OUR STORY

Formerly known as YouDeserve!, Elevate318, was established by Bastrop, LA natives Javia Kennedy, Jordan Hart, & Kaziah Robinson in 2018. Despite being in Mississippi for undergraduate studies at the time, they saw an even greater need for change to be established back home. These three young ladies desired to re-ignite passion within the youth of their hometown after noticing a drastic economic decline following the close of its Paper Mill in 2008. While the economy took a sharp loss, these changes had a trickle-down effect on the public school system. From 2009-2016 Bastrop shifted from 8 inner city elementaries, 1 middle school and 1 high school, to presently 1 school for K-6th grade & 1 high school for 7-12th grade.

​

Javia,Jordan, & Kaziah created this organization to give the youth in the region an incentive to work towards, and to motivate older citizens to begin making a difference in the community. Their hope is that local townspeople realize that change begins with small strides, and that it is possible regardless of platform, age, or other factors.  Through scholarship, networking/collaboration and mentoring, their mission is to rally the community together to RISE!