People of Hope Museum to Visit the Boston Area

A one-of-a-kind storytelling initiative that highlights the transformative power of Catholic service will visit the Boston area this April, providing visitors with an immersive experience into the realities of poverty while celebrating those working to address it. 

People of Hope: Faith-Filled Stories of Neighbors Helping Neighbors is a national mobile museum launched by Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) that will at the Archdiocese of Boston Pastoral Center on Friday, April 17, located at 66 Brooks Drive in Braintree, Mass. The self-guided exhibit is free to attend and open to visitors between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Among those featured in the museum is a familiar face to the Catholic Charities Boston community. Beth Chambers, former vice president of basic needs, is one of about 40 storytellers selected from across the country to share moving video testimonials about their service at Catholic Charities. 

“The one word I can use to describe this storytelling experience is humbling,” Chambers said. “I was honored to be a part of this group while at the same time realizing something I knew long before; as a co-worker in the Catholic Charities Boston vineyard, I can honestly say that I worked with one of the best teams of social service caregivers who are committed to the mission, the values, and the ideals of what it means to be someone there for others.” 

The exhibit also features an interactive poverty simulation, giving visitors the opportunity to experience what it means to make difficult choices and live on the margins. Additionally, it will have U.S. and state-level poverty data visualizations and a recording studio where attendees can share their own stories of hope and service. 

Private group/student tours are available. For more information, please visit our website at ccab.org/people-of-hope-museum/