Leading Through Others: Col. Michele Matthews' Journey with Echelon
From helping launch Echelon in Dallas to supporting its growth across the country, Col. Michele Matthews has spent more than a decade helping young adults discover purpose, leadership, and service through The Salvation Army.
It was during her return from Kingston, Jamaica, that Michele Matthews realized something was missing.
After four years serving alongside communities affected by Hurricane Dean and the challenges that followed, she found herself asking a simple question: How can we inspire more people to serve and make a difference in their communities?
Returning Home with a Mission
Back in Dallas, Michele noticed that younger generations appeared less connected to The Salvation Army's mission. As Area Commander, she saw an opportunity to help bridge that gap.
Conversations with members of The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary highlighted a growing need to engage younger adults, both as supporters and future leaders. Together, they began exploring ways to bring young professionals into the mission in meaningful and practical ways.
What emerged was a group of young women, and later young men, who wanted to serve their communities while building relationships with one another. From those early conversations, Echelon was born. Inspired by military tradition, the name reflects a new generation rising behind longtime supporters and stepping forward into leadership and service.
The group's beginnings were modest. Early members volunteered together at community events and rang bells during the Red Kettle Campaign. As momentum grew, so did interest in the concept.
Members shared the vision with friends, colleagues, and family members, while leaders worked to present the model to The Salvation Army's National Advisory Board. Following its formal adoption, Echelon began expanding across the country, laying the foundation for the national movement that exists today.
Watching Lives Change
For Michele, one of the greatest rewards has been witnessing the transformation of Echelon members themselves.
"Usually, through volunteering, that's the start," she said. "Then over time they're seeing the mission and taking it on as a part of who they are."
At service projects, fundraising events, and community programs, Michele watched young professionals discover a deeper connection to service. She saw them build friendships, develop leadership skills, and embrace The Salvation Army's mission as their own.
In many ways, she saw reflections of her younger self, inspired by parents who devoted their lives to serving others and eager to help create positive change.
Over time, Michele became a mentor and guiding presence to many Echelon members, helping them find their own paths to leadership and community impact.
Rebuilding and Renewing
Like many organizations, Echelon faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some chapters became inactive. Leadership boards dissolved. Community connections that had taken years to build suddenly became more difficult to maintain.
For Michele, the challenge felt familiar. Just as she had witnessed communities rebuilding after disaster in Jamaica, she now found herself helping Echelon chapters recover and reconnect after years of disruption.
The Journey Continues
Today, even in retirement, Michele remains deeply invested in Echelon's future.
With 45 chapters and more than 1,146 members nationwide, the movement has grown far beyond those early conversations in Dallas. Yet Michele's focus remains the same: helping young adults discover opportunities to serve, lead, and create lasting change.
"I'd really like to continue to focus on re-energizing and reactivating chapters," she said. "This is inspiring work."
And for Michele Matthews, inspiring others has always been at the heart of the journey.