell in love with serving hurting young people. Like most staff at Deliver Hope, she is involved in whatever needs to happen whether that's case management, forming program curriculum, or training interns.
In her spare time she is an outdoor enthusiast (minus the mosquitos), tries to cook
new vegetarian recipes (the ones she doesn't accidentally burn), is an avid reader, and keeps all of Conway's local coffeeshops in business with frequent visits. She has been married to Hunter Plante since 2018, they have a daughter named Mikaylah, and 3 dogs + two cats!
"There's no greater satisfaction to me than seeing a young person start to believe, sometimes for the 1st time, the mantra we recite every week...that they matter, that
they have a purpose, and that they are not alone. Every day, at Deliver Hope we get
to instill that type of HOPE. I can't imagine loving a job more."
REFERRAL COORDINATOR
Laura Carter
Laura joined Deliver Hope as a volunteer in 2015. She started out meeting with the girls in jail and soon fell in love with the heart of Deliver Hope and the students it serves.
Laura graduated from UCA in 2017 (Go Bears) and joined Deliver Hope full-time. For many years, if you would have asked Laura her job title she would have just told you,
“I handle all things girls.” That role has changed over the years, but she still enjoys learning beside teenage mothers, and losing basketball games each week during group mentoring.
If you know Laura at all, you have probably seen her shed a tear (or 10). She feels ALL feelings strong and is passionate about her job. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her sweet husband Aaron and trying to keep up with their son Krew and daughter Maisyn.
“The students we serve are worth every minute we get to spend with them. They are resilient, tender-hearted, and witty. Although they can sometimes make poor choices,
I believe that they deserve the opportunity to put their guards down and be a kid.”
YOUTH ADVOCATE
Jordan Saxion
Jordan is a Conway native and graduated from UCA in 2018 with an Art Education degree. After teaching high school art for two years, she decided to stop teaching and obtained her Masters degree in Visual Art at UALR. During this period of being a student again, Jordan felt that "there was something missing" so she started mentoring at Deliver Hope in 2022. She discovered that serving youth in this way was her purpose and was hired on staff in 2023!
​
You can find Jordan at the Juvenile Detention Center every Wednesday doing Chapel with the kids, where she enjoys planning fun and interactive ways to teach youth about The Gospel. Her goal is to make them feel seen and provide encouragement to maintain endurance through life's hardships.
​
She loves spending time with her husband Zach and cat Lillie, as well as, reading and working in her yard!
​
​
YOUTH ADVOCATE
Ja'Colby Easter
Born and raised in Buckner Arkansas, Ja'Colby is a proud graduate of Lafayette County High School in Stamps Arkansas. He furthered his education by earning a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from UCA.
Ja'Colby was lead to Deliver Hope by his motivation for improving the wellness and education of underprivileged youth, and is committed to make a positive difference in the lives of disadvantaged young people. Alongside his academic pursuits, Ja'Colby enjoys reading, sports, and is a published author.
.jpg)
YOUTH ADVOCATE
Ellie Leggett
Ellie proudly supports the Bears, having graduated from UCA with a BA in Linguistics. Following her undergraduate studies, Ellie and her husband, Josh, embarked on an adventurous move to Alaska, dedicating their time to a church planting ministry in remote villages.
​
Returning to Arkansas to further their education and be closer to family, Ellie’s heart has always been drawn towards supporting students. Her journey with Deliver Hope began in 2021 as an intern and mentor. Her goal is to provide a supportive and encouraging environment, helping students navigate the complexities of life with resilience and hope.
​
When not mentoring, Ellie finds joy in mountain biking, relaxing in her hammock, and enjoying walks with her sister, Emma.
