Elevate Long-term Life-changing Legacies Podcast Series

Elevate Long-term Life-changing Legacies Podcast Series

By Elevate IndyBusinessNon-Profit
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Elevate Long-term Life-changing Legacies Podcast Series episodes

  • Elevate Alumni Spotlight: Arsenal Tech Grad Daviontae shows how character comes first

    Our alumni podcast is back with all-new success stories from real Elevate alumni!


    Join us this month as we sit down with Daviontae, a 2022 Arsenal Tech graduate and Elevate alumnus, to discuss his journey as a heavy equipment technician right after high school, leaning away from the college pathway and finding a great career.


    He has lived out his commitment that people, “don’t really care what you have; they really care who you are,” as he shares his journey starting and continuing with Mcalister's Machinery


    Head to our YouTube channel to hear the full interview soon, along with many other stories of success from our incredible alumni!

    29 min
  • Elevate Alumni Spotlight: Arsenal Tech Grad Mikhail shows he's living great as a thriving adult.

    Our alumni podcast is back with all-new success stories from real Elevate alumni!


    Join us this month as we sit down with Mikhail, an Arsenal Tech graduate and Elevate alumnus, to discuss how he went from quiet to bold confidence and lived out his commitment to his siblings that "we can still go out there and do something with ourselves," as he shares how his apprenticeship at Forvis helped him tackle his goals.

    17 min
  • Elevate Alumni Spotlight: Lawrence Central Grad Javeauhn Holmes on his love for Indy and giving back

    Elevate Indianapolis President and CEO Aaron Story continues the Elevate Long-term Life-changing Legacies Podcast Series.


    This episode features Javeauhn Holmes, a 2025 Lawrence Central graduate now attending Indiana University Bloomington. Javeauhn shares his journey as a first-generation college student, his love for Indianapolis, and the importance of giving back — building a future rooted in purpose, discipline, and community connection in the city that raised him.

    32 min
  • Elevate Alumni Spotlight: Purdue Poly Grad Victoria Anderson on College, Work and Finding Her Path

    Elevate Indianapolis President and CEO Aaron Story continues the 10th anniversary alumni series with a focus on Purdue Poly High School. This episode features Victoria Anderson, a 2025 Purdue Poly graduate now attending Founders College at Butler University, and co-interviewer Gabe Story, a Purdue Poly alumnus and current Hanover College student. Victoria shares her journey graduating high school early, balancing college and work, becoming a first-generation college student, and building a future rooted in purpose, discipline and community connection in Indianapolis.

    32 min
  • Imani’s Journey: From Elevate Indianapolis to a Future in Nursing

    Imani, a George Washington High School graduate and IU Indianapolis student, joins Elevate Indianapolis President Aaron Story and co-host Calvin Washington to share how perseverance, faith, and family shaped her path toward a career in public health and nursing. In this episode of “10 Years of Long-Term Life-Changing Legacy of Elevate,” she opens up about overcoming academic setbacks, discovering her purpose, and how Elevate’s mentorship helped her thrive through adversity.

    35 min
  • Chris Estrada’s Story: From Homeless Teen to Union Ironworker

    Union ironworker Chris Estrada joins Elevate Indianapolis President Aaron Story and co-host Calvin Washington to share his inspiring journey from homelessness on Indy’s west side to building a thriving career and mentoring others. A 2019 Arsenal Tech graduate, Estrada reflects on lessons from Elevate mentors, how hard work and integrity shaped his life, and what “thriving” really means. This episode celebrates 10 years of Elevate Indy’s long-term, life-changing legacy.

    23 min
  • “Sometimes You Can’t Take No for an Answer”: Lessons from David Leye

    Elevate Indianapolis presents another inspiring story in our 10-year legacy series. Elevate Indianapolis President Aaron Story and co-host Calvin Washington sit down with David Leye, a George Washington High School graduate and college basketball player at the City College of New York. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, and raised on the west side of Indianapolis, Le reflects on his journey from being cut from multiple basketball teams to earning his spot on a college roster. He shares how discipline, faith, and family shaped his resilience—and how thriving means pushing forward when life doesn’t go as planned.

    33 min
  • Elevate Indianapolis Alumni Spotlight: Mariana, Arsenal Tech ’22

    In this Elevate Indianapolis alumni podcast, President and CEO Aaron Story and co-host Calvin Washington speak with Mariana, a 2022 Arsenal Tech graduate and current senior at the University of Indianapolis. Mariana reflects on her journey growing up in Fountain Square, attending local schools including William McKinley School 39 and Harshman Middle School, and eventually graduating from Arsenal Tech. Now preparing to graduate in 2026 with a degree in elementary education and a minor in child and youth programming, she shares how her family and community have been her foundation through challenges such as childhood medical issues, a serious car accident, and the demands of her education major.

    She talks about the impact of Elevate programs, from her early involvement through her older sister at Harshman, to her own experiences with classes, mentorship, and internships that confirmed her calling as a teacher. Mariana highlights the role of mentors like Ms. Garza, Bralyn, and Jackson in shaping her path and preparing her for leadership.
    In this conversation, she emphasizes the importance of perseverance, support systems, and the lessons learned through both family and community. She also offers insights into what it means to thrive as a young adult, the challenges facing youth in Indianapolis, and why investing in kids is critical for the city’s future.
    This episode is part of the “Long-Term Life-Changing Legacies” series, celebrating Elevate Indianapolis alumni who are becoming thriving contributors to their communities.

    27 min
  • Elevate Indianapolis Alumni Spotlight: Te’Niah Evans on Perseverance and Thriving

    In this Elevate Indianapolis alumni podcast, President and CEO Aaron Story and co-host Calvin Washington speak with Te’Niah Evans as the organization marks its 10th anniversary. Evans, a 2022 graduate now studying business at Indiana Wesleyan, reflects on her journey from North Carolina to Indianapolis, her experiences with IPS and township schools, and how Elevate mentors like Ms. Garza and Ms. Banks shaped her path. She shares candid insights about bullying, resilience, motherhood, college, and her vision for financial freedom.

    Watch to hear Te’Niah's story of overcoming challenges, finding community support, and defining what it means to thrive as a young adult in Indianapolis.

    • 00:00 Sacrifice for Your Goals
    • 00:22 Welcome to Elevate Indianapolis 10-Year Series
    • 00:55 Meet the Host and Calvin Washington
    • 02:30 Introducing Our Guest: Tania Evans (T)
    • 03:40 Growing Up and Moving to Indianapolis
    • 04:28 Adjusting to New Schools and Fitting In
    • 05:25 Overcoming Childhood Challenges
    • 06:30 School Experiences Across the City
    • 07:52 Early Days with Elevate and Getting Involved
    • 09:05 Elevate: High School Reflections and Support
    • 10:35 Mentors Who Made a Difference
    • 12:17 Core Memories and Elevate Impact
    • 13:08 Overcoming Adversity with Mentor Support
    • 17:00 Post-High School Struggles and Sacrifices
    • 18:32 Balancing Goals, Parenting, and Adult Life
    • 19:50 Big Dreams: Education, Work, and Financial Freedom
    • 20:44 Finding Fulfillment and Thriving as a Young Adult
    • 21:17 Advice for the Next Generation
    • 22:34 Reflections on Growing Up with Elevate
    • 24:11 Challenges Facing Indianapolis Youth Today
    • 26:25 What Needs to Change for the Next Generation?
    • 27:49 Celebrating 10 Years of Elevate and Alumni Stories
      • 29 min
    • From Fights to Focus: Calvin Washington’s Elevate Story

      In this first episode of Elevate Indianapolis’ 10th anniversary alumni podcast series, President and CEO Aaron Story and leadership coach Gisela Perez introduce George Washington High School graduate Calvin Washington. Calvin shares how Elevate’s mentors shaped his life, from middle school fights to launching his own car detailing business and preparing for Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. He reflects on core childhood memories, the impact of family support, losing a close friend, and his vision for Indianapolis’ youth.

      00:00 Show Me Your Friends, Show Me Your Future

      00:31 Welcome and Elevate Indy Overview

      01:11 Meet the Hosts and Special Guests

      01:55 Introducing Calvin: Background and Story

      03:13 Growing Up in Indianapolis

      04:28 Family Support and Influences

      06:41 Core Childhood Memories

      08:17 Fighting, Mentorship, and Turning Points

      10:08 Discovering Elevate and Its Impact

      12:21 Powerful Mentors and Influence

      13:03 Life-Changing Trips and Experiences

      14:32 Loss, Legacy, and Friendship

      15:53 Lessons Learned for the Next Generation

      16:25 Becoming a Young Entrepreneur

      18:49 Launching the Car Detailing Business

      20:15 Building Connections and Planning Ahead

      21:38 Thriving and Giving Back

      23:04 Consistency, Listening, and Growth

      24:04 Current Life, College, and Goals for the Future

      25:34 Paving the Way: Education and Family Legacy

      27:03 Role Models and Breaking Cycles

      28:08 Challenges in Indianapolis: Family, Youth, and Solutions

      30:32 Support, Advice, and What Needs to Change

      31:04 Elevate's Impact: Growing the Legacy

      32:20 Final Thoughts, Invitation, and How to Get Involved

      32 min

    About Elevate Long-term Life-changing Legacies Podcast Series

    From the publisher's feed

    Long-term Life-changing Legacies is a podcast series from Elevate Indianapolis celebrating over 10 years of impact with urban youth across the city. Since 2015, Elevate has built long-term, life-changing relationships that equip students to thrive and contribute in their communities.