Every Young Person Deserves a Village: Celebrating Our 2026 Northbridge Changemakers

Pictured: Delane Cooper and Dr. Jackier Eldridge

We are so happy to recognize Dr. Jackie Eldridge, Delane Cooper, and the Lotus Hero Project as the recipients of the 2026 Northbridge Changemaker Award.

Jackie and Delane co-founded the Lotus Hero Project with a shared belief in the power of art, community, and trauma-informed support to help people heal, grow and see new possibilities for themselves.Our relationship in Prince Edward County has been built in partnership from the beginning. Thrive and Lotus Hero Project worked together to secure funding to bring Thrive programming to the community, and we are now working together to make that programming a reality.

Jackie and Delane have helped us think through what young people in PEC need, connected us with people across the community, helped identify spaces, and rallied support for things like food and other program needs. They are constantly opening doors, making introductions, and helping us figure out how to make the work stronger.

But more than that, they genuinely care about young people.

That commitment is deeply personal for both of them. Delane describes giving back as a “love letter of gratitude” to the foster family who took her in at 15 and helped her find her voice. Today, she wants other young people to have opportunities to find theirs through art.

Jackie’s work has been shaped by her own childhood experiences and by more than 30 years in education and leadership. She has dedicated her career to creating environments

Community for Youth event honoring the Tumbler Ridge victims, showcasing youth art and poetry to advocate for mental health awareness and emphasize the importance of listening to young voices.

The event was prompted by the tragic Tumbler Ridge mass shooting.

where people feel seen, heard, valued, and safe enough to thrive.

When Jackie described why she and Delane chose to partner with Thrive, she said something that captures Lotus Hero Project’s approach perfectly: every young person deserves a village. A community that sees their potential, walks alongside them, and helps them discover what is possible.

That is exactly what Jackie, Delane, and Lotus Hero Project are helping to build in Prince Edward County. We are so grateful for their partnership, their generosity, and the many ways they continue to show up for young people.

We can’t wait to celebrate Jackie Eldridge, Delane Cooper, and the Lotus Hero Project at the Anti-Gala on October 1 as our 2026 Northbridge Changemakers.