Elevate North Texas received the “Dennis & Judy Shepard Family Values Award” from the International Court Council of the United States, Canada and Mexico. This recognition was presented to founder and Executive Director, Jason Vallejo, during the United Court of the Lone Star Empire’s check distribution event on Saturday night.
Elevate North Texas fills a gap in the North Texas homeless system when it comes to the 18-24 age group. It addresses youth homelessness in two ways:
• Emergency Short-Term Housing Program: partnering with several hotels in North Texas to provide hotel rooms for those youth in immediate need of shelter.
• Reunification Program: working to reunite youth with family members, when possible, to avoid them entering the homeless system.
In its announcement, Elevate wrote, “This award is an international honor administered by the International Court Council and presented by the Queen Mother, currently Empress Nicole the Great: Nicole Murray Ramírez.
It is awarded to LGBTQ+ organizations, PFLAG chapters, schools, and outstanding individuals whose work reflects the Shepards’ legacy of advocacy, acceptance and compassion.”
In addition to the Shepard Family award, Elevate wrote that it is grateful to the United Court of the Lone Star Empire for its generous donation of $6,726.
— David Taffet