Our mission & vision
Most of us have never been taught how to study our unique design and as a result, fall short of the impact we could be making.
At Catalyst, we have created a simple path for helping teens, young adults and organizations discover what sets them apart and how to leverage their uniqueness to develop their passions and achieve their goals.
Our mission is to support thousands of students per year in discovering their unique design and purpose by 2026 so that they can become the leaders and influencers our world needs them to be.
Our vision is to empower a new movement of mentors and guides capable of efficiently and effectively connecting the next generation to a deeper sense of identity, purpose, and belonging.
Our story
In the summer of 2011, our Founder and Executive Director, Joe Elliott, along with 5 high school interns began to dream about what it would look like to really engage the hearts and minds of teens and young adults. With a group of a dozen volunteers and an $800/month operating budget, Catalyst Teen Center was incorporated in May of 2012 and received 501(c)3 status in July of 2013.
Since inception, Catalyst has increased in reach and effectiveness serving teens and young adults from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities and challenging life experiences. Catalyst has grown from a small group of less than 50 students in 2012 to a vibrant community where thousands are being impacted each year through our innovative, mentorship experience called the Purpose Project.
In 2016, we re-branded under the name Catalyst Collective which is the umbrella for all our initiatives locally and nationally.
As the Catalyst Collective, we are focusing our efforts on the expansion of our highly impactful mentorship model and social-emotional learning curriculum. We have a pathway to create a fresh movement of teen mentoring in America and we will not rest until every teen has the opportunity to discover who they are uniquely made to be and how to leverage their design to positively impact the world around them.
Joe Elliott
Author, Founder & Executive Director
