Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
L. Trenton Marsh, Ph.D., shares how a community tragedy reshaped his role as a researcher and led to the creation of H.O.P.E. — the Healing Oasis for Peace and Empowerment. After the unexpected death of a youth participant, he and his team paused their research to hold listening sessions that surfaced the community’s most urgent needs.
From those conversations, H.O.P.E. was born — a weekly youth-led program at the Boys & Girls Club focused on healing, empowerment, and building skills in conflict resolution and teamwork. This project demonstrates how responsive, community-engaged research at UCF Downtown can transform grief into resilience and leadership.
Follow UCF on social!
Instagram: instagram.com/ucf.edu
Facebook: facebook.com/UCF
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/school/university-of-central-florida
X: twitter.com/UCF
L. Trenton Marsh, Ph.D., shares how a community tragedy reshaped his role as a researcher and led to the creation of H.O.P.E. — the Healing Oasis for Peace and Empowerment. After the unexpected death of a youth participant, he and his team paused their research to hold listening sessions that surfaced the community’s most urgent needs.
From those conversations, H.O.P.E. was born — a weekly youth-led program at the Boys & Girls Club focused on healing, empowerment, and building skills in conflict resolution and teamwork. This project demonstrates how responsive, community-engaged research at UCF Downtown can transform grief into resilience and leadership.
Follow UCF on social!
Instagram: instagram.com/ucf.edu
Facebook: facebook.com/UCF
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/school/university-of-central-florida
X: twitter.com/UCF
