One Church. One City. One Purpose.
One Church
The Church Has Left the Building
Our movement began in 2015 when over 30 Kenosha churches worked together at a Convoy of Hope event. Based on our success and mutual goals, we decided to come together and work towards the collaborative purpose of restoring hope and transforming lives in our community.
This event led to multiple meetings with local Churches, government representatives, and business professionals. We listened and learned about the social and economic challenges facing our city. Throughout these meetings, we solidified and focused our collective energy in the areas of church unity, foster care, and neighborhood transformation – all areas that have been historically overlooked.
Words of Jesus
I pray that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent me.
John 17:21
I pray that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent me.
John 17:21
One City
One city. Countless ways to transform lives.
Kenosha has the potential to become a city that offers hope for today and tomorrow. Our community benefits from the family values of its small-town catholic identity, as well as the resources that come with being the third-largest city in Wisconsin.
However, Kenosha is not without its challenges. Current tensions include ethnic and racial division accompanied by high economic stress. Despite this, hope can be seen in the economic growth that comes with the development of new industries on the horizon. With unity among churches on the rise, the opportunity for gospel impact and greater hope is increasing. One thing is for certain, as the winds of unity continue to blow, the future trajectory of Kenosha has the potential to supplant the current narrative.
The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.
John 1:14
John 1:14
One Purpose
Focused on uniting, fostering and transforming communities.
1HOPE believes in the power of the Churches of Kenosha and their collective ability to unify, gather, pray, and serve together. United, we can ensure that foster children and families have the love and support they need, children are being mentored to become the next generation of leaders, and neighborhoods provide a better quality of life by transforming into safe and prosperous communities.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
Galatians 6:9
Our Team
Ray Knight
Board Chair
Ray has served as a volunteer for 1Hope for the last three years. He currently is the Advisory Board Chair, a level one volunteer for the Foster Family Support Network, and he is a Neighborhood Advocate Volunteer for the Uptown Community as part of the Neighborhood Transformation initiative. Ray also currently is the Volunteer Community Outreach Leader for the non-profit Disaster Response Team.
Academically, Ray received a Bachelor of Science degree from the St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN, and a Master’s in Business Administration from Keller School of Management.
Professionally, Ray has been working in pharmaceutical drug development for over 25 years. He currently has been with AbbVie of North Chicago for over 21 years working as a Director and Program Lead. Ray’s strengths include collaboration, leading large cross-functional teams, solving problems, communication, speaking in public and most importantly, building relationships.
Ray’s heart for this organization starts and ends with serving people in our community who are among the most vulnerable. 1HOPE provides Ray with a unique opportunity in a variety of ways to help and love on foster children and the families that care for them and to help and love on people in the community who have lost hope or who have fallen on difficult times.
Ray has lived in Kenosha for most of his life, has two beautiful kids and is enjoying learning to play the piano.
Nicole Thomsen‑Coughlin
Chief Development Officer (CDO)
Nicole Thomsen-Coughlin of Kenosha, WI, is the Executive Director of 1Hope Together, Inc. Nicole joined 1Hope following a successful track record in non-profit organizational leadership.
Prior to 1Hope, Nicole was the Executive Director at Downtown Kenosha, Inc. (DKI), where she led local economic development and revitalization efforts for the downtown business district. During Nicole’s time with DKI, she was successful in building and maintaining superior relationships with Downtown businesses, partners, sponsors, donors, civic, and governmental entities. Additionally, she successfully formed volunteer task groups, led fundraising efforts, and executed special project initiatives and campaigns which played a critical role in carrying out the downtown strategic plan. Before Nicole’s time with DKI, she served as a resource specialist with a non-profit tech company in Silicon Valley, One Degree. One Degree helps bridge the way out of poverty for low-income families by providing access to information on social services. In addition to her professional experience, Nicole serves as a volunteer leader at Brass Elementary School for Crossroads Kids’ Club.
Nicole earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. During her time at UW-Parkside, she had the opportunity to compete in the Russ Berrie National Sales Competition, taking 1stplace in role plays and 3rd overall. Before studying business, Nicole was enrolled for three years in a nursing program and worked as an OB Tech at the Columbia Center Birth Hospital where she assisted patients in the delivery room. She also worked at Froedtert Hospital in the Community Engagement department helping to address and meet the health, educational, and social needs of the community.
Nicole is a native to Kenosha, where she and her husband currently reside. Her strengths include interpersonal skills, the ability to be a culture change agent, developing, leading, supporting, and fostering team collaboration, and driving peak performance.
Dave Isaacson
Board of Directors, Treasurer
Dave has more than 26 years of experience providing wealth management and financial consulting services. He is skilled in portfolio and asset management, financial and market trend analysis.
As Chief Investment Officer of Schenck Investment Solutions, Dave drives the investment performance delivery model and then communicates investment results and economic trends to business partners and clients. He is responsible for managing the firm’s investment management platforms and portfolios including review of capital market expectations and strategy, manager selection and monitoring, and portfolio construction.
Dave is a polished national speaker who presents regularly on topics ranging from the economy and investment markets to the economic ramifications of current events.
Prior to joining Schenck Investment Solutions, Dave served as Wells Fargo’s Senior Investment Strategist in the Midwest and oversaw the management of $23 billion of investments under management at US Bank.
Mr. Isaacson serves as the Treasurer of 1Hope Together, a Kenosha County community oriented foundation and serves on the Christian Life School advisory committee.
Pastor Roy Peeples
Board of Directors, Neighborhood Engagement Chair
Ruth Dyson
Board of Directors, Secretary
Ruth Dyson works alongside her husband, Pastor Bobby, who leads Lively Stone Church of God in Christ in Kenosha, WI. She started Diaper Depot & More in September 2020 with the assistance of 1HOPE along with Kenosha and the surrounding areas.
Ruth was born and raised in Kenosha and still resides in the house her parents purchased. Her first husband was in the military which allowed her to travel the U.S. Ruth had seven siblings where she is the sixth. Two brothers passed away, one in infancy. She has been married to Pastor Bobby for 18 years and between the two they have seven children and 13 grandchildren.
Ruth was taught to give back to the community while watching her parents, Horace and Rubenia Booth. Both were very active in the community and served the community as presidents of the NAACP, CYC Board members and her mom as a volunteer driver for Aging and Disability. Her grandmother Henrietta Hives, was the first black owned Rooming House/restaurant in Kenosha, WI. Ruth was elected as the first black female on the Kenosha County Board where she served two terms. She is also a five-year kidney cancer survivor.
Susan Wimmer
Foster Family Support Network Manager
Susan Wimmer has resided in Kenosha County for the past eighteen years with her husband Mike and they have two grown sons and a daughter-in-law.
Susan was raised in a Christian home and has been a Christ-follower her whole life. She has been a military wife, a pastor’s wife, and mother to her two adopted sons and a foster son. She has worked in the corporate world as well as volunteered in various ministries.
Susan co-found and led a health food co-op in her neighborhood before healthy options were available at the grocery store. She led a home educators’ co-op consisting of twenty-six families totaling one hundred and thirty people and led the monthly home educators’ support group. She led a women’s ministry team for a mid-sized church in Illinois for several years and was a retreat and event speaker for women’s groups as well as leading multiple Bible study groups. Most currently she has been the ministry lead for the Foster Family Support Network at Journey Church.
Susan has completed several years of a business degree from DePaul University and is currently continuing her education through Liberty University Online.
Sydney Riggs
Head of Digital Media Strategy – Volunteer
Trina Edwards of Franklin, WI, is currently fulfilling an internship position at 1HOPE while working toward her degree in social work.
Trina is a current student at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) where she will be completing her Associate Degree in Human Services in the Spring of 2021. Directly following the completion of her degree, Trina will transfer into the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Social Work program where she plans to complete her bachelor’s degree, and eventually, her master’s degree as well.
Trina’s specific career interests include adoption and foster care. She advocates for child welfare and recognizes the beauty of adoption. Trina serves as a volunteer lead facilitator of a support group for women who have placed a child for adoption. Additionally, she also served as a volunteer for a non-profit organization called the Inner Beauty Center, which serves the Milwaukee community by providing support for women who are sexually exploited.
During her internship with 1HOPE, Trina looks forward to utilizing her knowledge and skills in human services – as well as her passion for helping others – in order to serve 1HOPE’s mission in transforming the community.
Our Sponsors
