Our History

The Story of HOPS

Humans of Public Service (HOPS) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that shares stories of public servants on social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Instagram. We aim to increase diversity in government through leadership and career development opportunities and create a community of public servants across the country.

Humans of Public Service (HOPS) empowers current and future public servants to build satisfying careers that benefit the collective good through celebration, education, and exploration.

Humans of public service
Unique stories
180
Unique stories from diverse backgrounds
Social media
600k
Impressions across social media
States and territories
29
States and territories represented
"We exist to change the narrative around government work by putting the heart and soul of public servants on full display.”
Brian Whittaker, Founder

Guiding Values That Define Us

Our values shape our identity and guide our actions every day. They reflect our commitment to integrity, collaboration, and innovation in all that we do.
Belonging

Belonging

We create psychologically safe spaces for people to be their authentic selves; where their identity is recognized and accepted.
Creativity

Creativity

There are many ways to solve a challenge. When one door closes, call a friend to unlock another one.
Empathy

Empathy

We are all human. We are caretakers, parents, students, and pet owners. We have visible and hidden disabilities. We recognize the human first, in all that we do.
Empowering

Empowering

We support others through the sharing of information, connections, and opportunities.
Equity

Equity

We make a positive impact by supporting those with the greatest need. We welcome, encourage, and celebrate those who are often unseen.
Brian Whittaker
Meet Our Founder
Brian Whittaker, Founder

Brian is an Afro-Latino tech leader who is passionate about creating a more equitable and representative government. While starting his career in the private sector, Brian quickly followed in the footsteps of his family (teacher, nurse, and police officer) and joined the public service.

While working in the federal government, Brian has led organizations that prioritize using technology to improve services for the public. His project catalog includes a variety of projects ranging from improving the farm loan application process to revamping the online submission and processing of civil rights claims. 

Albani Brown

(She/Her)
Washington, DC

Ava Lehner

(She/Her)
New York, NY

Beth A. Martin

(She/Her)
Washington, DC

Briana Coleman

(She/Her)
Washington, DC

Elliot Flowers

(They/Them)
Bangor, ME

Emilia Navarro

(She/Her)
Denver, CO

Erika Gianni

She/Her
Boston, MA

Jen Tress

She/Her
Washington, DC

Liz DeBiase

(They/She)
Reston, VA

Mary Keith Trawick

(She/Her)
Austin, TX

Michael Jovel

He/Him
Hagerstown, MD

Advisory Board

Kim Oswalt

(She/Her)
St Louis, MO

Kirsten Wyatt

(She/Her)
Portland, OR

Steph Mace

(She/Her)
Washington, DC

Megan Uhrich

(She/Her)
Alexandria, VA

Board of Directors

Marlena Medford

(She/Her)
San Diego, CA

Triveni Patel

(She/Her)
Washington, DC

Rebecca Casey

(She/Her)
Providence, RI

Empowering Our Path to Impact

With your support, we can significantly enhance our efforts to empower both current and future public servants. Together, we can achieve more, fostering a vibrant community committed to public service and sharing the positive sides of government.