Our Mission

Elevation Youth Corp (EYC) is an arts education nonprofit organization in Ypsilanti, Michigan founded to target at-risk teens with mentorship and training centered on the creative arts and entrepreneurship. Through practical, hands-on workshops in everything from photography and fashion modeling to broadcast media, audio engineering, entrepreneurship, and beyond, we create safe spaces in which young people can explore their interests, test new ideas, and learn from experienced mentors as they open new possibilities for their future. Though all EYC activities are offered free of charge, participants are encouraged to pay it forward by donating four hours of their time each month to community service. Our ultimate desire is to nurture the next generation of leaders ready to create lasting change for good in Eastern Michigan while building a national model for how to lift up and empower at-risk teens through the power of the creative arts.