
Everyone deserves a chance to rewrite their story.
The Second Story Project is a 501c3 committed to empowering families through innovative workshops designed to build resilience, strengthen relationships, and support emotional well-being.
Workshops that empower young people to take control of their lives.
The Second Story Project is dedicated to offering these young people compassion, empathy, and unconditional support. Throughout the Empowerment Workshop, participants will experience a nurturing environment where they are empowered to take control of their lives. While they may have faced adversity, we aim to teach them skills that help them unlock their potential and create a new "second story" for their lives—one filled with hope and possibility.
Workshops that equip parents with the tools to support their child’s growth.
Additionally, we will host a Parenting Workshop simultaneously with the Empowerment Workshop. Each participating adolescent is required to have one parent attend. This workshop will equip parents with tools to better support their child's growth, including active listening, boundary setting, positive reinforcement, stress management, and self-care strategies.
The Empowerment Workshop
Our Empowerment Workshop is a transformative, three-day event focusing on personal growth, self-discovery, and practical life skills. It will provide adolescents with a supportive community and a holistic approach to development—encompassing their spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The workshop includes evidence-based techniques such as visualization, goal setting, and positive affirmations. To ensure lasting change, we will offer a weekly process group after the workshop to help participants integrate what they’ve learned. Our Empowerment Workshop includes…
Interactive Sessions
Explore self-awareness through engaging workshops. Reflective exercises, group discussions, and practical tools help you manage stress, build confidence, and cultivate a growth mindset. Join us to unlock your potential in a supportive, inspiring space.
Reflective Exercises
Empowering teens to navigate personal challenges, our reflective exercises encourage self-discovery and emotional growth. Through guided activities and journaling prompts, adolescents build resilience, gain clarity, and develop healthy coping strategies.
Inspirational Speakers
Hear from motivational speakers who’ve turned adversity into triumph. Their stories of perseverance, and personal growth inspire audiences to face challenges with courage. Through relatable experiences, these speakers empower others to achieve their goals.
Wellness Activities
Explore a variety of wellness activities designed to nurture your mental, emotional, and physical health. From mindfulness practices to creative workshops and nature retreats, our offerings help you recharge, reduce stress, and cultivate balance.
Meet the Team
Meet the visionary co-founders who turned their passion for healing into a mission-driven organization that empowers trauma-affected teens to reclaim and rewrite their life stories. With deep experience in youth advocacy and mental health, they lead with compassion, resilience, and a belief that every young person deserves a future filled with possibility.
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An accomplished CEO, entrepreneur, and leadership expert with a proven track record of driving business success and inspiring personal growth. As the former CEO of Vecta Environmental, Chad led the company from its early stages to becoming a thriving $100M enterprise, navigating high-stakes deals and multiple acquisitions along the way. His strategic leadership earned him recognition as a finalist for EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2022, showcasing his ability to innovate and deliver results in dynamic markets.
Beyond his business success, Chad is passionate about helping people and organizations create new narratives for themselves. He is the co-founder of The Second Story Project, a non-profit dedicated to helping individuals overcome challenges and rewrite their personal and professional stories. Through this work, Chad empowers people to see beyond the stories they tell themselves and create a “second story”—one filled with potential and opportunity. He is deeply committed to working with youth and their families, showing them that they can rewrite their own narratives and that their future is not limited by their past. His goal is to give them the tools to not only overcome obstacles but to thrive, with the confidence and vision to build a future they can be proud of.
With a career spanning over a decade as a successful CEO and founder of Kalland Leadership Institute, Chad dedicated himself to empowering leaders to overcome obstacles, build accountability, and take meaningful action. Throughout his journey, Chad has learned that true success comes from within—by breaking free from self-limiting beliefs and focusing on what’s possible. This principle is at the heart of my LIFT Leadership framework, which Chad uses to help individuals simplify complex challenges, find clarity, and take purposeful steps toward lasting change.
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In addition to being a Licensed Chemical Dependence Counselor (LCDC), Ernest received both his undergraduate degree in Business Management and his master’s degree in Addiction Counseling from Grand Canyon University. Ernest has worked in the field of Addiction for about 24 years. Working with individuals who struggle with the disease of Addiction and their family members. In 2012, Ernest was awarded The Houston Chapter TAAP counselor of the Year award and in 2015, Ernest was awarded the Elves Smith Counselor of the Year award of Texas. Through the provision of education, relapse prevention, intervention and hands on treatment, and through teams of professionals in the clinical field, community and volunteer opportunities, Ernest has helped design proven treatment programs with successful results.
Ernest also belongs to an amazing men’s organization, The Mankind Project (MKP), that helps men become the best they can be. Ernest’s role in the organization is a Full Leader. As a Full Leader, Ernest help create space for men to transform their lives and find their gold within. Lastly, sports have been a huge part of Ernest’s life as a child and as an adult. Because of the great passion Ernest had for basketball, he accepted a full scholarship to New Mexico State University. After college, Ernest was blessed to be drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA) by the Chicago Bulls in 1983. Eventually, Ernest played professional basketball in Brazil for 13 years. While living in Brazil, Ernest learned how to speak Portuguese.
Ernest is the co-founder of the Second Story Project, and he is committed to empowering adolescents to help them overcome personal barriers, build confidence, and achieve their dreams. The Second Story Project is committed to showing compassion and empathy to all adolescents. Also, the kids will be shown unconditional love, understanding, and kindness throughout their association with the Second Story Project. The Second Story Project has launched an Empowerment Workshop. The workshop is a transformative three-day event for adolescents, focusing on personal growth, self-discovery, and practical skills to navigate life’s challenges.

The Second Story Project is a 501c3 reaching out to share an incredible opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of adolescents in our community designed to help young people overcome personal obstacles, build confidence, and pursue their dreams.
Many of the adolescents we are going to work with have faced challenging environments during their upbringing, including physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect and bullying. These experiences can have profound effects on their mental health, self esteem, behavior, academic performance, and relationships. Addressing these issues early is crucial to their recovery and future well-being.
The Second Story Project is dedicated to offering these young people compassion, empathy, and unconditional support. Throughout the Empowerment Workshop, participants will experience a nurturing environment where they are empowered to take control of their lives. While they may have faced adversity, we aim to teach them skills that help them unlock their potential and create a new "second story" for their lives—one filled with hope and possibility.
Why Adolescents?
Adolescence is a crucial time for personal development. This workshop is designed to provide young people with the tools they need to build a strong foundation for a successful future. By addressing topics like self-esteem, goal setting, emotional intelligence, liming beliefs, and overcoming negative self-talk, The Second Story Project aims to help adolescents navigate this pivotal stage of life more effectively.
How Can You Help?
The Empowerment Workshop has the potential to change lives. We are seeking to raise [insert amount] to cover some of the workshop’s costs. Your contribution, whether large or small, will make a significant difference in helping these young people build the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
I would be delighted to discuss this opportunity with you further and explore how we can partner to empower the next generation. The Second Story Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and your support is tax-deductible.
Thank you for considering our request