Hope House Scholars Program

Started in 2001, each quarter Stanford instructors teach a course in the humanities to the residents of Hope House, a residential drug and alcohol treatment facility for women, many of whom have recently been incarcerated.

This collaborative effort between the Center and Stanford Continuing Studies focuses on themes such as ethics, social justice and moral responsibility. The courses allow the women of Hope House to engage in college-level coursework as part of their rehabilitation and recovery.

The Hope House Scholars Program proceeds with two main convictions: first, a liberal-arts education should be available to people of all socioeconomic backgrounds; and second, we aim to support the vocational and educational aspirations of all of the women.

Upon successful completion of a course, Stanford Continuing Studies awards each graduate with a voucher to take one of its courses in the future, free of charge.

Debra Satz' Lecture

Debra Satz, the Center's former faculty director,  gave the 2009 Miriam and Peter E. Haas Centennial Professorship Lecture on Public Service and the University. In her talk, Riches for the Poor, Satz speaks about the program. 

Roland Prize Awarded to Rob Reich and Debra Satz (2010)

Debra Satz and Rob Reich, who founded the Hope House Scholars Program, shared the 2010 Miriam Aaron Roland Volunteer Service Prize. This award, given by the Haas Center for Public Service, is presented to faculty who make significant contributions through public service and encourage their students to do the same. 

Stanford's Community Partnership Awarded to Hope House (2008)

In 2004, Stanford’s Office of Public Affairs created the Community Partnership Awards. These annual awards serve to recognize individuals and programs that have formed successful community partnerships between Stanford and its neighbors. This year, we are pleased to report that the Center's partnership with Hope House has been chosen as one of four recipients of this award. Stanford's then director…

Image of women sitting in a classroom at Hope House.

“Growth and Transformation”: Twenty Years of the Hope House Scholars Program

Since its creation in 2001, Stanford professors, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students have taught more than 80 classes to the women of Hope House. Course topics vary in themes, including “The Ethics of a Human Life,” “Estrangement in Fiction,” and “Philosophy and Social Justice.”