About The Ray of Hope Project:
The Ray of Hope Project was founded by Alika Hope and Ray Morant in 2013. ROH includes 12 musicians and other performers, with the original goal of using African-American spirituals and the readings of 19th-century abolitionists to teach history and encourage dialogue around race in America. ROH now also incorporates the music and lyrics of 20th/21 st century songs as a way of creating conversations around current issues of global social justice. Engagements with schools, libraries, and museums throughout the United States have allowed ROH to collaborate with over 12,000 people. Hope for a Motherless Child, our first album was released in 2016 and won a Gold Mom’s Choice Award, a Creative Child Magazine award, and a Gold Global Music Award. In 2017 ROH released the single Oh, Freedom! to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. Oh, Freedom! was awarded a Silver Global Music Award.
About Founder and CEO Alika Hope:
Alika Hope is the founder and primary performer for the Ray of Hope Project. Alika is originally from Oregon (where she grew up immersed in nature and music). Alika earned a B.A. in sociology from The University of Notre Dame with a minor in dance from St. Mary’s College.
She received her M.A. in early childhood special education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Alika is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCLP) and holds a certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University. Alika has a variety of experiences as an educator, including working with Head Start, private and parochial schools and New York City public schools. She is a published author, an award-winning singer, and was previously a full-time faculty member for CUNY.
Alika is also a professional opera singer, a performer in children's theatre, actress, and choreographer. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, EWTN, New Yorker Magazine, Time Out NY, Opera News, and Opera Now. Alika was the co-host of "Perspective TV", which aired on ABC, Fox, and CW in Connecticut.
Alika was Ms. New England 2019, and participated in the 2019 Ms. America pageant. Her platform “The Laugh of Hope Project”, allowed her the opportunity to work in underserved communities throughout New England by spreading the importance of laughter as a vital tool for physical and mental health. Alika has also homeschooled her children for 13 years and works as a private consultant around issues of homeschooling, remote learning, and family/work balance for individuals and organizations both in the U.S. and abroad.
Ray of Hope Project Artists:
Keith Cooper
Piano
Doug Wilson, Jr.
Guitar
Lawrence V. White
Bass
Ira Sakolsky
Percussion, Actor
John Henry Langley
Guitar, Vocals