Executive Summary

Elevate Phoenix works in low-income communities where 85% of the youth qualify for the Federal Free/Reduced Lunch Program. However, our real target community is youth who participate in our programs and their families. For 14 years we have built relationships with thousands of low-income, at-risk youth and families. Most of our teacher-mentors grew up in the same communities and faced, and overcame, the same challenges as today’s youth. In addition to teaching and tutoring the youth, they meet them where they live. They have sat at kitchen tables with them and their parents, held fundraisers to cover funeral expenses for families that lost a child to a gang shooting, and helped parents get into substance abuse programs. When their child’s behavior changes, parents call us – their “extended family” – to discuss how to respond together. Our focus on building relationships has resulted in thousands of youth staying in school, graduating, going to college, and securing a well-paying job.

75% of our executive leadership and 82% of our teacher-mentors and other key staff are people of color. We have meaningfully contributed to the youths’ ability to achieve substantive improvement in their well-being by motivating them to stay in school, graduate, complete post-secondary education and secure a well-paying job. This has broken the generational cycle of poverty and enabled youth to help their families financially. Our earliest graduates also are putting their children on the path of education and career planning so they never have to struggle like they did.

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