About Empowering Lives Initiative
Mental health care should be accessible, affordable, and responsive to the communities it serves.
Empowering Lives Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to expand access to affordable, culturally responsive mental health care while strengthening the behavioral health workforce through graduate-level training, community education, and outreach.
We support individuals and families facing financial, insurance, and other barriers to care while helping prepare the next generation of mental health professionals.
Affordable Care
Clinical Oversight
Graduate-level student clinicians receive structured supervision and support from licensed professionals.
Community Education
Workshops, resources, and outreach designed to improve mental health awareness and access.
Our Mission
Building a more accessible path to mental wellness.
Our mission is to expand access to affordable, culturally responsive mental health care while strengthening the behavioral health workforce through graduate-level clinical training, professional development, and community mental health education.
We serve individuals and families facing financial and access barriers while preparing the next generation of clinicians to deliver high-quality, community-centered care.
Our Values
01
Access
We work to reduce financial, geographic, insurance, and practical barriers that prevent people from receiving mental health care.
02
Equity
We support care that respects culture, identity, lived experience, and community needs.
03
Quality
Clinical services are supported by licensed professionals, structured supervision, training, and ethical standards.
04
Accountability
We are committed to responsible governance, financial stewardship, program evaluation, and transparent communication about our work.
Our Story
A founder-funded model built through years of service.
Empowering Lives Initiative was formally established in 2025 after more than four years of founder-funded work focused on expanding access to affordable mental health services and strengthening graduate-level clinical training.
Through her work with The Empowering Space, founder Brittany Woodley, LCSW-S, LISW-S, repeatedly saw individuals and families caught between needing mental health support and being unable to afford traditional private-pay care. She also recognized the need for structured, supportive clinical training opportunities for graduate-level students and early-career professionals.
Before ELI was formed, Brittany personally funded reduced-cost services, student training, clinical supervision, educational resources, and operational expenses to help make care more accessible.
Empowering Lives Initiative was created to move that work into a sustainable nonprofit structure supported by charitable contributions, grants, partnerships, and community investment.
Our Impact Before ELI’s Formal Launch
A foundation of service, access, and clinical development.
Before Empowering Lives Initiative was established as a nonprofit, the founder-funded model supported:
Adults received affordable mental health services
Youth received affordable mental health services
Clinical sessions delivered
Graduate-level students and early-career clinicians completed supervised educational experiences
Organizational Transparency
How ELI and The Empowering Space work together.
Empowering Lives Initiative and The Empowering Space, PLLC are separate legal and financial entities.
Empowering Lives Initiative was created as an independent nonprofit organization to expand access to charitable mental health programming, low-cost services, community education, outreach, workshops, groups, and workforce development.
The Empowering Space, PLLC is a separate professional mental health practice with its own finances, operations, records, and legal responsibilities.
While both organizations share a commitment to improving access to mental health care, each maintains separate governance, financial accounts, records, and organizational activities.
Empowering Lives Initiative
Empowering Lives Initiative is a Texas nonprofit organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and classified as a public charity under Section 509(a)(2).
IRS exemption effective date: March 20, 2025The Empowering Space, PLLC
The Empowering Space, PLLC is a separate professional mental health practice. It maintains separate finances, records, operations, governance, and legal responsibilities from Empowering Lives Initiative.
How charitable resources are used
Empowering Lives Initiative maintains separate financial accounts, donation records, expenses, and organizational records from The Empowering Space, PLLC.
Donations are used solely to advance ELI’s charitable mission, including:
- Affordable and low-cost mental health services
- Community outreach and education
- Mental health workshops and groups
- Client resources and support materials
- Graduate-level student training and workforce development
- Technology, administration, and program expenses necessary to operate nonprofit services
Organizational Transparency
Empowering Lives Initiative and The Empowering Space are separate legal and financial entities.
The Empowering Space identified a significant unmet need among individuals and families who could not access traditional mental health services because of cost, lack of insurance, limited benefits, or other barriers. Empowering Lives Initiative was established as a separate nonprofit organization to respond to that need through charitable programming, low-cost services, education, community outreach, workshops, groups, and professional training opportunities.
The Empowering Space does not receive payment from Empowering Lives Initiative for services. Donations and other funds received by Empowering Lives Initiative are maintained separately and are used only to support the nonprofit’s charitable mission, programs, and operations.
While the two organizations share a commitment to expanding access to mental health care, they maintain separate finances, records, activities, and organizational responsibilities.
How ELI and The Empowering Space work together.
Empowering Lives Initiative
ELI is a [NONPROFIT CORPORATION / 501(c)(3) / PENDING 501(c)(3) — CONFIRM EXACT STATUS] focused on charitable mental health access, workforce development, community education, and related outreach programs.
The Empowering Space, PLLC
The Empowering Space is a separate professional mental health practice that provides virtual clinical services and may support ELI through [CLINICAL SUPERVISION, REFERRALS, TRAINING, ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, OR OTHER ARRANGEMENTS — CONFIRM] .
How services and funds are kept accountable
[ADD AN ACCURATE EXPLANATION OF HOW ELI FUNDS ARE SEPARATED FROM THE PLLC, WHETHER THE PLLC IS PAID FOR ANY SERVICES, WHO EMPLOYS OR SUPERVISES INTERNS, HOW CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ARE REVIEWED, AND HOW DONATED FUNDS ARE USED.]
Replace this placeholder with the final approved legal and financial explanation before publishing.Leadership & Board of Directors
Guided by Experience. Grounded in Equity.
Empowering Lives Initiative is governed by a multidisciplinary board of clinicians, healthcare leaders, and community advocates committed to ethical governance, program accountability, clinical quality, and sustainable impact.
Brittany Woodley, LCSW-S
Founder & Board Chair
Brittany Woodley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, board-approved supervisor, and behavioral health leader with experience in clinical care, leadership, workforce development, and clinical supervision.
As founder of Empowering Lives Initiative, she provides strategic leadership focused on expanding access to affordable, culturally responsive mental health care and strengthening pathways for future behavioral health professionals.
Her professional background includes work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Army National Guard, and private practice leadership.
Our Governance Commitment
ELI’s board is responsible for:
- Ethical oversight and fiduciary responsibility
- Strategic direction and long-term sustainability
- Program accountability and evaluation
- Equity-centered decision-making
- Community-informed leadership
Together, this team ensures that Empowering Lives Initiative remains mission-aligned, financially transparent, and rooted in the communities it serves.
Notasha Robinson
Board Member | Community Engagement & Advocacy
Notasha Robinson is a social services professional with experience in housing services, disability claims administration, program management, and community outreach. Her work focuses on improving access to resources and strengthening support for underserved communities.
As a member of ELI’s board, she contributes expertise in community engagement, advocacy, and partnership development.
Larissa Veal, MHA, BSN, RN, CMCN, CCM, CPHQ
Board Member | Compliance & Quality Assurance
Larissa Veal is a healthcare executive with experience in nursing, healthcare administration, managed care, quality improvement, regulatory compliance, and organizational leadership.
As a member of ELI’s board, she supports the organization’s commitment to quality, accountability, compliance, and responsible stewardship.
Nonprofit & Organizational Information
Clear information builds public trust.
Empowering Lives Initiative is a nonprofit organization established to expand access to affordable mental health care, strengthen the behavioral health workforce, and support community mental health education.
Nonprofit Information
Clear information builds public trust.
Empowering Lives Initiative is a nonprofit organization established to expand access to affordable mental health care, strengthen the behavioral health workforce, and support community mental health education.
Take the Next Step
Help make mental health support more accessible.
Learn about current programs, request support, contribute to the mission, or connect with ELI about a community partnership.
Dallas, Texas
Serving communities through affordable mental health access, workforce development, and community education.
© 2026 Empowering Lives Initiative. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy.
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Contact Info:
- Phone – 469-445-2101
- Email – info@empoweringlivestoday.com
© 2026 Empowering Lives Initiative. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy.