Hope Academy is excited to announce new funding from the Lilly Endowment Lead Forward Initiative, supporting the next chapter of our occupational therapy (OT) and after-school programming. This grant allows us to integrate hands-on creative technology—like 3D printing and Cricut design tools—into recovery-centered activities that nurture student growth, identity, and skill-building.
Led by Johnna Belkiewitz, Hope Academy’s occupational therapist and a 2014 Lilly Endowment Community Fellow, this initiative blends art, innovation, and therapeutic support to help students explore their strengths in new ways.
Students will have opportunities to design and create personal projects all while developing executive functioning, problem-solving, and goal-setting skills.
“One of the most powerful parts of this project is how it helps students reconnect with their own bodies and build a sense of agency,” says Belkiewitz. “When they create something with intention—whether it’s a personalized design or a 3D object—they’re learning to sit with discomfort, express emotion, and explore who they are beyond their past. It’s more than just crafting—it’s a way to build regulation, confidence, and connection in a tangible, healing way.”
For teens in recovery, engaging in meaningful, hands-on work is deeply therapeutic. This project supports the OT department’s mission to help students reconnect with their bodies, emotions, and goals through structured activities that build confidence and connection.
In addition to OT integration, the new equipment will be used in Hope Academy’s Guiding Paths to Success (GPS) after-school program, giving students even more opportunities to discover new interests, build community, and practice wellness skills in a safe, supportive environment.
This innovative project builds on the strong foundation of Hope’s occupational therapy program. To learn more about how OT is supporting students’ emotional regulation, identity development, and academic growth, visit our Occupational Therapy at Hope Academy blog.