Talent Sourcing Partners: The Unsung Heroes Behind Elevate+ Intern Success
At Elevate+, we believe that every student deserves access to formative, paid work experiences that build confidence, spark ambition, and open doors. Vital to our success are the organizations that help us find the remarkable students we serve: our Talent Sourcing Partners.
Going to Where the Students Are
Elevate+ works with a growing network of high schools, colleges, and community-based programs across the country to identify talented students from low-income and marginalized communities. We go to where the students are—partnering with organizations that already have deep relationships with young people working hard to overcome systemic barriers.
To be eligible for an Elevate+ internship, students must meet key criteria: they must come be marginalized and from a low-income background, and they must demonstrate achievement or potential in any aspect of their lives—whether academic, leadership, work ethic, or personal growth. We depend on our partners to connect us to students meeting our criteria. We then introduce the students to the Elevate+ community of host partners providing internship opportunities.
Two of our original talent partners are KIPP NJ, a high-performing charter school network in Newark, and The PEP Program, a Summit-based enrichment initiative that helps students get into college. The Elevate+ network has grown to include over 25 partners across New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Ohio, Tennessee, Colorado, Texas, and California. Partners we’ve added include Cleveland State University, the University of Colorado Denver, Fisk University, Drew University, and The Academy 365, to name just a few. Two of our most recent additions are West Side High School in Newark and CT State Community College in Norwalk.
These relationships are more than just talent pipelines for Elevate+—they are partnerships built on mutual trust and a shared commitment to student success. Two of our sourcing partners recently shared their perspectives on working with Elevate+. Here’s what they had to say about our collaboration:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A Perspective from Higher Edge
New London, Connecticut
Katie Hallisey, Executive Director
What value does the Elevate+ partnership bring to your organization?
“Being part of an underserved population can negatively impact development during and after college. Elevate+ provides both leverage and equity through its mission and programming. These internships allow students to build connections and refine their skills—whether they land the internship or not. The process alone is transformative. It boosts confidence, pushes students out of their comfort zones, and teaches them how to navigate professional environments with support at every step. It’s a true team effort—with cheerleaders all along the way.”
What do you like best about working with Elevate+?
“The authenticity of the staff. Elevate+ is more than what it says on its website. They deeply care—not just about internship placements, but about how students feel and how they’re doing overall. They stay in touch even after summer ends. Andrew and Carolyn regularly check in about students because they genuinely want to see them thrive in all aspects of their lives. It feels less like a partnership and more like we’re on the same team. Choosing to work with Elevate+ was one of my first decisions as Executive Director—and it’s still one of the best.”
Are there any standout intern stories?
“Every one of the 19 Higher Edge students who’ve participated has a story worth telling, but Leslie’s journey stands out. She interned at New London Landmarks in 2022 as an Oral History Intern and returned the next year to take on film and editing projects. Her work was so strong, it helped secure her admission—and a full scholarship—to Emerson College in Boston. Her experience, grit, and passion set her apart. Now, she’s thriving and on track to graduate in 2026. We can’t wait to see what she does next.”
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A Perspective from Destination College
Summit, New Jersey
Martha Sayre, Founder
What value does the Elevate+ partnership bring to Destination College students?
“Elevate+ has provided amazing opportunities for our students to explore different careers. While we focus on getting students into college, Elevate+ shows them what’s possible after college. It’s also introduced them to the importance of networking and building a strong professional presence—especially on platforms like LinkedIn.”
What do you like best about working with Elevate+?
“Elevate+ is extremely easy to work with and presents many opportunities for the students. Each year brings new opportunities for students to grow.”
Any standout success stories?
“So many! One student who wants to pursue HR landed an internship at Homeless Solutions that included both finance and HR responsibilities. She was nervous at first but ended up loving the experience. Another intern, studying social work, spent the summer at Summit Housing Authority—learning firsthand about community needs and social services. And one of our earliest Elevate+ students worked remotely for Charity Navigator, gaining experience in the nonprofit sector and learning how to present professionally—even over Zoom.”
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
More Than a Program—A Movement
The Elevate+ internship experience begins long before the first day on the job. It starts with our Talent Sourcing Partners belief that their students are capable of great things—and that with the right opportunities, they’ll prove it.
To all our partners: thank you for believing in your students and in our mission. You are not just opening doors—you are helping young people walk through them with confidence.
Want to become a Talent Sourcing Partner? Contact us here to learn how your school or program can get involved. Let’s build futures together.
