About Us
Empowering Youth in Transition: Building Paths to Thrive Beyond Treatment
Our Mission
At Bold Ascents, our mission is to empower and support youth, ages 10-24, in their transition home from treatment programs. We strive to create a safe and empowering space where every young individual feels seen, heard, and inspired to forge their unique path forward. Through mentorship, we enable them to navigate the challenges of daily life, and moments of success, using the skills acquired during their treatment stay. Our commitment is to go beyond mere survival, fostering an environment where they can truly thrive in their return home. For any individuals who have yet to enroll in treatment or find themselves in any transitional phase, we also provide mentor support on a case-by-case basis to help build a foundation for success.
Owner & Mentor
Ethan Gordon
Ethan was born and raised in Memphis, TN. He developed a love for the mountains at an early age, traveling to the Rocky Mountains every winter to ski with his family. Drawn to the mountains, Ethan pursued a degree in biomedical sciences at Colorado State University with aspirations of becoming a veterinarian. However, Ethan’s sophomore year his interests began to change, shifting away from veterinarian medicine, towards wildlife, and the outdoors. As a result, he changed his degree to Fish, Wildlife, and Conversation Biology where he would learn about the ecosystems across the Rocky Mountains. Ethan loved this change in studies, but it wasn’t until a summer internship assisting those wanting to self-harm at the Memphis Crisis Center that gave Ethan a better idea of his future, social services. While Ethan completed his undergraduate degree in Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, he spent the remaining two years of his undergraduate career exploring social work through a variety of roles.
Following his graduation, Ethan spent the next two years as a field instructor at Second Nature Blue Ridge, combining his love for the outdoors with his passion for helping others by assisting young men in their struggles with addiction. Seeking to broaden his experience with youth, Ethan joined the Peace Corps as a youth development specialist in Peru spearheading community programs. Upon his return to the states, Ethan settled in Denver. He began assisting unhoused individuals as a case manager before transitioning to frontline support during the pandemic, leading the management of the intake and discharge procedures of COVID-19 relief hotels for the unhoused. During this time, Ethan was also supporting youth in their transition home from treatment as a mentor through a transitional program in a part-time capacity. After nearly three years of supporting the homeless community through a local nonprofit in Denver, Ethan pivoted to mentoring full-time in 2021. Ethan formed Bold Ascents in 2024 to further grow his passion and skillset, providing support to youth across the country in their return home from treatment. Ethan now resides in Philadelphia with his german shepherd, exploring everything that is Philadelphia since his recent move in 2023.
Our Approach
Ethan empowers his clients to recognize their resilience as one of their greatest strengths, and their challenges as opportunities to develop unique skills. He fosters a deep sense of connection and validation, creating a safe space where adolescents and young adults feel truly seen and understood. Ethan’s client-centered approach enables him to establish the necessary rapport and trust with his clients for honest conversations on a path forward.