A Day in the Life at Center for Hope
Center for Hope’s A Day in the Life series highlights the dedicated professionals who support individuals and families affected by trauma, violence and loss. Center for Hope (CFH) serves as a beacon for those facing difficult times, offering essential advocacy, counseling and resources. In this series, we explore the work and perspectives of the team members who contribute to CFH’s mission every day.
Today, we meet AJ Moore, the community violence intervention (CVI) operations coordinator at Center for Hope. AJ helps ensure the seamless operation of several Safe Streets sites and hospital-based violence intervention programs. By coordinating communication, managing logistics and supporting leadership teams, she plays a vital role in helping CFH teams serve communities effectively every day.
Q1. Who are you, and what do you do at Center for Hope?
A. I'm that woman who gets things done, no matter what.
I go by AJ at work, but I'm also known as Lina or Qween (with a W). I bring authenticity, leadership and real-life experience into everything I do.
I was born in New York City, where my family is from, and I also grew up in Baltimore. My grandparents on my mother's side are Jamaican, and that cultural foundation is a big part of who I am.
Growing up in New York and Baltimore, I always made my own family. My friends became cousins, and as an adult, those same connections became my sisters and brothers. That sense of chosen family is at the core of how I move in life and in my work.
I was raised in a two-parent household with my mother and father married—something very different from what I saw around me. With siblings 10 and 13 years older than me, it was mostly just me and my parents. Yes, I'm the baby! That experience made me mature early and taught me structure, responsibility and stability.
I'm a proud member of the LGBTQ family, a wife, a mother and a grandmother. These roles ground me and shape how I show up every single day.
With nearly 17 years at LifeBridge Health, I've built a reputation for being reliable, solution-driven and someone people can always count on.
As a CVI Operations Coordinator, I am the backbone of daily operations. I:
- Keep programs running smoothly across six Safe Streets sites and Violence Response Teams at Sinai Hospital and Grace Medical Center
- Coordinate communication between leadership, staff and hospital teams
- Manage logistics, schedules and operational needs
- Support leadership with execution and follow-through
- Solve problems in real time
- Ensure accountability and organization across the board
I don't just coordinate operations. I make the system work.
Q2. What does "hope" mean to you in the context of your role?
A. Hope, to me, comes from how I was raised and what I've seen.
It's knowing what's possible because I've lived it. It's believing in stability, even when everything around you may look different.
Hope means:
- Believing in something better
- Carrying values that guide you
- Being an example of what's possible
- Giving people something real to hold onto
Hope isn't just something I feel—it's something I give through how I show up every day.
Q3. What's the most rewarding part of your day?
A. The most rewarding part of my day is knowing that something I did made things easier for someone else.
Whether it's solving a problem, supporting staff or making sure everything runs smoothly, I take pride in being the one who helps things come together.
I may not always be in the spotlight, but I know I play a key role behind the scenes, and that matters.
Beyond the work, it's the relationships—the check-ins, the laughs, the support. That family environment is everything.
Q4. What would you say to someone who is interested in joining your team?
A. This work is not for everybody, but if it's for you, it will change your life.
This is purpose-driven work. It takes heart, consistency and commitment.
So, come:
- Ready to work
- Ready to learn
- Ready to be consistent
- Ready to care
Because the people we serve don't need perfect—they need real.