Voice Up & J Ellington Publishing

2,744 Cities.
114 Countries.

Join our grassroots movement. In 8 months, on less than $2,000 we have inspired a global movement to help everyone improve their mental health. We connect people to purpose. Let's start today!

Read this entire page. Join our movement. All are welcome.

Open Q & A with Founder

Introduction to Voice Up

Executive Summary

Connect to Purpose

Voice Up:
A Purpose-Driven Vision

The Hidden Crisis

As you read this, half of all Americans are fighting a silent battle. They're not just sad or having a bad day—they're experiencing a level of loneliness that's literally killing them as fast as smoking 15 cigarettes every day (Murthy, 2023).

Here's what's really happening: We're living through the worst loneliness epidemic in human history, and it's starting younger than ever. The U.S. Surgeon General didn't mince words when he declared this a public health emergency in 2023. Around the globe, the World Health Organization is scrambling to address what they're calling a "global health concern" affecting 1 in 4 older adults and millions of teenagers (World Health Organization Commission on Social Connection, 2023).

But the crisis runs even deeper than we thought. New research published in JAMA reveals that US children's health has deteriorated across a broad spectrum of indicators from 2007 to 2023, with significant increases in chronic physical, developmental, and mental health conditions, obesity, sleep problems, activity limitations, and emotional symptoms including depression and loneliness (Forrest et al., 2025).

The numbers are staggering: From 2011 to 2023, the prevalence of children aged 3-17 with chronic conditions rose from 39.9% to 45.7% in clinical settings, and from 25.8% to 31.0% in the general population (Forrest et al., 2025). This isn't just about physical health—rates of depressive symptoms and loneliness among children have all increased during this period.

But here's the part that will shock you: The real problem isn't just loneliness—it's that people choose not to be or share their true self.

Scientists discovered something disturbing. Lonely people feel so afraid of rejection that they put on fake personalities just to get through each day (Borawski, 2020). They're living as strangers to themselves, creating relationships built on lies, which makes them feel even more alone. It's a vicious cycle that's destroying mental health from the inside out.

But what if there was a different way?

The 80-Year Secret That Changes Everything

For eight decades, Harvard scientists followed the same group of people through their entire lives. They discovered something that will change how you think about your health: Close relationships and a sense of purpose matter more for a fulfilling life than money, fame, or even genetics (Waldinger et al., 2017).

This isn't feel-good advice—this is hard science. When researchers studied over 53,000 people, they found that those with a strong sense of purpose had a 23% lower risk of developing dementia (Sutin et al., 2021). Other studies show that purpose reduces mental decline by 28% and serious thinking problems by 19% (Bell et al., 2022).

The statistics are staggering: 81% of lonely adults also struggle with anxiety or depression, compared to only 29% of people who aren't lonely (Harvard Graduate School of Education Making Caring Common Project, 2024). This means that if we can solve loneliness and help people find purpose, we can prevent most mental health crises before they start.

Open Q & A with Founder

Meet Voice Up

The Game Changer

Forget everything you think you know about mental health treatment. Voice Up isn't fixing broken people—they're preventing people from breaking in the first place.

While traditional therapy waits for people to hit rock bottom, Voice Up builds communities where people discover their authentic selves and connect with others through meaningful action. It's not just revolutionary—it's working across all ages, from elementary school kids to retirees.

Learn More

Welcome to Voice Up

We are a faith based initiative sharing the simplicity and power of God's love. One conversation at a time. Our approach elevates the simplicity of being true to what makes you your best self in service to others.

Here's how they're doing it:

They Make It Personal, Every Time: Voice Up doesn't believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Every single person gets a completely customized plan built around five principles that actually work:

Collaboration: Because real purpose comes through working with others, not competing against them
Humility: Because growth happens when you're open to learning from everyone around you
Precision: Because your journey matters, and every detail counts
Patience: Because real change takes time, and that's perfectly okay
Empathy: Because understanding your unique story is where transformation begins

Triple Support That Actually Works: Here's what makes Voice Up different—they don't just give you a workbook and wish you luck. You get:

Your Personal Roadmap: A step-by-step guide created just for your life situation
A Real Human Mentor: Someone who's been where you are and made it through
Custom Self-Assessments: Tools that help you understand yourself better and track real progress

Flexibility That Fits Your Life: Whether you need intensive 3-month support during a crisis, 6-month habit building, or a full 12-month life transformation, Voice Up meets you where you are. And because finding purpose is a lifelong journey, you can renew annually with ongoing community support.

The Secret Weapon: Conversation

Here's what Voice Up figured out that everyone else missed: Real change happens through real conversations.

Not therapy sessions. Not workshops. Not seminars. Just authentic human beings talking to each other about what really matters.

One-on-One Conversations That Change Everything: Voice Up pairs people with mentors who create safe spaces for authentic self-discovery. Harvard research proves that "working together to help others provides important connections that reduce loneliness" and "creates meaning and purpose that improves mental health" (Harvard Graduate School of Education Making Caring Common Project, 2024). That's exactly what these conversations do.

Small Groups Where Magic Happens: Remember how lonely people feel they have to put on fake faces? Voice Up creates intimate groups of 3-8 people where that mask can finally come off (Borawski, 2020). These aren't support groups—they're transformation circles where people discover their true selves while finding common purpose with others.

Works Everywhere, For Everyone: The conversation approach isn't limited to one setting. It transforms:

Families by helping them discover shared values and work together
Schools by connecting learning with real-world impact
Workplaces by aligning personal purpose with company mission
Churches by combining spiritual growth with community service
Communities by building authentic relationships across all boundaries

Open Q & A with Founder

REAL

STUDENTS

Real Impact. Real Results

IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW!

This isn't theory—it's happening right now. Voice Up tested their approach with 100 college students from schools like University of California Santa Barbara, University of North Carolina, Michigan State University, and many others. The feedback was overwhelming:

"It made me think about behaviors or habits I never thought about before" (University of Delaware)

"The assessment helps you really know your true self" (University of Michigan)

"I would recommend this to a friend because it gives detailed feedback on next steps you can take, helping you excel in life" (Southern Methodist University)

But that's just the beginning. Voice Up gathered feedback from 492 students at America's most elite universities—Berkeley, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, MIT, Columbia, Northwestern, Duke, University of Chicago, Cornell, and Georgetown. These students didn't just complete a program; they experienced transformation:

"Voice Up is a platform where everyone's voice matters. Empathy is the most important principle because it helps us truly understand others" (UC Berkeley)

"Voice Up helps students find their voice and use it to make positive change in communities that matter to them" (NYU)

"Voice Up creates safe spaces for authentic self-expression. Empathy is central to building those spaces" (University of Miami)

"Voice Up amplifies unheard voices. Collaboration is key because when we work together, our impact multiplies" (Stanford)

Students across the country are discovering what researchers have known for decades:

"Voice Up is all about making meaningful connections in an increasingly disconnected world" (Arizona State University)

"In a world where technology often isolates us, Voice Up helps bridge the gap. Empathy is more than just understanding—it's about genuine connection" (University of Colorado)

The Numbers Don't Lie

While Voice Up is transforming individual lives, the broader crisis continues to cost us everything. Social isolation among older adults alone costs Medicare an extra $6.7 billion every year. Loneliness increases the risk of early death by 29%, heart disease by 29%, stroke by 32%, and dementia by 50% (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2020).

But here's the incredible part: Voice Up's approach directly attacks these problems by creating meaningful connections across age groups while building the sense of purpose that research shows protects against mental decline and social isolation.

Join Our Movement

Romans 12:9-13 NLT
[9] Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. [10] Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. [11] Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. [12] Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. [13] When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.12.9-13.NLT

Open Q & A with Founder

Proven Leadership

Voice Up is led by Art Fuller, a servant leader with extensive experience in helping communities. Fuller has proven success in multiple areas:

Mental Health Leadership:

Dual Degree Doctor of Health Sciences / Master of Public Health Student (December 2025 Graduation)
Dissertation IRB Approved: Perceptions with Impact - A qualitative study of African American college students and their perceptions of possible careers in behavioral health
Won the Hamilton Award for Outstanding Contributions to Behavioral Health
Chief of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
National panelist for the National Council on Mental Wellbeing
Led organization to achieve special state recognition in mental health (only 8 sites selected statewide)

Education Innovation:

Founded 3 public schools serving 865 students, achieving national recognition for achievement and cultural diversity supporting over 18 international languages.
Secured $26.8M in funding and $2M+ in federal grants
Worked with Tennessee's $3.79B education budget and responsible for financial reconciliation by the State Board of Education.
Selected by the state as a School Reform Provider
Achieved top 5% status for student learning gains

Business Success:

Currently impacts students in 1,100 cities and 60 countries through Voice Up
Founded a social impact website ranked in the top 10% of all U.S. sites
Created innovative remote learning programs and digital university for social impact leaders
Successfully managed multi-million dollar budgets and led major organizational changes

The Harvard Study of Adult Development proves that "close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives" (Waldinger et al., 2017). Voice Up's conversation-centered approach directly builds these protective relationships while addressing the key finding that "81% of adults who were lonely also had anxiety or depression compared to 29% of those who were less lonely" (Harvard Graduate School of Education Making Caring Common Project, 2024).

The Bottom Line

Voice Up is changing mental health care by recognizing that lasting improvement doesn't come from treating symptoms but from creating authentic communities where people can discover and express their true selves while connecting to meaningful purpose. Voice Up has created the first complete, lifelong approach to mental health that addresses the root causes of depression, anxiety, and social isolation across all ages.

This new approach offers customized strategies that help organizations of all sizes become places where people discover authentic purpose, creating lasting mental health benefits for individuals while strengthening entire communities. Voice Up shows that the future of mental health lies not in isolated treatments but in building purpose-driven communities where people can safely share their authentic selves while serving something greater than themselves.

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References

American Psychiatric Association. (2024). Healthy Minds Monthly Poll. American Psychiatric Association.
Bell, G., Stott, J., et al. (2022). Sense of purpose is linked to reduced risk of dementia. University College London Research.
Borawski, D. (2020). Loneliness makes it difficult to perceive life as meaningful by inhibiting authenticity. Jan Kochanowski University Research.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Health effects of social isolation and loneliness. CDC Social Connection Initiative.
Forrest, C. B., Koenigsberg, L. J., Harvey, F. E., et al. (2025). Trends in US children's mortality, chronic conditions, obesity, functional status, and symptoms. *JAMA*, published online July 7, 2025. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.9855
Harvard Graduate School of Education Making Caring Common Project. (2024). Research on loneliness, purpose, and mental health outcomes. Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., & Layton, J. B. (2010). Social relationships and mortality risk: A meta-analytic review. PLOS Medicine, 7(7), e1000316.
Murthy, V. (2023). Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2020). Social isolation and loneliness in older adults: Opportunities for the health care system. The National Academies Press.
Sutin, A. R., Luchetti, M., Aschwanden, D., Stephan, Y., Sesker, A. A., & Terracciano, A. (2021). Sense of purpose in life is associated with lower risk of incident dementia: A meta-analysis. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 17(7), 1187-1196.
Waldinger, R., Schulz, M., Crowell, A., & Hauser, S. (2017). Harvard Study of Adult Development. Harvard Medical School.
World Health Organization Commission on Social Connection. (2023). Global estimates of social isolation and loneliness. World Health Organization.