Empowered Living Human Services’ vision, values, and unique environment attract professional staff in all areas, ranging from psychologists, trainers, facilitators, social workers, community support workers, and employment specialists. Empowered Living Services provides modern support in a compatible and empowering environment. Our staff look at behavior as communication and provide person-centered supports.
Mission
Empowering People! Enhancing Lives since 1987! We strive to provide Young Adult Programs, Residential Services, Mentally Ill, Mental Health, Community Living Supports, CLS, Assisted Living, and Adult Foster Care.
History
Cecelia Wallace was born on April 28, 1940, in St. Louis, Missouri. While in her early developmental years, her family moved to Ecorse, Michigan, where her father built the family home. Cecilia was a brilliant organizational leader. She was at the top of her class at Ecorse High School and Western Michigan University. Raising two children while working three jobs was common practice for Cecelia. In 1976, she graduated from Wayne State University with a master’s degree in social work. She continued to take on leadership positions at the Children’s Aid Society of Detroit, Florence Crittenton Hospital, Kirwood General Hospital, Southwest Detroit Hospital, and Adult Well-Being Services. Her professional affiliations included: Academy of Certified Social Workers, National Association of Black Social Workers, National Association of Social Workers, and the NAACP. Ms, Wallace would always go the extra mile in the community serving with Detroit Unity Temple, president of the Detroit Chapter of Alzheimer’s Association, and Transforming Love Community’s CEO. April 27, 1987, Cecelia Wallace founded Empowered Living Human Services (ELHS). Her administrative assistant, Mrs. Helen Bruce, accompanied her on the new entrepreneurial path. Empowered Living Human Services was one of the few companies designated to pilot programs that assisted people who experienced severe mental illness to live independently. The program began by meeting with individuals who appeared to be ready to leave psychiatric facilities. The first contract was for six people and grew to over 40 individuals. ELHS went on to provide substance abuse services in both Wayne and Oakland Countries. In 1993, Empowered Living Enrichment Center was birthed to provide skills for people to secure jobs in the community. In 2003, Cecelia Wallace passed the torch to her assistant director and daughter, Tia Taylor.
Tia was academically prepared to carry on the vision set forth by her mother. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1989 and achieved her master’s from Marygrove College in 2006. Currently, Tia is pursuing her doctoral degree from Northcentral University. Under her guidance, three additional contracts were secured, which included the Michigan Prison Re-Entry Program. In addition, ELHS began to have mothers who also experienced mental illness. Tia is a minister of Transforming Love Community and board secretary for Little-Ma-Power. Her affiliations include American Psychological Organization, Michigan Human Rights Coalition, Survivors Speak, Michigan Liberation, and Turning a Moment into a Movement. After twenty-nine years with ELHS, Tia confidently passed the torch to Kendall LeSure, knowing the power he holds to take ELHS to the next level of 21st-century human services.