We are pleased to partner with Argyle Secondary School’s journalism class for another student article from Austen Eidnani.
Since 2020 Charles Tetteh-Lartey has been educating the young about racism through his non-profit organization based in Lynn Valley, HopeU. Tetteh-Lartey is the Youth Pastor at Valley Church with a passion for working with youth.
Hoping for the future
“There is no way that change can happen without conversation”, said Tetteh-Lartey from his office.
It is a cozy space with dim lighting, filled with books, and photos of friends and family. He is sharing his belief that communication is necessary for change, this ties into what HopeU is as an organization, and its message of anti-hatred.
“HopeU is not about the normal fight against racism,” said Tetteh-Lartey. “It is about equipping the next generation with tools that reveal their own biases and a fight for unity instead of hatred.”
“There is no way that change can happen without conversation” is one of the main pillars of HopeU as an organization. This belief is why Tetteh-Lartey does what he does in the community: communicating with young people in highschool, elementary school, and youth programs through workshops, seminars, and personal conversation.
The spark
Following the George Floyd incident in 2020, Tetteh-Lartey found that people close to him were often arguing about it. Should this person be celebrated? Is it right? Is it wrong?
“I think people just need to hear stories of how this can affect people close to them and how we can focus on being better in the future,” reflects Tetteh-Lartey. “I did a video on my Instagram – when I had my Instagram public – and it got a few thousand views of people just listening to me sharing my thoughts, and that’s kind of how HopeU started.”
Tetteh-Lartey was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr, one of the prominent leaders of the civil rights movement during the 1950’s – 1980’s. He was also inspired by Daryl Davis, a blues musician who converted dozens of former Ku Klux Klan members through communication and empathy.
Change is never easy
After the noise from the George Floyd incident and the Black Lives Matter movement died down, many people believed the conversation was over. This has been a struggle for Tetteh-Lartey because the conversation is not over, and people still need to be educated on the matters of racism. Running an organization mostly by yourself is extremely difficult and stressful, especially when you are neurodivergent, said Tetteh-Lartey.
“For my type of learning disabilities, it’s hard to take in information standardly,” he said. “For school, or corporate jobs usually people take in information by meetings or lectures, and it is hard for me to take in information that way and regurgitate that information.
”What I see right in front of me is the most important, so I can not do something that is in the back of my head and bring it to the front, that is especially why running a business like HopeU on the side is hard.”
Never stop hoping
HopeU offers “table talks” and workshops for children and youth. Its programs have been used in conjunction with schools. Its website offers more information on its services and videos explaining his motivation for HopeU. Tetteh-Lartey hopes that in the future if – or once – the issue of social injustice is resolved that he can transform HopeU into fundraising help for students hoping to attend or attending university or college.
For more information visit https://hopeu.ca.
Written by Austen Eidnani, Argyle Secondary student
Looking for more?
There’s always something fun and exciting happening in Lynn Valley. Check out our Community Events Calendar or learn more about Local Activities, Mountain Biking or Hiking and Walking Trails.
