Together We Live: Making Room for Neurodivergent Families

People think and function in different ways. Traditional approaches have seen conditions like ADHD, autism, or dyslexia as diagnoses that need to be cured. However, in recent years, a more inclusive approach labels neurodiversity as natural and valuable for diverse thinking and learning within communities.

As acceptance of neurodiversity continues to rise, Mannam Christian Church in Everett, Washington, recognized a need to foster understanding and inclusion by offering support for neurodivergent families. They launched the organization now called Your Place to Shine, which creates supportive community groups focused on neurodiverse inclusion. “Our mission is to build a community where everyone feels valued, understood, and empowered,” said Rev. Dr. Seungil Eo, founder of Your Place to Shine and a member of NBA’s 2025 SENT Cohort.

To help the organization get started, Rev. Dr. Seungil Eo applied for NBA Mission and Ministry Grants, receiving $15,000 in the Fall of 2024 and $7,000 in the Fall of 2025 that allowed them to bring their concept to reality. Reflecting on its impact, he states, “This grant facilitated us to build up a nonprofit to lead the movement for a long-time purpose, as well as giving us the space to challenge and gain invaluable experiences in trial and error…without the grant, we could not have started the work or live out our dreams.”

Your Place to Shine began offering weekly neurodiversity leadership training for youth and young adults and the community, as well as hosting a multi-day retreat to expand training deeper. According to Rev. Dr. Eo, the response from the surrounding community has been incredible: parents were more active in participating in the project than anticipated, the organization was able to identify several professionals in the area to build a future network, and they discovered additional resources they could offer participants.

Going forward, Your Place to Shine plans to further enhance their work in the community. Now a  501(c)(3) organization separate from the church, they are exploring ways to enable local communities to develop supporting cohorts for neurodivergent families and linking them to the Your Place to Shine network of professionals. Rev. Dr. Eo, states, “We will go on and on to change the narratives in our local societies.”