Grounded Care, Collective Growth: My Journey

Welcome to The Uplift Journal. I thought it would be fitting to begin this space by sharing a little more about me, my journey, and why I do this work.

For over ten years, I’ve dedicated my career to youth development, social impact, and community wellness. My path has taken me from working in continuation schools in South Central Los Angeles, to serving as an LGBTQ youth advocate, to providing employment education for re-entry adults and LGBTQ youth. Along the way, I’ve supported children and young people with complex behavioral and cognitive needs, served as an intensive care coordinator, and most recently managed a center supporting youth at risk of commercial sexual exploitation.

What connects all these roles is simple: care and compassion. I believe in meeting people exactly where they are and walking with them toward growth. Whether I’m designing a program, facilitating a workshop, or building a partnership, my goal is always the same — to make learning accessible, engaging, and deeply rooted in real-world needs.

This blog will be a space where I share insights from the field, highlight interventions I’ve developed, and uplift the voices of communities I’ve had the privilege to work with. I’ll also be reflecting on lessons learned — the challenges, the breakthroughs, and the small everyday victories that make this work meaningful.

Thank you for being here. I’m excited to build this space together, where grounded care leads to collective growth.

— Summer