our story
background
Officially founded in 2010, Elevated Thought (ET) was born in 2008; an idea that stemmed from a poem and a mural addressing social issues and demanding solutions. The mission quickly followed. Running our first art and social justice based workshop in 2010 and creating our first public art project in 2011, we have continued to strengthen our mission each year since; serving, inspiring, and seeking forms of liberation through creativity. ET believes that all young people should and could have access to wide-ranging, creative, and alternative learning opportunities. ET is designed to affirm cultural and community identity as well as to build the capacity for creative practices that enable youth to produce the stories and visions that lead to individual and community change.
theory of change
If youth and artists of color have access and exposure to wide-ranging forms of creativity, consistent mentorship, and guidance through high-quality arts programs, they will develop the skills and confidence to pursue opportunities
to both self-actualize and contribute to social progress.
This then leads to authentic and nurturing creative spaces in which youth and artists of color can consider and build their technical art skills, collaborative capacity, and critical consciousness.
This results in long-term outcomes of reshaping and creating more humanized social systems through strengthened individual foundations based on creativity, conversation
and collaboration.
the 'why'
Elevated Thought ® believes that all young people should and could have access to wide-ranging, creative, and alternative learning opportunities. We are designed to affirm cultural and community identity and build the capacity for creative practices that enable youth to produce the stories and vision that lead to individual and community change.
ET offers holistic, cross-disciplinary opportunities for learning (arts, humanities, social sciences, philosophy, history),
as well as support for youth to take thoughtful steps in choosing professional pathways and preparing themselves for
impact and leadership in a changing and challenging world.
