Let’s create a fresh movement of teen mentoring together!
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 2030 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 mission & vision
In the summer of 2011, our Founder and Executive Director, Joe Elliott, along with five high school interns, began to dream about what it would look like to truly engage the hearts and minds of teens and young adults. With a group of dedicated volunteers and an $800-per-month operating budget, Catalyst Teen Center was incorporated in May of 2012 and received 501(c)(3) status in July of 2013.
Since its inception, the program steadily increased in reach and effectiveness, serving teens and young adults from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities, and lived experiences. What began as a small group of fewer than 50 students grew into a vibrant mentorship community, impacting thousands of young people each year through an innovative mentorship experience known as The Purpose Project.
Over time, this work expanded under the Catalyst Collective umbrella, refining a mentorship model and social-emotional learning approach centered on identity, purpose, and personal growth.
Today, The Purpose Project enters a new chapter.
This chapter is being carried forward by Life Anew Restorative Justice, an organization deeply rooted in restorative practices, trauma-informed care, and community-based transformation. Life Anew brings a proven ecosystem approach that strengthens The Purpose Project’s original vision while expanding its capacity, reach, and long-term sustainability.
Under Life Anew’s stewardship, The Purpose Project continues its mission to walk alongside teens and young adults as they discover who they are, why they matter, and how their unique design can positively impact their communities. This next season builds on a strong foundation—honoring the past while boldly investing in the future.
