Our Mission: Fostering Opportunity and Inclusion

Three Feet High Foundation was founded by Dylan Farris and Yvonne Marin as a response to the deep inequities faced by people impacted by the justice system. Our work is rooted in personal experience, disability advocacy, and a commitment to second-chance employment. Our flagship initiative, Hidden GEMS – Justice-Involved Professionals Initiative, lifts up skilled, justice-involved individuals as an untapped workforce talent pool.

The Three Feet High Foundation was founded with a bold vision: to lift up individuals and communities by standing firmly in partnership, purpose, and possibility. Our name reflects our belief that meaningful change begins at ground level—often just three feet high—where lived experience, emerging ideas, and untapped potential intersect. We are a nonprofit organization that embraces a wide range of initiatives in education, workforce development, inclusion, and community-based support, allowing us to meet needs as they arise and evolve.

At our core, we serve as connectors—bringing together people, organizations, and opportunities to create impact. Whether we’re supporting youth through creative learning projects, building bridges between employers and underserved populations, or helping organizations scale community-centered programs, our approach is always collaborative, responsive, and rooted in equity.

One of our current flagship initiatives is the Hidden GEMS project—Generating Employment for the Marginalized and Skilled. Hidden GEMS addresses the untapped potential of justice-involved professionals who, despite high levels of skill and education, face significant barriers to employment due to past legal involvement. Through advocacy, digital tools, and employer engagement, we are working to transform hiring practices and reveal the value in those too often overlooked.

At the Three Feet High Foundation, we believe every person holds value and promise. We’re committed to lifting up voices that have been silenced, unlocking doors that have been closed, and creating new spaces where all people can thrive.

How Hidden GEMS Advances Our Mission

The Three Feet High Foundation’s mission to promote universal inclusion, education, and empowerment comes to life through Hidden GEMS. This project directly serves people who have been shut out of economic opportunity—not because they lack ability, but because systemic stigma, criminal records, disability, or gender identity have excluded them. Through this initiative, we are creating pathways to employment, launching a transformative platform, and offering long-term coaching, outreach, and recruiting services.

Hidden GEMS embodies our belief that greatness rises from the margins—and our commitment to change systems from the inside out.