Pathway 01
Prevention & Intervention
For at-risk young people referred through schools, child welfare, and community partners. An early opportunity to build confidence and explore a career path before justice involvement.
Planned 12-week cohortsColumbia, South Carolina · Youth empowerment
Talent is everywhere.
Opportunity should be too.
We equip young people ages 12–24 with real-world media skills, workforce readiness, and the confidence to build lives of their own design.
Evolving Lives Every Day Through Vocational Arts Training & Education
ROOTED IN RICHLAND COUNTY SKILLS THAT OPEN DOORS TWO PATHWAYS, ONE PURPOSE
Why we exist
More than a second chance. A real first opportunity.
Elevate 180 is a developing youth vocational arts initiative built around one idea: creative skills can change what comes next. We connect young people to hands-on media training, professional development, and people who see their potential.
Whether a young person needs early support or is returning home from juvenile justice involvement, the goal is the same: practical skills, a stronger sense of purpose, and a pathway forward.
Our belief
A young person's story is still being written. Give them the tools to shape the next chapter.
Who we serve
Two pathways.
One future worth investing in.
Focused on youth and young adults in Richland County, South Carolina.
Pathway 02
Reentry & Reintegration
For young people ages 16–24 transitioning home after juvenile justice involvement. The focus is stability, employable creative skills, structured support, and renewed direction.
Planned 16-week cohortsWhat we teach
Creative skills.
Real career possibilities.
Media is the starting point. Every training area is designed to build skills young people can take into the workforce or use to create opportunities of their own.
Photography
Camera fundamentals, composition, visual storytelling, and professional image-making.
Videography
Filming, shot design, production planning, and creating stories through motion.
Video Editing
Editing workflows with Adobe Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, and CapCut.
Digital Content & Design
Graphic design, content creation, and social media storytelling.
Business of Media
Pricing, portfolios, professional communication, and understanding creative work.
Workforce Readiness
Resumes, interviews, professional introductions, and workplace confidence.
The year-one vision
Clear goals.
Meaningful outcomes.
30Youth enrolled
75%Cohort completion target
40%Employment or internship target
80%Reentry no-re-arrest target
These figures are first-year goals from the Elevate 180 executive summary, not reported results.
Meet the founder
Experience that meets purpose.
Akai Shelise Jones
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Built at the intersection of youth advocacy and creative media.
Akai brings a rare mix of experience to Elevate 180. Her background includes frontline foster care social work, leadership training for foster care managers, public information and communications at the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, and professional photography and videography through Film by A.K. LLC.
Her vision is to use skills she practices professionally to help young people develop confidence, create meaningful work, and see more possibilities for their future.
Leadership & accountability
Board of Directors
Meet the people helping guide Elevate 180’s work to equip youth and young adults with creative skills and meaningful opportunities.
Founder & Chief Executive OfficerAkai Shelise Jones
Akai founded Elevate 180 to connect youth and young adults with practical media skills, workforce readiness, and new possibilities. Her experience spans foster care, public communications, and professional visual storytelling.
Founder profile · Board membership is not implied.Meet our directors
Elevate 180's board supports its mission, strengthens accountability, and helps create opportunities for young people in our community.
Individual director biographies and portraits can be added as they become available.
Vice Chair / Vice PresidentMr. Floyd Lyes
Director & Board MemberDr. Mamie Hayes-Hartwell
Anya James
Mission oversightFinancial stewardshipYouth-centered decisionsCommunity connections
Connect with our leadership
Board correspondence
Questions for our board? Use the general board address below. Individual email addresses will be activated after Zoho mailbox setup.
Contact the board through Akai ↗Board email activation pending. Until it is set up, please contact Akai at akai@elevate180.org.
Invest in what's next
Support a young person's next chapter.
Contributions and partnerships can help Elevate 180 develop training in photography, filmmaking, digital content, and workforce skills for youth ages 12–24 in Richland County.
$25
Creative beginnings
A suggested gift toward educational materials and program supplies.
Ask about giving ↗$100
Build practical skills
A suggested gift toward creative training materials and workshop preparation.
Ask about giving ↗$500
Become a program supporter
Explore supporting equipment, learning resources, or a future youth showcase.
Ask about giving ↗Your choice
Give an amount that works for you
Enter a dollar amount to prepare a giving inquiry. No payment is collected here.
Secure online giving
Give through Zeffy
We are setting up a secure donation checkout for one-time and monthly gifts. You will be able to choose a suggested gift or enter your own amount.
Donation payments are not active yet. Elevate 180 is awaiting confirmation of required fundraising compliance and the official Zeffy campaign URL.
Other ways to give
Interested in donating cameras, production equipment, space, professional expertise, or becoming a corporate sponsor? We would welcome a conversation.
Payment link not connected. Donations cannot be completed on this website yet. Elevate 180 has not confirmed federal 501(c)(3) recognition; please do not assume a gift is tax-deductible. Before the link goes live, the organization must complete any required South Carolina charitable solicitation registration or qualify for an exemption.
Help shape what's next
A stronger future takes a community.
Elevate 180 is building its foundation. We're seeking advice, introductions, resources, and partnerships to help move from vision to implementation.
01 / PARTNER
Become a community partner
Explore referrals, mentorship, internships, project collaborations, or opportunities for youth.
Start a conversation ↗02 / RESOURCE
Share space or equipment
Help identify training locations, media equipment, and other in-kind program resources.
Offer support ↗03 / CONNECT
Help build capacity
Introduce Elevate 180 to funding resources, legal guidance, nonprofit mentors, or potential collaborators.
Connect with us ↗Elevate 180 is in its formation stage. This website does not process charitable contributions or represent that tax-exempt status has been approved.
Stay connected
Let's create the next opportunity.
Interested in supporting Elevate 180? Draft a partnership inquiry using this form. You can copy the message and send it using your preferred email or messaging app.
Columbia, South Carolina
Serving Richland County · Youth ages 12–24
Website named in our executive summary:
elevate180.org
Email Elevate 180
Existing email: akai@elevate180.org
General inquiries: info@elevate180.org (pending setup)
Donations: donations@elevate180.org (pending setup)
Board: board@elevate180.org (pending setup)
These general addresses are proposed and need to be created in Zoho before they can receive messages.