By Tracey Capers, Executive Director of The HOPE Program
I strongly encourage you to pick up Waiting for White Jesus by Cleveland Oakes. It is both inspirational and instructional — offering guidance for anyone pursuing a goal that might feel impossible because of past experiences, failures, or inertia. It provides tools for building a new narrative of hope and action while recognizing the very real structural barriers people face.
I met Cleveland in January at our annual alumni recognition event. When he introduced himself, I was struck by his confidence and warmth. I initially wondered if he might be one of our employer partners, a nonprofit collaborator, or perhaps a representative from an elected official’s office. I soon learned that he had completed our signature HOPEworks program in 2011.
Cleveland had built a diverse career, working in blue-collar roles and maintaining a longstanding position at NBC. Well into adulthood, he made the bold decision to return to college, earning a master’s degree in mental health. Ultimately, he had the courage to leave a secure career to pursue his dream of becoming a mental health counselor.
After reading Waiting for White Jesus, I am even more in awe. Cleveland brilliantly weaves together his personal story — growing up in the Sumner Houses in Brooklyn during the crack epidemic — with powerful lessons about resilience and hope. He does an incredible job acknowledging and recounting the impact of structural systems — including the legacy of redlining and disinvestment — that stack the odds against success. At the same time, he lifts up examples of community empowerment, like the tradition of sou sous and other collective resource-pooling, showing how communities create their own support systems even amid systemic challenges.
One of the many things that stands out is how beautifully he integrates messages and thoughts from scripture, mental health professionals, motivational coaches like Jack Canfield and Stephen Covey, and authors and activists such as bell hooks and W.E.B. Du Bois. These touchpoints enrich his reflections and offer a multidimensional perspective on reclaiming one’s narrative and sense of agency, even in the face of tremendous barriers.
This book is widely applicable — you will find lessons for yourself, for someone in your life who may feel stuck, and, for those working in mission-driven spaces like The HOPE Program, it is a powerful reminder of the stories people tell themselves — and what is possible when someone’s own agency and hope are harnessed and supported.
At HOPE, our vision is to replicate and multiply stories like Cleveland’s.
You can purchase Waiting for White Jesus today on Amazon!
