About.

Unconditional positive regard 
For a person to "grow", they need an environment that provides them with genuineness (openness and self-disclosure), acceptance (being seen with unconditional positive regard), and empathy (being listened to and understood).  Without these, relationships and healthy personalities will not develop as they should, much like a tree will not grow without sunlight and water."  -Carl Rogers, 1959

Founded in 2006

Builders of Hope was founded in 2006 as a Supported Community Living  Program and Mental Health Care Provider. 

Builders of Hope was inspired from the foundation of the inner innate desire in to seek, discover, and embody balance, well-being and wellness.  To gravitate towards and nurture the whole person; physical, mental, emotional, and purposeful self.  

While cultivating the whole person towards optimal health and balance; achieving a foundation in stability and personal sustainability, self acceptance, and the tools for self empowerment and development.  

Builders of Hope has been built on a heart centered family service oriented organization.  We are a collective team of between 15 and 20 employees who are invested in the purpose and passion of serving others and making a positive difference in people's lives, and in the world.   

Our Dedication

Builders of Hope is dedicated to providing recognizable  transformational services to each unique client and the whole community.  ​

​Our Team members are carefully selected based upon their commitment to the Builders of Hope philosophy and mission, and their own individual creativity and vision that they can positively share within the Builders of Hope community. 

Upon Choosing Builders of Hope as your Mental Health Provider, you will discover a unique and compassionate organization with professional staff.  Together we will develop an individualized program, meaning to you, that address your physical, mental, and emotional needs.  Time is carefully spend building a sense of trust and getting to know you.  Through Trust, compassion, education, creativity, and awareness, we co-create an environment that allows for a positive experience and the necessary tools to succeed with your life's vision for yourself.  

Meet Some of Our Team

We Care To Serve YOU!

Heather Weber
Executive Director/Co-Founder

 Heather Weber discovered her desire to work with others in developing and recognizing their strengths, abilities, and quality for life after pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1997. During this time and thereafter, Heather worked at several community social service agencies that allowed her many years of experience in working with multiple populations of individuals with varying age ranges from teenagers to late adulthood that were challenged with various mental health diagnosis, conditions, and disabilities. This passion led Heather to embark upon the path of the healing and integrative arts field over the past decades, since graduating from East-wind Healing and Massage Therapy School of Iowa City, Iowa in 2000 Read More
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Jerry Springer
Director of Program Operations

Jerry began his journey in the mental health field with Systems Unlimited in Iowa City, IA while attending school at the University of Iowa. In 2005, after obtaining a degree in Leisure Studies with an Emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation, Jerry discovered his passion for working with people with chronic mental health conditions with Life Skills in Iowa City, IA. Jerry provided Supported Community Living Services to people in their homes.
In 2008, Jerry began working for a Residential Care Facility called Chatham Oaks that works with adults with Mental Health conditions and he facilitated the processes to gain the necessary skills to move out into the community to a lower level of care. Read More

Joshua Weber
​​Clinical Director/Founder

 In 1999, after obtaining a degree in Cultural Anthropology at the University of Iowa , Joshua traveled abroad to study in Guatemala and discovered a passion for helping individuals who were in a state of poverty and circumstantial challenge. Following this experience in 2002, Joshua visited Haiti, once again witnessing a great magnitude of poverty and suffering. It was in Haiti that Joshua recognized the universal nature of the human condition. These experiences led Joshua to the calling of service and Karma yoga. Since 2002, Joshua embarked upon his journey working in the social service field providing services to adults and teenagers with chronic mental health and behavioral disorders in Iowa City, Iowa.  Read More


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Jenny McCaslin 
Direct Care Wellness Counselor III
I went to college at the University of Northern Iowa and in 2005 received a Bachelors Degree in Social Work. I choose social work because I have always had a desire in helping people in need. While at college, I did an internship at a crisis agency called East Side Ministerial Alliance. I was an Outreach Worker that assisted individuals that had  "fallen through the cracks." It was a rewarding job training and I learned so much from that 1st experience in the field. After I graduated college, I worked at Systems Unlimited for five years. Read More
Florence Ejiwale BBA, LSBW, QPRP 
​Direct Care Wellness Counselor III 

Before joining Builders of Hope, Florence served as the Executive Director of Social Outreach Services in Iowa City from 2012-2019. Florence has worked in the human services field for over 30 years, in a variety of jobs and many differing roles with varied populations.  Florence also was a grade school teacher and an instructor of Instructional Program at the State of Iowa Medical Classification Facility at Oakdale. Florence provided instruction in the following areas: Marriage and Parenting, Anger Management, Communication, and Social skills. Florence is an Evaluation Consultant. Read More
Mary Helen Kennerly
Direct Care Wellness Counselor III
After completing her Master of Fine Arts in nonfiction writing at the University of Iowa in 2012, Mary Helen took what she thought would be a temporary job at Systems Unlimited and fell in love with the helping profession.  She worked as an Activity Leader there for 7 years before joining the Builders team in May 2019.  Mary Helen still writes when she can.  She enjoys people, period, and swing dancing.

Nicole Smith
Direct Care Wellness Counselor II

Born and raised in Minnesota,  I graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2017 and earned degrees in both criminology and psychology. I found my passion for helping others while working for REM Arrowhead, a branch of The Mentor Network. I spent two years with REM serving a diverse community of individuals with mental illnesses, developmental and intellectual disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). I enjoy learning about each individuals’ unique story and sharing experiences with others. I have pursued other types of careers and always find myself back in social work. I am lucky to have found Builders of Hope and look forward to serving those within the community." 

Phet Sadakhom
Direct Care Wellness Counselor III

I came here from Laos, became US citizen in the 90’s then graduated from University Of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts Degree.  I worked with Juvenile Probation for 12 years. Prior to Builders of Hope in 2019, I worked with SOS Social Services in Iowa City and worked there with people with mental health conditions.  

Kasey Hoyer
Direct Care Wellness Counselor I

I am an Iowa girl, born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and then moved to Iowa City when I was in elementary school. I come from a close knit family with a brother and two sisters who live in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids areas. My nieces and nephews keep my heart full and remind me how blessed I am while being single and no children of my own. 
​I have lived in this area most of my life with some traveling and short stays in various states, for my career in the occupational therapy field. I graduated from Kirkwood Community College, with an Associates degree specializing in Occupational Therapy Assistant.
This career started much later in my life, 2011-2017. I still hold my national certification and Iowa license to practice.  Read More


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Kevin Morgan
​Direct Care Wellness Counselor II

Kevin was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa and earned a degree from Des Moines Area community college.  He started his journey working in the mental health field with families inc out of West Branch, Iowa for 2 years. Kevin has worked with children and adults in this field and enjoys working with a diverse population. In 2019, Kevin joined the Builders of Hope team and has a passion for direct care support. Kevin has pursued a few different careers, but finds himself doing social work because he enjoys helping others in need.
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Working Together

Collaboration for Growth 

Ryan Shwartz
Direct Care Wellness Counselor III

Ryan began his voyage in the social services field in year 2000, working at Systems Unlimited in Iowa City, IA. After obtaining a degree in Therapeutic Recreation in 2003, Ryan discovered his passion for working with adults in the mental health field. At Pathway Living Center in Clinton, IA, Ryan provided supported community living services to people in their homes and the community. In 2012, Ryan met his wife and relocated out to Monterey, CA to continue his career as a mental health professional. Read More
GENERATING AWARENESS
​FOCUS & STABILITY
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CONNECTION
SOCIAL INTEGRATION
COMPASSIONATE SUPPORT
​ASSISTANCE
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GROWTH MINDSET
"Like a flower that will grow to its full potential if the conditions are right, but which is constrained by its environment, so people will flourish and reach their potential if their environment is good enough.  However, unlike a flower, the potential of the individual human is unique, and we are meant to develop in different ways according to our personality"  -Carl Rogers