About Us
Our Story
Tracey spent 25 years of her career doing what she loved in broadcast media, as a news anchor in some of the largest TV markets in America. Her journey began to change in 2008 when she and her husband, twin boys and daughter, traveled to a small village in Nigeria on a medical mission to love and care for over 200 children at an orphanage. The trip led to the unexpected blessing and adoption of their 4th child, a little girl they met in Nigeria…Genevieve would complete their family in 2010.
Tracey knew at that time that her path would be forever changed as her heart for the marginalized was now her passion.
"No young person deserves to do life on their own, and especially in the community we call home."
In 2017, Tracey began a conversation that would spread across North Texas, focusing on removing all labels that thousands of youth are given that they don’t deserve nor do they ask for. Labels of at-risk, homeless, sex-trafficked and or fostered. With an Advisory Board of Directors that brought great leadership and wisdom from attorneys to successful business owners, TOGETHER WE THRIVE was born as a Texas-based 501c3 organization in December of 2018.
What began as a support role with local foster operations grew into something greater in the spring of 2019 when Tracey launched what has become an ongoing effort across North Texas. She recalled the transition in a 2019 interview.
“I think my eyes were opened the first day I stepped into J.L. Patton. A young man came in who was not in any type of situation to be in school, and he says, “Are you a mom?” I said, “I am,” and he said, “I’d give anything if I had somebody that I could call my mom.” And he wept. It was in that moment I thought, “OK, we need to rally.” These youth don’t choose these stories, so we need to help them rewrite them.”
Rallying is just what we have done. Today, Together We Thrive now employs a team of Life Coaches who serve more than 600 youth a week at three DISD campuses, the Student Opportunity Center in Frisco ISD, and The Ebby House in Dallas – all dedicated to transforming lives that transform communities!
Our Story
Together We Thrive was founded by Tracey Hardwick following a mission trip to Nigeria that would not only change her family through the adoption of her fourth child, but also change her life’s mission. With a heart for the marginalized, Tracey sought a way to have an impact on at risk youth in her home
of North Texas.
We committed to and began
walking beside youth in need
of a consistent adult in their
life.
In 2018, Tracey and our
advisory board worked to form
Together We Thrive as an
independent 501c3.
We began our work by placing
Life Coaches in schools across
North Texas. In 2020, Covid
caused us to retool our efforts,
while still reaching at risk youth and our community. We were up for the challenge and committed to being there for the youth in our community.
Each year, we see the impact of our work in the lives of vulnerable youth in our community multiply as we grow! Having a consistent influence truly makes a difference in all areas of life for our youth. There are still more than 10,000 vulnerable youth in North Texas. We are seeking support from our community to employ more Life Coaches to reach more youth!
Aim
Commit
Seek
Founder
Tracey Hardwick
"No young person deserves to do life on their own, and especially in the community we call home."
Tracey spent 25 years of her career doing what she loved in broadcast media, as a news anchor in some of the largest TV markets in America. Her journey began to change in 2008 when she and her husband, twin boys and daughter, traveled to a small village in Nigeria on a medical mission to love and care for over 200 children at an orphanage. The trip led to the unexpected blessing and adoption of their 4th child, a little girl they met in Nigeria…Genevieve would complete their family in 2010.
Tracey knew at that time that her path would be forever changed as her heart for the marginalized was now her passion.
In 2017, Tracey began a conversation that would spread across North Texas, focusing on removing all labels that thousands of youth are given that they don’t deserve nor do they ask for. Labels of at-risk, homeless, sex-trafficked or fostered. With an Advisory Board of Director that brought great leadership and wisdom from attorneys to successful business owners, TOGETHER WE THRIVE was born as a Texas-based 501c3 organization in December of 2018.
What began as a support role with local foster operations grew into something greater in the spring of 2019 when Tracey launched what has become an ongoing effort within the Dallas Independent School District. She recalled the transition in a 2019 interview.
“I think my eyes were opened the first day I stepped into J.L. Patton. A young man came in who was not in any type of situation to be in school, and he says, “Are you a mom?” Ugh. And I said, “I am,” and he said, “I’d give anything if I had somebody that I could call my mom.” And he just wept for about five minutes. And it was in that moment I thought, “OK, we need to rally.” They didn’t choose this story, so we need to help them rewrite this story.”
Rallying is just what Tracey has done. Today, TOGETHER WE THRIVE is coaching in its third DISD assignment, will launch in Frisco ISD soon, and also serves at The Ebby House in Dallas.
Learn more about Together We Thrive or review our latest Impact Report.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
At Together We Thrive, diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral to our values and mission. Since our inception, we’ve maintained a driving focus on fostering an environment that reflects a broad range of backgrounds and experiences to provide better outcomes for the youth and communities we serve.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace
Together We Thrive is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes fairness, teaches acceptance, and values the unique contribution every employee, volunteer, and director brings to the workplace. We celebrate their differences with respect to characteristics that include, but are not limited to, race, color, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual preference or identity, physical or mental disability, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship status, military or veteran status, economic background, family status, and political beliefs.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Community
Together We Thrive is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community where every individual, including every at-risk, homeless, foster, and sex-trafficked youth across North Texas, is valued, respected, and can achieve their full potential. We affirm that every person deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their race, color, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual preference or identity, physical or mental disability, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship status, military or veteran status, economic background, family status, or political beliefs.
About Us
Meet the Team
Life Coaches
Luke
Life Coach
"It’s invaluable the many opportunities that I’ve had with Together We Thrive to see where the dedication of ones love and time can drastically alter the direction of a youth's life. Navigating through high school into your early adult life is difficult, and no one should go through that alone. "
Dae'Quan
Life Coach
"The youth are the future of the world and hold great potential. Being a Life Coach at Together We Thrive gives me the ability to be a stakeholder in the development of at risk youth lives. Together We Thrive understand the challenges these youth face and works hard to give these youth the resources and skills necessary to be successful."
Julie
Life Coach
""I am a Life Coach because it blesses me with the opportunity to connect with youth and show them the love, care, support, and friendship that are the relational roots of humanity's innate need to forge and sustain community. The idea of traveling the journey of life with others is often foreign to many of these youth, as their circumstances often leave them feeling alone, neglected, and abandoned. The beauty of coaching is its reciprocity--the joy and connection I strive to give to the youth comes back to me ten-fold. We truly do thrive together.""
Lacey
Life Coach
"The most rewarding feeling for me as a Life Coach is when these girls that have been taught, told, and trained to fend for themselves and constantly have their guard up, let me in; when they realize that together is better and that there are people that want to fight for them and see them succeed, not fail."
Julia
Life Coach
"None of us gets to choose the life we’re born into, it’s the choices we make with what we’re given that matter and make a difference. I love that Together We Thrive strives to spark the opportunity for so many to make the choice to have a better way of life all by loving, guiding and showing belief in each individual right where they’re at.""
Leadership
Meet the Board
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
An at-risk youth is one whose chances at a successful transition into adult life are hindered by certain circumstances or factors experienced during their childhood. Many youth who are considered at-risk come from underserved communities, but youth from any socio-economic background could be considered at-risk.
Yes, all donations to Together We Thrive stay local to North Texas and go toward keeping our Life Coaches in the schools we currently serve and to expand our team to support districts that are in desperate need of our help.
"Couch surfing" is a term used with youth that are in homeless situations that share housing with others temporarily. They will often welcome the invitation to sleep on a couch over navigating the streets because of the lack of shelters for youth. But, Coach Surfing can be dangerous, unstable and unreliable.
There are 3 basics reasons as to why youth become homeless….family problems, economic problems, and residential instability. Many youth will leave home after years of physical and sexual abuse, strained relationships, addiction of a family member, parental neglect, and foster care.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act provides important protections and rights for homeless children and unaccompanied homeless youth. Any student experiencing homelessness must be immediately enrolled in the school of origin or the school in the attendance zone that the student currently resides.
Together We Thrive serves youth in a variety of locations, including schools, youth programs, and transitional homes. Together We Thrive strives to be available anywhere youth are in need of a consistent influence. We serve youth who have or are currently experiencing homelessness, neglect, trauma, or just needing a trusted adult to confide in.
