Summer is coming to an end, and we are heading into our TENTH YEAR of Elevate Indianapolis. As we dive into this year’s theme, 10 Years of Life-Changing Legacies, we are taking a moment to reflect on where Elevate began, the students we’ve met over the years, and the transformation we have seen in the youth of our city.
Elevate Indianapolis is grounded in Elevate USA’s 40+ year model, which began as Colorado Uplift in 1982. As the organization has grown, adding affiliates all over the country, its mission remains consistent: bringing hope and support to under-supported youth through long-term, life-changing relationships.
Since launching in 2016, Elevate Indy has transformed thousands of young lives within our city with a focus on teaching and mentorship. In our 2024-2025 season alone, we served over 1,300 students from 4th to 12th grade! Our full-time, salaried Teacher-Mentors guide and empower our high school students, while our high school students continue the cycle of positive change by mentoring our younger students.
Unfortunately, we have seen many urban youth face immense obstacles, obstacles that stand between them and the hope of a bright future. Among marginalized youth, only one in five students graduate high school, with even fewer attaining a college degree or proper job readiness training. Coming from under-supported communities leaves students with so much potential, but a severe lack of access to the resources they require to succeed.
Through every pillar of Elevate, our mission is centered on building deep, long-term relationships. By investing in our students both in and out of the classroom, our Teacher-Mentors build healthy, trusting relationships with their students, many of whom have never experienced trusting adult relationships.
Through Sports & Adventure and in-class curriculum, our students learn critical life and character skills to become confident, thriving members of their community. And, through the Pathways to Purpose college & career readiness model, they explore possibilities for the future and take actionable steps to achieve their goals.
Since our launch, we have also incorporated family & alumni services to continue supporting our students after graduation. After all, the need does not end after high school - in fact, the ups and downs of adult life can be just as stressful for young adults.
This is why we continue to foster these deep relationships with our alumni with regular check-ins and customized support. As we look ahead to the next ten years of Elevate, we aim to continue expanding our alumni support pillar because we strive to let our students know that they are never alone.
At Elevate, we believe that every student has limitless potential if given the proper support and access to resources. Through our 24/7 holistic model, we have watched so many students grow into the best versions of themselves, becoming confident, contributing members of their communities. As we celebrate this tenth year of Elevate and prepare for what’s ahead, we are grateful for your support in building up the future leaders of our city and our neighborhoods. We cannot wait to share with you how our impact continues to grow over the next ten years.
To create the most impactful future for Elevate, we want to hear from you! With just five minutes of your time, you can help us become an even stronger community of students, staff, alumni, and supporters. Tap here to take a quick survey and help us create sustainable impact for our students and our city.
