Lead with Vulnerability:

The Human Story Behind the Mission

Luke's path to mental health advocacy wasn't straightforward. With a background in psychology and healthcare administration, he spent years as a hospital CEO witnessing the disconnect between how psychiatric patients were treated compared to those with physical ailments.

But the true catalyst came during a leadership retreat when female executives sharing stories of overcoming abuse triggered Luke's own repressed memory of childhood trauma. This profound moment of vulnerability became the foundation for his mission:

"I want to be able to provoke and stoke vulnerability... lead with vulnerability, lead with radical transparency in a way that hopefully becomes disarming. And tells people that, yeah, I've been through it too."

After being laid off from his corporate position, Luke embarked on a journey of self-discovery and purpose. He created the Mindful Living Foundation and spent 52 weeks working with different nonprofits to identify gaps in service. When the pandemic hit, exacerbating mental health issues nationwide, Luke recognized an opportunity to transform healthcare delivery.

As Luke explains: "I envision something like a Starbucks where you could have a mindful living center on every corner of America... depending on the fabric of that community."

Mindful Living Centers now operates in multiple states with locations across the country, offering individualized therapy, group sessions, enhanced case management through their CARE+ model (Collaborative Approach to Recovery and Empowerment), and medication management.

For those seeking support, Luke emphasizes there's "no wrong door"

The Innovative Solution

Mindful Living Centers represents a revolutionary approach to mental health care built on several key insights:

1. Utilizing Unused Hospital Space: Luke identified that many hospitals operate at only 50% capacity, with empty units that could be converted to psychiatric beds.

2. Community-Based Care Centers: Rather than centralized facilities, Mindful Living Centers creates neighborhood-specific locations staffed by providers who reflect and understand the communities they serve.

3. Whole Person Approach: Treatment addresses mental health, physical health, and social determinants simultaneously.

4. Lived Experience as Expertise: Care coordinators with personal experience of mental health challenges provide authentic support and guidance.

As Luke explains: "I envision something like a Starbucks where you could have a mindful living center on every corner of America... depending on the fabric of that community."

Mindful Living Centers now operates in multiple states with locations across the country, offering individualized therapy, group sessions, enhanced case management through their CARE+ model (Collaborative Approach to Recovery and Empowerment), and medication management.

For those seeking support, Luke emphasizes there's "no wrong door"