Meet Jansen Azarias-Suzumoto | CEO and Co-Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jansen Azarias-Suzumoto and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jansen, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor is our people. From my wife and I as co-founders, to the executive team and leaders we have, all the way to our teams that are at the schools, people are the backbone and driving force behind our success. Without our teams’ passion and belief in our mission, all we have are ideas and dreams. Every achievement of Higher Ground relies heavily on the collective efforts, skills, and dedication of every member of our team. When the community recognizes Higher Ground as effective, what they are recognizing is our people executing our mission and vision, believing in the values and methods that we have set forth. Prioritizing the needs and development of our people is crucial in ensuring long-term success. It’s people that work, not programs. Our product is people.

What should our readers know about your business?
Higher Ground is an organization or program that seeks to empower one life at a time to reach, transform, elevate their community through love and building character. It is driven by a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of people, focusing on their needs and working to improve their lives. The ultimate goal is to empower communities to rise to new heights and achieve their collective aspirations.

What makes us different from other is that we aren’t coming in with a cookie cutter approach, rather, we come in listening to the needs of the students, parents, school, and community and then collaboratively craft a solution together. We don’t see ourselves as the experts or the superheroes, rather, we are here to recognize the existing assets wherever we are at.

What we bring to the table is the strategy that we have developed. This strategy allows us to understand root causes, analyze assets and threats, and then incorporate the compassion and skills necessary to be scaffolded. We utilize this strategic, agile, and trauma responsive method with every student, family, and school community we work with.

Definitely not easy. It’s messy work. But that’s what we want. We want to be in messy work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them on a tour of Tucson’s downtown, the Desert Museum, and Mount Lemmon to showcase the diversity of experiences available here.

Downtown Tucson will provide a taste of the city’s art, creativity, and energy, and we will visit several restaurants to sample the local cuisine.

The Desert Museum will give them an understanding of the desert aspect of Tucson, showcasing its life, nature, beauty, and both exciting and frightening aspects.

Finally, a trip up Mount Lemmon will allow them to experience various biomes, from the desert to the pines. Mt. Lemmon is nature’s mirror to the people of Tucson. This is a great reflection of how nature and people can be diverse, and similarly, the different communities in Tucson may be easily missed if one doesn’t pay attention.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My wife and kids deserve a lot of credit for my story. Without my wife, I would have never recognized my calling. Without my two kids, I would have never learned what it is like to lead people. My wife is my protector, my partner, and the one who ensures that I am in the right space to do what I do.

Website: www.higherground.me

Instagram: www.instagram.com/highergroundaz

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/higher-ground-resource-center

Twitter: www.twitter.com/higherground_07

Facebook: www.facebook.com/highergroundresourcecenter