About Us
Empowerment Through Trade-Based Innovation
At Elevation Outreach, we believe every individual—regardless of background—deserves access to opportunity, guidance, and the tools to build a stable and successful future. Rooted in compassion and driven by purpose, our nonprofit organization serves as a lifeline for at-risk youth, single mothers, and other vulnerable populations through hands-on vocational training, mentorship, and workforce readiness.
Through innovative programming that integrates braiding and cosmetology trades with workforce development and life skills training, we provide a practical and empowering alternative to traditional pathways. Our model doesn't compete with the school system—it complements it, offering students an avenue to develop self-sufficiency while they remain engaged in their education.By investing in their future now, we help our participants break generational cycles, gain economic independence, and embrace their full potential.
About Elevation Outreach
Our model:
the benefits:
the benefits:
Earn While You Learn
Turning Talent Into Income. Building Confidence Through Craft.
Elevation Outreach is proud to introduce a diversified education model that merges traditional academics with trade-based
opportunity—empowering students not only to learn a skill but to monetize it while still in school.
This model was pioneered by our founder, Vanesia Powell, who as a youth faced economic hardship, justice involvement, and the responsibility of supporting her younger siblings. Braiding wasn’t just her passion—it was her survival. It bought school clothes, paid bills, and gave her purpose. Today, she has turned that survival into a strategy for systemic change.
the benefits:
the benefits:
the benefits:
How the Model Works
1. School-Based Salon Labs
Partner campuses will host on-site salon labs where Elevation Outreach students—trained and mentored through our program—can offer low-cost services to the public, faculty, and fellow students under licensed supervision.
2. Real-Time Skill Application
Students apply classroom learning in real-world settings, building both confidence and clientele while staying engaged in their education.
3. Earn While They Learn
Through this model, students generate income while gaining hours toward certification. They learn financial responsibility, entrepreneurial thinking, and customer service in a safe, structured environment.
4. Community Impact & Engagement
The model creates a full-circle benefit:
- The community gets affordable beauty services
- Students gain income and experience
- Schools improve engagement, behavior, and attendance through meaningful hands-on learning.
partner:
the benefits:
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Why This Model
This program is about more than teaching a trade—it’s about restoring direction, building confidence, and creating long-term pathways to independence.
Too often, students who struggle in traditional academic environments are misjudged or overlooked. But in many cases, their challenges are not a lack of potential—but a lack of relevance and engagement. Some students are visionaries with their hands. They think creatively, express themselves through physical skill, and flourish when given the opportunity to do meaningful, hands-on work.
Our model provides that opportunity.
By introducing trade-based learning, financial literacy, and workforce preparation within the school system, we offer a supplemental track that works in tandem with academics—not in competition with it. Students stay enrolled, stay engaged, and gain access to training that not only inspires them but prepares them for life after graduation.
Students like Vanesia—who needed more than a desk—found power in a path that aligned with their strengths. Now, she’s built an empire and is using her journey to ensure others like her don’t get left behind.
The Trade of Braiding Gifts the World and Girls An Expression of Freedom
Founder
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The World of Possibilities
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