Hope Lyzette Newton
Hope Lyzette Newton is a highly motivated advocate, certified professional coach, and recognized Lived Experience Expert with over 15 years of personal and professional experience in child welfare, domestic violence advocacy, criminal justice reform, and education. Based in New York City, she has navigated complex systems as an impacted parent and domestic violence survivor, leveraging these experiences to empower others. Hope is known for her ability to translate lived experience into actionable insights, supporting parents and communities in building resilience, healing, and self-advocacy.
Throughout her career, Hope has held influential roles in organizations such as Families Together in New York State, the Redlich Horwitz Foundation, and the Center for Family Representation. She has organized statewide initiatives, including the first New York State Lived Experience Expert Retreat, which brought together impacted individuals for healing-centered advocacy. Her work emphasizes trauma-informed, family-centered approaches and strategic coalition building to connect grassroots communities with policymakers, fostering systemic change.
In addition to her advocacy and policy work, Hope is a certified professional coach and creator of the “Coaching Path to Transformation” program, guiding parents and impacted populations toward self-awareness, confidence, and sustainable personal and professional success. She has been recognized for her contributions with awards such as the Presidential Award for Community Service and the Tender Steps of New York Award. Hope continues to inspire and lead with a commitment to justice, healing, and meaningful integration of lived experience into systemic reform.
• Certified Professional Coach
• Bradley University - BS
• Presidential Award for Community Service
• Tender Steps of New York Award (2023)
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my lived experiences, deep self-awareness, and my ability to turn challenges into purpose. I believe my strength comes from balancing healing and advocacy—knowing when to drive systems forward and when to pause to care for the people affected by them.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to know my non-negotiables. When I clearly understand my values and boundaries, I can navigate any system effectively without compromising who I am.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is that your lived experience is not a liability—it is an asset. Take the time to learn the system, prioritize your healing, and never wait for permission to take up space. Your voice belongs at the table.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest challenges in my field is ensuring that systems do not exploit lived experience without also supporting healing. At the same time, the biggest opportunity lies in authentically integrating impacted individuals into policy, leadership, and program design in ways that create sustainable, humane change.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are authenticity, integrity, compassion, accountability, and community. I prioritize truth-telling, creating space for healing, and ensuring that impacted voices are not only heard but genuinely respected and integrated into decision-making.
Locations
Families Together in New York State
Bronx, NY 10451