It takes a sly sense of humor to title a concert “Affirmations: A Musical Journey of Hope and Aspiration” — and then open it with Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to the sardonic, optimism ...

Executive Director Cheryl Czach enjoys the Affirmations 35th Anniversary Gala. Courtesy photo “We should all be proud of Affirmations, as an organization and as all of us as individuals,” Garcia says.

The hope is to share a tool for teachers that could serve as reminders of the good in themselves and in their profession. The work I do matters. I empower my students.

Katie Piper talks hope, ... Sharing affirmations through a different medium would help reach more people because some aren’t active on social media or prefer to read from the pages of a book.