About Us
Our Mission:
From classrooms to careers, ElevatNEXT inspires youth to see their potential and provides them with the support necessary to take action.
Our Vision:
A future where every student, regardless of background, has access to the exposure, resources, and relationships they need to pursue a successful, fulfilling career.
Our Commitment:
At ElevatNEXT, we are committed to breaking down barriers and building bridges from classrooms to careers.
Through culturally relevant programming, hands-on experiences, and intentional mentorship, we create pathways that reflect the diverse talents and aspirations of our youth. We stand alongside students, families, schools, and communities to champion opportunities that promote the long-term success of the next generation of leaders.
Our Core Values
Guidance that Walks With You: We don’t just point them in the right direction. We walk with our students through each step of the journey: planning, preparation, and action.
Representation Matters: We connect students with diverse professionals who reflect their own backgrounds and experiences, because seeing yourself in success makes it real.
Access for All: We believe every student deserves access to opportunity regardless of zip code, income, or school ranking.
Community Roots, Career Wings: We engage local community partners and build bridges that uplift youth, families, and neighborhoods.
Exposure Changes Everything: When youth see what’s possible, they begin to believe in what they can achieve. We expose students to real careers, real people, and real paths.
Equity Through Empowerment: We foster agency, self-belief, and practical knowledge that help students shape their own futures equipped, informed, and empowered.
Our Key Priorities
Youth Access: We are committed to breaking down systemic barriers so that every student regardless of background has access to the resources, relationships, and opportunities they need to thrive
Career-Connected Learning: Through immersive, real-world programming, we help students build awareness of diverse careers, understand their strengths, and gain the skills need to navigate their path with confidence.
Hand-on Experiences: From job shadows and industry site visits to workshops and simulations, we engage youth in career exploration that is active, experiential, and empowering.
Mentorship & Representation: We connect students with accomplished professionals to provide mentorship and guidance, because seeing someone in a role you aspire to be can be life-changing.mentors who reflect their cultures and experience.
Future –Ready Skills: We equip students with the soft skills, professional tools, and knowledge to confidently take their next steps, whether that’s college, a trade, entrepreneurship, or the workforce.
Why Early Career Exposure Matters:
Up to 75% of students have career aptitudes they’re unaware of. National data shows major “exposure gaps” between what students are good at and what they’ve been introduced to especially in fields like technology, healthcare, and skilled trades.
Early career exposure increases motivation and confidence.
Students who engage with real-world professionals are more likely to believe in their potential and pursue high-demand career paths.
Mentorship and representation drive persistence.
Seeing professionals who look like them and share their background helps students visualize success and stay committed to long-term goals.
Hands-on experiences lead to real results.
Programs offering early exposure to career environments report college and career follow-through rates as high as 92%.
Soft skills and pathway knowledge are often missing.
Many students from under resourced communities don’t know what steps to take toward a career. Early exposure builds both awareness and essential professional skills.
Our Team
Cassandra Montes-Wallace,
Chief Executive Officer
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For more than two decades, Cassandra has dedicated her career to helping communities thrive by raising millions in philanthropic support, building cross-sector partnerships, and creating opportunities that drive equity and empowerment. Through every role she has held, one truth has guided her: real, lasting change begins when young people believe in what’s possible for themselves.
That belief inspired her to create ElevatNEXT.
After leading development and community initiatives at organizations such as United Way Suncoast and Girls Inc. of Tampa Bay, Cassandra recognized a gap - too many students, especially in underrepresented communities, weren’t seeing real-life examples of what success could look like for them. She founded ElevatNEXT to change that narrative.
Through ElevatNEXT’s NEXT Talks, Blueprint Workshops, and short-term mentorship experiences, Cassandra and her team connect middle and high school students with professionals who share their stories, struggles, wins, and authentic paths to success. The organization’s mission is simple but powerful: to elevate students today so they feel inspired and equipped to build their tomorrow.
A proud graduate of the University of South Florida (“Go Bulls!”) with a B.A. in Business Administration, Cassandra is deeply rooted in community and family. She, her husband, and their daughter love to travel, finding joy in exploring new places, experiencing different cultures, and giving back through volunteering and philanthropy. Whether at home or in the community, Cassandra is driven by authentic connections, compassion, and the belief that when we lift others, we all rise together.
Erika Key
Vice President, Grants & Partnerships
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Erika Key is a visionary nonprofit executive with more than 15 years of leadership experience in community engagement, grant development, and youth empowerment. She currently serves as the Vice President of Community Partnerships at ElevatNEXT, where she leads cross-sector collaborations that connect middle and high school students with professional speakers and mentors, expanding educational access and social impact opportunities across communities.
Before joining ElevatNEXT, Erika was the Director of Grant Development at United Way Suncoast, where she implemented strategic grant initiatives and secured multi-year funding from government, corporate, and foundation partners. Her extensive experience also includes serving as Director of Development for The Restoration Center, where she oversaw grant-funded programs and partnerships, and as a Director at the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, managing a $1.5 million residential program for children.
Earlier in her career, Erika held leadership positions with the Ironbound Boys & Girls Club and The Kintock Group, where she developed youth leadership, education, and re-entry programs. Her work has been recognized with multiple awards, including Outstanding Citizen Legislator by the Citizens’ Campaign and recognition from New Jersey’s Parole Board for operating the one of the state’s most impactful Day Reporting Centers.
A Seton Hall University graduate with a B.A. in Sociology, Erika is known for her strategic vision, relationship-building, and dedication to creating equitable opportunities for youth.
727-358-0237
info@elevatnext.net
ElevatNEXT, 3135 1st Avenue N #10511, St Petersburg, FL 33733
