MY STORY

For more than 20 years, I’ve been an educator dedicated to supporting young people with diverse abilities—helping them build independence, confidence, and the practical skills to navigate life. Teaching has always been my passion, but my journey took a life-changing turn when my daughter was involved in a brutal vehicle accident.

That moment forced me to stop and reevaluate everything—my health, my habits, and how I was showing up in the world. I began making big changes: improving my diet, committing to movement and fitness, exploring mental health tools, and confronting my own addictive tendencies. That difficult season gave me a deeper understanding of resilience, healing, and the importance of community support.

Not long after, I ran into a former student who had graduated just three years earlier. I still remembered his path—from struggling with online learning during COVID, to battling anxiety attacks in the Zen Den, to slowly reintegrating into small groups, and finally walking proudly across the stage at graduation. But when I saw him sitting alone in his car in a grocery store parking lot, I barely recognized him. He told me he hadn’t left his room much since grad, had sores all over his body from being stagnant, and spent his days playing video games.

That encounter hit me hard. I couldn’t shake the thought that if I’d had a few more years with him—guiding him toward community, work, or healthy routines—he might be in a completely different place today. In that moment, the vision for Elevate Community Connections became crystal clear.

Elevate is my mission to reconnect young adults back into society with the tools they need for long-term wellbeing: mental health strategies, nature-based experiences, healthier routines, technology balance, and practical life skills. It’s a program born from both personal hardship and professional experience, grounded in the belief that with the right support, young adults can rediscover purpose, connection, and confidence.

This is more than a business—it’s a calling. And it’s my commitment to help young people not just survive, but truly thrive.