The Real Meaning of “Ready” with Kylene Nosewicz
The Elevated Hope Project
Kylene, better known as “Cupid,” joins The Elevated Hope Project to share a story that is equal parts raw and relentlessly hopeful. From growing up in a chaotic home environment to battling chronic health conditions, severe depression, and the constant pressure of simply getting through the day, Cupid explains what it felt like to live in survival mode while still trying to stay in school and keep working. This episode highlights the turning point, her move to East Point High School, where flexibility, structure, and a mentor who truly met her where she was helped her rebuild momentum. You...
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Education That Puts Kids First with Matt Gress
The Elevated Hope Project
What does it actually mean for a student to be “ready” for the future? In this episode of the Elevated Education Podcast, we sit down with Matt Gress, Arizona State Representative and Chair of the House Education Committee, for a candid and deeply personal conversation about education, accountability, and what our systems are truly preparing students for. Matt shares his journey from growing up in a single-wide trailer in rural Oklahoma to becoming a teacher, budget director, and state education leader. Drawing from firsthand experience in the classroom, public policy, and mentorship, he...
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From Hoops to Hustle: RaSean McMiller’s Pivot Into Entrepreneurship
The Elevated Hope Project
What do you do when the dream you built your whole identity around gets taken away? In this episode of the Elevated Hope Project, we sit down with RaSean McMiller, a former high-level basketball recruit who had to make a hard pivot after injury and setbacks changed his path. Instead of isolating, RaSean chose action. That decision started with something simple, selling socks at 17, and turned into a whole new mindset: solve problems, add value, and keep moving. RaSean shares how he went from growing up outside Chicago with big NBA dreams to launching a hair care brand (inspired by his...
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The Truth About Grief and Growing Up: Mayson's Story
The Elevated Hope Project
Today on The Elevated Hope Project, we are honored to share Mayson's remarkable journey. A graduate of Accelerated Learning Center in Phoenix, Mayson has lived through more loss in her young life than many face in a lifetime. Yet through every hardship, she remained grounded, compassionate, and determined to move forward. In this candid conversation, Mayson reflects on her upbringing, the challenges her family faced, the heartbreak of losing her sister and later her mother, and how ALC became a safe place to heal, grow, and rediscover her strength. Now working, building her own independence,...
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Earning Respect, Finding Hope: Mike Broomhead on Resilience, Trades, and Changing the Story
The Elevated Hope Project
Radio and TV host Mike Broomhead sits down with The Elevated Hope Project to talk about the mentors who shaped him, the brother he lost, and why earning a young person’s respect matters more than any lecture. From a father-absent childhood and a GED to leadership in the trades and a media career, Mike shares honest lessons on discipline, community, and second chances. We dig into school choice, parental involvement, the social cost of tech, and how coaches and teachers can turn rebellion into leadership. If you work with at-risk students, are raising teens, or simply believe every kid has a...
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Setting the Temperature with Uriah Grissom on Purpose, Positivity and Leadership
The Elevated Hope Project
In this episode of The Elevated Hope Project, community leader and longtime team member Uriah Grissom shares how a mindset of steady positivity can break through resistance and help students see their potential. From being the sixth of eleven homeschooled children in rural Arizona to guiding at-risk teens in alternative education, Uriah unpacks lessons on resilience, setting the tone, and “mining for diamonds” in every student. He reflects on family, faith, and mentors, and explains why purpose often grows out of pain—and why leadership means doing your part, staying level under...
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From the South Side to Success: Sincere Townsend’s Journey of Resilience and Renewal
The Elevated Hope Project
In this powerful episode of The Elevated Hope Project, we sit down with Sincere Townsend, a Chicago native whose story embodies resilience, transformation, and the pursuit of hope. Growing up on the South Side, Sincere navigated the challenges of street culture, violence, and limited opportunities. By middle school, he faced a life-altering choice: follow the path of friends who ended up in jail or worse—or carve out a different future. His decision set him on a journey defined by education, entrepreneurship, and faith. But the road wasn’t easy. In high school, Sincere was diagnosed with...
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From Rock Bottom to Resilience: Olivia’s Story of Hope and Grit
The Elevated Hope Project
In this powerful episode of The Elevated Hope Project, we sit down with Olivia, a graduating senior from Accelerated Learning Center in Phoenix, Arizona. After losing nearly everything to the ripple effects of the pandemic—including her health, her education, and her confidence—Olivia made the bold decision to take back control. With the support of her family, her teachers, and her own unshakable willpower, she completed 26 classes in a single year, rebuilt her life, and found her voice. This is more than a comeback story—it’s a testament to what’s possible when students are met with...
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Yes, You Can: Sean Strickland’s Journey from Adversity to Impact
The Elevated Hope Project
In this heartfelt episode of The Elevated Hope Project, we sit down with Sean "Tarzan" Strickland—not the UFC fighter, but the equally tough and inspiring special education teacher at Elevated Education. From childhood surgeries and leg braces to bench pressing 400 pounds and mentoring students who’ve survived unimaginable hardship, Sean shares his journey of resilience, perspective, and unwavering commitment to the power of community. We dive deep into how his own challenges shaped his mindset, his passion for working with at-risk youth, and why he made the bold leap from IT director to...
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Leilani – A Story of Grit, Grief, and Growth
The Elevated Hope Project
In this moving episode of the Elevated Hope Project, we sit down with Leilani Billy, a senior at the Accelerated Learning Center, whose story embodies resilience, cultural pride, and unshakable perseverance. From growing up on the Navajo Nation to navigating academic struggles, profound personal loss, and the challenges of urban life in Phoenix, Leilani opens up about her journey toward graduation — and the determination it took to overcome every obstacle in her path. As she prepares to graduate and pursue a career in the trades, Leilani reflects on reconnecting with her Navajo heritage, the...
info_outlineIn this moving episode of the Elevated Hope Project, we sit down with Leilani Billy, a senior at the Accelerated Learning Center, whose story embodies resilience, cultural pride, and unshakable perseverance. From growing up on the Navajo Nation to navigating academic struggles, profound personal loss, and the challenges of urban life in Phoenix, Leilani opens up about her journey toward graduation — and the determination it took to overcome every obstacle in her path.
As she prepares to graduate and pursue a career in the trades, Leilani reflects on reconnecting with her Navajo heritage, the vital support of her school community, and the importance of using her story to inspire others. Her message to students facing grief, hardship, or feeling behind: you are not alone, and you are not done yet.
This episode is a tribute to the mission of Elevated Education — to provide second chances and spark transformation through schools like East Pointe High School, Elevated Academy, and the Accelerated Learning Center.
0:00 Leilani's Introduction and Background
2:18 Navajo Culture and Traditions
5:09 Challenges in School and Personal Losses
10:20 Transition to Accelerated Learning Center (ALC)
15:10 Positive Experiences and Teacher Connections
19:48 Future Plans and Community Support