More Than a Celebration: How Our Community Is Elevating Impact Together
By: Dr. Letisha Laws, Deputy Chief of School-Based Initiatives, Elevate 215
In Philadelphia, we know what are the educational challenges schools face everyday. But on May 14, we heard example after example of schools from all sectors not just describing the problems that they were trying to solve, but about research-based solutions that are not only equitable, but also delivering results.
The event was a powerful celebration of our sustained impact, diverse leader retention, and the brilliance that shines through the investment from Elevate.
At Elevate 215’s Impact Celebration, over 120 educators, funders, students, and advocates gathered at the Great Hall of the Community College of Philadelphia for Innovate & Inspire: A Night Honoring Our Grantees. But what brought together the representatives from over 50 schools and organizations was more than a celebration—it was a shared commitment to accelerating student achievement and advancing school quality across the city.
The event spotlighted grantees across all sectors—district, charter, and faith-based—who are beating the odds and raising the bar for what’s possible in Philadelphia schools. From an award-winning Algebra program changing student trajectories to a social-emotional initiative empowering students to lead, each story reminded us of our collective responsibility to elevate student outcomes.
These weren’t just anecdotes. They were fuel—motivating, inspiring, and impactful.
And the reaction from attendees?
“There’s nothing more motivating, inspiring, and instructive than hearing about the successes occurring in our same context with our same challenges.”
“It motivated me to think more boldly about the impact I can make in my own work.”
“It was inspiring to see a shared commitment to student growth and sustained impact across diverse school communities.”
“We weren’t just inspired—we were activated.”
This wasn’t just an evening of recognition. It was an evening of activation.
In the days that followed, attendees scheduled meetings, planned visits, and began brainstorming partnerships. This is what happens when a funding organization doesn’t just write checks—but builds community.
We don’t just need more resources. We need more recognition, more collaboration, and more amplification of what works.
It’s time to stop asking whether transformational change is possible. We’ve already seen it. The question now is whether we’re ready to scale it.
We’re so grateful to everyone who made this night possible—and we can’t wait to build on this momentum.
