Lightward Bound
Lightward Bound is an organization that I, Emil Therianos, started at the end of 2020. For most of the decade leading up to that year, as I observed divisions, scandals, corruption, violence, and other forms of darkness in the United States, I started to envision a non-profit organization that would counter the darkness by infusing light throughout American culture.
This will necessarily be a long-term endeavor that must entail a multitude of avenues and approaches to make an impact in our culture that would truly change America for the better.
We are just beginning, but the vision is grand. Since 2020, I have been posting various social media posts (focused in Tooele) with various thoughts and ideas related to light. I also published the results of my parenting research that I began during my graduate thesis work (find the research page in the site menu). I have also worked on developing the organization’s structure and framework and had been preparing to change the organization’s legal form to a non-profit corporation in the State of Utah. That is still a long-term goal, along with becoming a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. It has become evident that the organization will need to remain a sole proprietorship for a while longer. So for now, Lightward Bound is a non-profit, stuck in a “for-profit body.”
Founder
I am a citizen of the United States; I was born in the Los Angeles area of California. But I have also spent several years in other countries. By age ten, I was living with my family in Greece, my immigrant father’s homeland. We spent four years there, then returned to the U.S. Later, while in the military, my service took me to the Azores (Portugal) for two years and Izmir, Turkey for 15 months.
These experiences outside the U.S. helped me learn some important lessons: people from other cultures share many of the same concerns and struggles as everyone else. They also share many of the same hopes and aspirations. Good and bad exist in all cultures, regardless where they are or what they believe.
Another important lesson I have learned over the years is that people will tend to absorb much of the culture that they spend their lives in. This means much of the good or bad behavior that people exhibit is partially conditioned by their environment. That is a significant principle that inspired me to create Lightward Bound. If we can work together to elevate the culture around people, I believe we can improve how people treat each other and make things better for everyone, not just one party or ideology or religion or other defining characteristic.
I retired from my service in the United States Air Force after nearly 23 years. My experience in the military exposed me to many different and diverse Americans, adding to my deeper understanding of the commonalities among people; it also helped me learn to tolerate differences in positive ways. After retiring from the Air Force, I spent another 12 years as a substitute teacher in Tooele County’s schools, which added to my experience with people and their struggles and joys.
My higher education started with an associate degree in electronics engineering technology back in the 1990s. More recently, I completed my bachelor degree in business (Utah State University) and then completed my master’s degree in community leadership in 2020 (Westminster College).
Despite my flaws and weaknesses, I believe divine influence has prepared me for the work of Lightward Bound. I have been given insights, intelligence, and inspiration to do the work. I have been provided education and experience that support this cause and organization. I believe my strongest asset for leading Lightward Bound is my vision of the brighter future we will eventually achieve for America’s people. Come join with us as we–together–make America a shining beacon of LIGHT!