A Conversation with New Hope Community CEO Karen Russell

On August 13, 2025, New Hope Community announced that Karen Russell, the organization’s then Chief Operating Officer, would be promoted to Chief Executive Officer.

“With over 30 years of dedicated service,” read New Hope Community’s official announcement. “Ms. Russell brings a wealth of operational expertise and unwavering dedication to the organization’s mission, vision, and values.”

Originally from Long Island, Russell was drawn to New Hope Community’s mission of enhancing the lives of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities when she first moved to Sullivan County in 1995.

“I intended to stay at New Hope for one year while I learned all about my new surroundings,” said Russell. “And I became so connected to the organization and just so much believed in what we did and what our staff did that I never left.”

Beginning as a Service Coordinator, then advancing to Quality Assurance, Corporate Compliance, and Executive Management, and then eventually rising the ranks to COO, Russell plans to dedicate a significant part of her tenure to giving staff members at New Hope Community the same career advancement that she had.

“I really want people to see how many career opportunities are here and how much assistance New Hope community will provide for you to do that,” said Russell. “And then in turn, how we can help you and your family really establish yourself, both in the organization and in years to come.”

Russell is very aware that she is stepping in to lead New Hope Community at a time when federal support for their work is scarce. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in July 2025 has significantly cut Medicaid spending and people with disabilities and community-based care centers will likely feel the impacts of these cuts the most.

Even in the face of these cuts, Russell is placing the needs of her staff and community members first in order to make it through.

“Our staff are incredibly important to us,” said Russell. “ but they have to be able to live in our community, and they have to be able to afford to live in our community. So they need the access to medical care.  It’s important that we protect the resources that we have, that we gear up for any cuts that actually do finally go through, what gets passed down from the federal share down to the state share and how we’re going to manage that.”

Image: Karen Russell’s Headshot (Photo Credit: New Hope Community Instagram)