[CLEVELAND, OH] – [5.28.24] – Engage! Cleveland is excited to announce its partnership with Elevate to Even Plus, a dynamic nonprofit dedicated to empowering underserved students through meaningful, paid internship opportunities. This collaborative effort aims to equip students, particularly those from low-income families and communities of color, with essential work experience to bolster their readiness for the job market upon completing their education.

Elevate to Even Plus has developed an innovative program that connects high-achieving students with local and neighboring nonprofits through paid internships. By identifying talented students and partnering with organizations seeking to host summer internships, Elevate to Even Plus bridges the gap between students and valuable professional opportunities. Elevate to Even Plus raises funds to provide grants to each host, ensuring interns receive fair compensation for their contributions.

As part of its commitment to nurturing education and career development, Engage! Cleveland is proud to collaborate with Elevate to Even Plus for the summer of 2023. Through this partnership, Engage! Cleveland will provide a paid internship experience for students, recognizing the profound impact of internships in offering valuable work experiences, skill-building opportunities, and networking possibilities. Engage! Cleveland will assign a dedicated mentor to guide the intern through their professional work experience, ensuring they receive the support and guidance needed to thrive.

“Our partnership with Elevate to Even Plus is designed to be a true win-win endeavor. The students gain meaningful paid work experiences while Engage! Cleveland gains exposure to high-caliber students from the communities we serve. We’re thrilled to provide what promises to be a deeply meaningful experience for our interns,” said Ashley Basile Oeken, President of Engage! Cleveland.

For more information about Elevate to Even Plus, please visit eleven-plus.org, and to learn more about Engage! Cleveland please visit www.engagecleveland.org. For media inquiries or further details, please contact: Carolyn Parelli, Chief Program Officer Elevate to Even Plus  Email: carolyn.parelli@eleven-plus.org

Engage! Cleveland is a community engagement organization for young professionals and business/community leaders who are passionate about making Cleveland a lasting home for the next generation. Our goal is to attract, engage and retain young, diverse talent to Greater Cleveland by connecting young professionals to people, jobs, organizations, and events. You can learn more at www.engagecleveland.org.

About Elevate to Even Plus: Elevate to Even Plus levels the playing field for underrepresented young adults to break the cycle of social and economic inequality that exists in our communities. We facilitate access to formative work experience for students and help nonprofit and for-profit organizations tap into a pool of promising young talent. With a mission to disrupt systemic inequality by providing underserved students with access to transformative, paid internship experiences that get them to even — and beyond. You can learn more and provide support to the organization at www.eleven-plus.org.