Today, we’d like to introduce you to Dustin Young and Lee Johnson. Dustin and Lee was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented LaVada English.
Hi Dustin and Lee, we’re so thrilled to have you sharing your story with us today. Maybe we can kick things off by having you introduce yourself to our readers? We’d love to have you go into your story and how you got to where you are today.
Our journey started with a shared belief that you can’t solve deep-rooted issues with a single solution. We recognized that many of the communities we are connected to have experienced generational inequalities, and these disparities in access to resources, education, healthcare, and opportunity have created systemic barriers that make it harder for people to thrive. These barriers rooted in historical socioeconomic injustices are what motivated us to act.
We both come from backgrounds where we saw firsthand the struggles that underrepresented communities face whether it’s lack of access to quality education, healthy food options, mental health resources, or support for entrepreneurs. Our own lived experiences and work in various cultural and social spaces informed our understanding of the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing these challenges.
In 2018, after years of observing the limitations in traditional approaches to social change, we decided to create Our Own. The goal was simple: to develop solutions that could break down the systemic barriers that prevent people from accessing resources, whether that’s in mental health, education, entrepreneurship, or health. We started with a focus on promoting racial equity, social justice, and empowering individuals in the communities we care about, through initiatives that address both immediate needs and long-term change.
Our work has evolved as we’ve continued to listen to the communities we serve, and we quickly realized that the solution wasn’t just about providing services it was about creating systemic, sustainable change. So we’ve focused on building partnerships with local schools, community organizations, and businesses to ensure that our impact is felt across a variety of areas like nutrition, mental and physical fitness, education, and entrepreneurship.
What we’ve built today is not just an organization, but a movement that actively empowers individuals to overcome barriers, access opportunities, and build pathways to success. We have made incredible strides, particularly in the areas of wellness spaces and STEAM education programming, which directly serve underserved students. Our partnerships with local school districts and our innovative initiatives, like Our Own Wellness Spaces, are helping us make a lasting impact.
For us, the work is ongoing, and we remain focused on creating lasting, measurable change. But what has gotten us to this point is the dedication to listening, learning, and adapting to the needs of the communities we serve. Every step of the way, we’ve been committed to understanding the depth of the issues and responding with multifaceted solutions because real change requires a multifaceted approach.
We’ve heard great things about your organization. For our readers who might not be as familiar, can you please tell them about the organization?
Our Own is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing systemic barriers in key areas: mental health & wellness, STEAM education, entrepreneurship, physical fitness, and spatial equity. We work to bridge gaps in these critical domains, fostering inclusivity and creating opportunities for underserved communities. Through strategic partnerships, including a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with multiple schoool districts, Our Own has secured access to implement innovative programming directly on school campuses across LA County. This collaboration enables us to reach students from Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade, making a profound impact on their education, health, and overall well-being. Our Own Wellness Spaces are central to our mission, transforming underutilized classrooms into dynamic environments that integrate mental health, physical fitness, and education. In response to alarming statistics—such as 17% of high school students contemplating suicide and 75% describing their school experience negatively—we offer comprehensive programs focused on Social Emotional Learning (SEL), mental wellness, and holistic development. These spaces provide critical support, equipping students with tools for self-awareness, emotional regulation, and healthy decision-making, ultimately enhancing both their mental acuity and academic success. Additionally, our Our Own Recovery Space offers a unique, sports-based program designed for student-athletes, particularly in under-resourced communities. This program combines sports recovery with wellness practices to optimize performance, speed recovery, and improve mental clarity both on and off the field. By providing access to high-level recovery tools and opportunities often unavailable to underserved athletes, we aim to remove barriers to success and increase diversity and inclusion in sports. Through these initiatives, Our Own is dedicated to delivering equitable, sustainable solutions that empower students, improve their well-being, and pave the way for a brighter future, setting us apart as a leader in transformative, community driven impact.
LaVada English and Bright Places, Inc. have been great to us and I know you’ve got a great relationship with them as well. Maybe you can tell our audience a bit about LaVada English and Bright Places, Inc. and your experience with them.
Our experience working with Bright Places has been transformative, both personally and professionally. The programs they offer go beyond traditional consulting and truly dive into the neuroscience behind human behavior in the workplace. The insight into how our brains influence decision-making, emotions, and interactions has been invaluable. It’s helped us understand not only how to manage ourselves better but also how to support our team in a way that maximizes their strengths while minimizing stress.
As a result of our work together, we’ve noticed a significant shift in how we operate as a team. There’s less tension, more collaboration, and an overall boost in productivity. The coaching and training have helped us as leaders recognize the unconscious biases and patterns that were affecting our work culture. By applying the strategies and frameworks Bright Places introduced, we’ve been able to cultivate a more inclusive and psychologically safe environment where people feel energized, heard, and motivated to contribute their best work.
What truly sets Bright Places apart from other consulting firms is their unique focus on the neuroscience of behavior change. It’s not just about theory or education, Bright Places has found an innovative way to bridge the gap between brain science and practical, actionable strategies that drive lasting change. Their holistic approach, which blends education, coaching, and neuroscience, fosters work environments that are not only more productive but also healthier and more inclusive. While other firms may offer surface-level solutions, Bright Places digs deeper into the root causes of workplace dynamics, providing sustainable strategies that lead to meaningful results.
This approach aligns with how we aim to make a profound impact on the communities we serve. What truly distinguishes LaVada and Bright Places is their proximity to the communities they support, which allows them to be more intentional and effective in their work. By being deeply connected and engaged, they bring a level of understanding and empathy that enhances the quality and impact of their work in ways that other firms simply cannot replicate.
Website: www.ourown.com
Instagram: @ourown
Image Credits
PorterhouseLA
