Empower • Educate • Support
Turning Awareness into Action!
Our Mission:
To empower, educate, and support families, individuals, and our community when facing mental health challenges.
Our Vision:
A compassionate, stigma-free community where every person feels seen, supported, and capable of hope.
How Our Work Aligns with Our Mission, Vision, and Core Values
Everything HOPE with IAN does is rooted in our mission to empower, educate, and support families, individuals, and our community facing mental-health challenges.Each program, partnership, and conversation is designed to move that mission from intention into action!
Mission in
Action
Empowerment: We offer tools, workshops, and peer-to-peer programs that build confidence and self-advocacy.
Education: Our trainings and community presentations increase understanding of mental health, emotional regulation, and available resources.
Support: We create safe, stigma-free spaces, both in person and online, where people can connect, share, and find help.
Vision in Motion
We build a compassionate, stigma-free community where every person feels seen, supported, and capable of hope, guides how we design outreach, select partners, and measure success. Every activity is intended to reduce isolation, normalize help-seeking, and strengthen community resilience!
Compassion: We lead with empathy and respect for every story.
Connection: We build bridges between individuals, families, schools, and service providers.
Awareness: We foster open dialogue and education to replace stigma with understanding.
Empowerment: We help people recognize their own strength and capacity to thrive.
Together, these elements ensure that HOPE with I.A.N. doesn’t just talk about change, we turn awareness into action and help our community grow stronger, one conversation at a time.
Core Values at Work
Formed in loving memory of Ian Strain, HOPE with IAN was founded to transform loss into leadership and compassion into action. Guided by a board deeply rooted in both personal experience and professional expertise, the organization is dedicated to creating a community where every individual, especially youth, has access to education, connection, and hope.
Board of Directors
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Lauri Strain
Founder & President
Lauri co-founded HOPE with IAN with her husband, Jim, in loving memory of their son, Ian, whose life was lost to mental illness. A respected community leader and broker of Attune Real Estate, Lauri channels her personal experience and deep compassion into building programs that promote awareness, education, and early intervention for youth and families across San Luis Obispo County.
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Jim Strain
Vice President
Co-founded HOPE with IAN with his wife, Lauri, after the tragic loss of their son, Ian. His steady leadership and commitment to family-based prevention guide the organization’s mission to help others find hope and healing. With a background in property management and community operations, Jim supports outreach and infrastructure for long-term sustainability.
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Sonja Orton
Secretary / Treasurer
Sonja brings nonprofit and administrative expertise from her work with CASA of San Luis Obispo County, where she supports programs advocating for foster youth. As HOPE with IAN’s Secretary and Treasurer, she ensures financial accountability and board compliance while championing youth empowerment and mental-health awareness.
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Simon Orton
Board Member
Simon is an IT Project Manager with more than 20 years of technology leadership, currently with the Environmental Defense Fund. He donates his time and technical expertise to manage HOPE with IAN’s website and digital systems and also serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Having known Ian and the Strain family personally, Simon brings both professional skill and heartfelt commitment to the board’s mission.
Contact us
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