Throughout my professional career, I have worked with youth of all ages and diverse backgrounds in varying capacities. My journey has taught me that to be truly effective in one’s quest to elevate youth cognitively, academically, and socially/emotionally, essential cornerstones of their development must be established first. Early on, as a preschool teacher, I realized those key elements are the foundations of relationship-building. To understand another’s experience, one can personally alter, disrupt, or reinforce the dynamics. Interpersonal neurobiology reminds us of the connecting impact of empathy. Dr. Bonnie Badenoch and Dr. Daniel J. Siegel reiterate this in their book Being A Brain-Wise Therapist: “When we are feeling empathy for another, a strong resonance develops between the two of us, beginning with mirror neurons and echoing throughout all these pathways, completing the chord. We often experience this as a softening and relaxation in the body, accompanied by a feeling of warmth and reassurance” (pg. 39). I am reminded of this each time I engage with youth and families. This website passionately originated with the idea in mind that care, compassion, understanding, and a commitment to planning accordingly, with the inclusion of all stakeholders, can have profound outcomes. This is the stepping stone to that world. Each and every child and family is worth it. I hope you find this website as equally helpful and connecting as the seconds I spent building it with you in mind. To captivate, build, guide, direct, but most of all, create an elevation hub with a community-embedded mindset, for all to benefit.
With gratitude,
Parker’s Elevation Hub/Julana Parker
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