About Us
Our Mission
Our Mission is to guide, educate, and empower youth that are most impacted by societal systems. We believe that by connecting them to mentors, needed skills and opportunities this population can thrive in their own image of greatness!
Our Vision
Our Vision is to see young people in leadership positions with diverse career opportunities. We believe in allowing youth to be innovative in creating solutions to societal issues. This will empower the youth not only to identify what their own greatness looks like, but also want to continuously live the best version of themselves.
Our Team
Progress Pushers are committed to the empowerment and upliftment of systemically oppressed communities. Our team consist of people that understand the importance of integrity, have demonstrated the power of transformation and through lived experience, training and education are skilled in supporting those that need it most.
At Progress Pushers we are intentional in developing partnerships that will increase service capacity in our programming, access and opportunity to work, and provide services directly in the community.
Eddie Purpose
Founder and Executive Director
Coy Graham
Director of Operations
Terrance Howard
Marketing Manager
Sareya Milton
Program Manager
Kasjunique Lofton
Administrative Assistant
Jeremy Winzer
Navigator and Facilitator
Wayne Porter
Navigator and Facilitator
Cristina Mitchell
Navigator and Facilitator
Charles Howard
Navigator and Facilitator
Founder/Executive Director
”If there is no struggle there is no progress” – Fredrick Douglas
In late 2017 Edward “Eddie” Purpose helped to establish and expand the nationally recognized Credible Messenger (CM) Initiative into Washington state. Credible Messenger is a National youth mentorship, group facilitated, transformational process that is designed to assist, mentor and meet the needs of justice-involved youth and young adults whom are often described as “most challenging.” As a lead trainer of the model locally, Eddie has trained dozens of service providers and community members.
Eddie is currently a Credible Messenger Lead Trainer and Coach. He also facilitates groups within multiple areas throughout community, within schools as well as juvenile facilities. As a trainer, coach, and facilitator Eddie has been recognized for his services by being awarded “2019 Story of the Year” by the Federal Way Mirror newspaper and becoming the first recipient ever to receive the “Eddie Ellis Spirit Award” – the man who coined the phrase Credible Messenger.
Previously, after serving a nearly 13 year prison sentence for a crime he committed during his teenage years, Eddie worked at the Urban League of Metropolitan of Seattle (UMLS) as the first Youth Outreach Coordinator, recruiting the first ever youth Career Bridge class in 2016. He eventually became a Participant Navigator for cohorts thereafter.
Eddie has worked as a faculty member Instructor at South Seattle College teaching life skills and job-readiness before being recruited to facilitate similar curriculum to men and women at the Maleng Regional Justice Center (RJC) – the program, called LEAP2win, was the first of its kind in the nation.
In 2017 Eddie founded Progress Pushers® and, professionally, is most proud of the fact that he’s able to be the mentor, advocate and positive role model that he didn’t have during his upbringing.
Eddie’s joy is infectious and comes with him wherever he goes. He is a community leader, advocate, and activist. He prides himself with working with a population of youth and young adults that society at large have given up on.
Coy Graham
Director of Operations
“If you know whence you came, there is really no limit to where you can go.”
Terrance Castro-Howard
Marketing Manager
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, you are a leader."
Sareya Milton
Program Manager
"You can when you believe you can"
Kasjunique Lofton
Administrative Assistant
"Know your worth and then add tax!"
Jeremy Winzer
Youth Support Specialist/ Navigator
""Everyday is a new opportunity to be the best version of yourself."
