Level Up Cincinnati

Match Day is our favorite day! ?? What an incredible start to the year at Level Up Cincinnati! Sunday, our new Level Up Scholars, and their mentors met for the first time, marking the beginning of an exciting journey together. From engaging conversations to fun games and delicious food, Match Day was filled with smiles, laughter, and the promise of great things to come. We are beyond grateful to our amazing mentors who volunteer their time, expertise, and hearts to guide our scholars on their path to success. Your commitment is helping to bridge the gap for first-generation students, empowering them to thrive in their education and future careers. To our new scholars, welcome to the Level Up family! We are thrilled to support you as you unlock your potential and reach new heights. Together, we’re not just changing individual lives—we’re transforming our community. Here’s to a year of growth, connection, and success! ?? #levelup #cincymentors #firstgen #DEI #mentorship #cincinnati

We are thrilled to announce that we have received a generous grant of $45,000 from the Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation. This incredible support will help us further our mission of empowering first-generation college students to achieve their dreams and transform their futures.???? ? With this grant, we've proudly welcomed Bryan Hatcher to our team. Bryan will be a catalyst for change, providing vital coaching and support to our students as they navigate their educational and professional journeys. ? Thank you, Haile Foundation, for your dedication to building a brighter, more inclusive future. Your support is making a real difference!??? Special thanks to Kirsten MacDougal for believing in our vision and advocating for our mission! ? #LevelUp #CincyMentors #FirstGen #DEI #Mentorship #Cincinnati #Partners

?? Welcome Our New Program Director, Bryan Keith Hatcher Jr! ?? We are thrilled to welcome Bryan Hatcher as our new Program Director! Bryan brings a wealth of experience in mentoring, curriculum design, and program development. His innovative approach and dedication to empowering first-generation college students from low-income families make him the perfect fit for our organization. “The addition of Bryan Hatcher to our team marks a significant step forward for Level Up Cincinnati. His extensive experience and commitment to mentorship will be invaluable as we continue to expand our impact and support more students in achieving their dreams” - Jim Rodarte, Executive Director Bryan’s passion for mentorship and his vision for creating impactful programs will help us build a stronger, more inclusive community where every student has the opportunity to succeed. Join us in welcoming Bryan to the Level Up Cincinnati family! Together, we will continue to bridge the gap between education and career success for first-generation students. Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/grZa6zbQ #LevelUpCincinnati #FirstGen #Mentorship #Education #ProfessionalDevelopment #NewBeginnings #Empowerment

We’re incredibly thankful to Unistrut Midwest and all of our sponsors for their crucial support in making our inaugural Aiming for Equity fundraiser a resounding success! Their commitment enables us to expand our efforts to support more first-generation students on their paths to success. ??

"Hey scholars, if someone asked you to describe Level Up - what would you say?" ?? Pass the tissues... #Levelup #FirstGen #Mentorship

We are thrilled to announce that PDI | Green City Demolition in partnership with Level Up Cincinnati forge innovative partnership to empower first-generation students. This unique alliance marries the construction industry's capabilities with the philanthropic mission of supporting education, thereby creating a sustainable model for community development and student success. Through this partnership, PDI | Green City Demolition commits to donating a portion of the scrap metal proceeds from its demolition projects to fund scholarships and programming at Level Up Cincinnati. The first project under this new agreement, is the demolition of The Terrace on 6th Street (in partnership with Novo Development Group), symbolizes a commitment to reinvesting in the local community and supporting the academic and professional aspirations of Cincinnati's youth. "Every dollar donated by PDI | Green City Demolition directly supports our scholarships and programming, ensuring our students not only dream of a brighter future but also have the means to achieve it," said Jim Rodarte, Executive Director of Level Up Cincinnati. "This partnership exemplifies how businesses can profoundly impact education and open up new pathways for our students." PDI | Green City Demolition's CEO, Dan Thomas, inspired by Level Up Cincinnati's misson and moved by the stories of its students and board members, saw an opportunity to contribute to the community in a meaningful way. #communityoutreach #supportingyouth #investinginthefuture #partnersinprogress #levelupcincinnati #greencitydemolition #priestlydemolition

?? Exciting News from Level Up Cincinnati! ??? We're thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Priestly Demolition Inc. (PDI) | Green City Demolition. This collaboration is not just about demolition—it's about building futures and empowering the next generation. Through this innovative alliance, PDI | Green City Demolition will donate a portion of their scrap metal proceeds to fund scholarships and programs at Level Up Cincinnati. The first project, the demolition of The Terrace on 6th Street, symbolizes our shared commitment to reinvesting in our community and supporting the aspirations of Cincinnati's youth. ?? "This partnership exemplifies how businesses can profoundly impact education and open new pathways for our students," says Jim Rodarte, Executive Director of Level Up Cincinnati. ????♂? Beyond financial support, PDI | Green City Demolition is also committed to providing summer jobs, internships, and full-time roles to our students, fostering career opportunities in various aspects of the industry. Together, we are dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable, and prosperous future for our community. Join us in celebrating this momentous collaboration! #LevelUp #CincyMentors #DEI #Partnership #CommunityImpact #BuildingFutures

Last month our scholars participated in Financial Literacy 101 powered by Citi. We discussed establishing financial goals, credit cards, and a spending diary. We are grateful to @citi and all of our partners who make these valuable sessions possible. Thanks to Jordan A. Hickam, Alex Armour, Eric Bachus, CFA, and Brad Morrissey, CFA for their expertise, time, and collaboration in developing our financial literacy courses this year! #firstgeneration #financialliteracy #levelup

What a great opportunity to explore philanthropy and ethics through the University Honors Program! A special thank you to Robin Selzer, PhD and Flavia Bastos for leading this amazing course, and Jim Rodarte for working with us to help Level Up Cincinnati. It was so rewarding to raise money for such an amazing organization.

Today we celebrate the AMAZING women who have profoundly impacted our program over the past year! We are so grateful to all of you! ?? Thank you Elena Terán, Kathy List, Jordan Outing, Victoria White, Ashley Glass, Jessica King, Alexandra Trott, Tish Spurlock, Elisha J. Hill, M.S., Mary Tettenhorst, Cyndi Tew Wineinger, Olivia Citak, Stacy R., Dr. Neisha G. Wiley, Meriden McGraw, and so many more! #internationalwomensday #levelup