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Our goal is to reduce youth crime rates and enhance their overall wellbeing by leveraging this space to actively engage with youth, build meaningful relationships, and cultivate a sense of belonging.
In 2023, The Elevate Project emerged from a deep-rooted commitment to empower underserved youth. With over five years of experience working alongside youth involved in the juvenile justice system, founder Brittne Thompson resolved to transform her concerns into innovative solutions. Instead of simply wishing for youth to discover safer alternatives to the streets, crime, and substance abuse, this visionary founder chose to proactively create that alternative.
Her aspiration was not limited to delivering conventional behavioral health services, which often follow a clinical model of delivering professional care and sending the youth on their way. The Elevate Project was born with the intention of offering a space where youth can not only receive professional support but, more importantly, come and simply be. It's a place where they can be seen, heard, known, accepted, and encouraged to belong. This holistic and relational approach forms the foundation for genuine healing and the formation of brighter, more promising futures for youth.
Brittne, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, found her way back to her birthplace in 2012. Rooted in a profound passion for helping people and a strong work ethic, Brittne played a pivotal role in co-founding The Elevate Project. Holding a license as a Clinical Social Worker, she has been dedicated to delivering mental health and substance abuse services to youth since 2017.
Brittne completed her Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology at Southwest Baptist University and later obtained a Master’s in Social Work at the University of Oklahoma. Brittne's journey is marked by a distinctive chapter where she lived in Latin America for 2.5 years and became fluent in Spanish. This transformative experience has instilled in her a deep appreciation for the Latino Community, and she has remained committed to serving this community in Tulsa since returning and beginning her career as a therapist.
Her professional path has been predominantly working with youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Throughout her time working with these youth she began to dream of what more could be done to help youth who are feeling trapped and hopeless. So Brittne channeled her unwavering passion and dedication to transform that vision into the reality we now know as The Elevate Project.
As a native of Kansas City Eric moved to Oklahoma in 1991 where he continued topursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology. It was through this pursuit that Eric began to learn and understand the profound effect trauma has on human development. After completing his internship at an adolescent substance use treatment facility, Eric decided to focus his efforts towards helping adolescents and their families recover from effects of trauma and substance use.
Eric completed his Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology at Langston University and obtained a Master’s of Marriage and Family Therapy from Southern Nazarene University. Since 2005 Eric has been transforming lives through counseling, advocacy, teaching, public speaking, and organizational leadership.
Eric has created award winning behavioral health programs that have left a lastingimpact on society and have become national models for change. As a national speaker on addiction, trauma, mental health, and wellness, he has worked to promote holistic well-being and mental health awareness.
Eric has been a driving force for social justice policy reform in Oklahoma and hashelped to draft and enact impactful reforms in juvenile justice. His unwaveringcommitment and collaborative efforts have resulted in positive outcomes, leading tomore equitable and just policies that empower and promote a fairer justice system.
In his current role at The Elevate Project, Eric continues to revolutionize themodel for change while helping youth realize their full potential.
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