Joshua Mendoza
Joshua@elevateindy.org
Eastside Pipeline Manager

Mr. Josh Mendoza is a native of Denver, CO, where he found his passion for working with youth at the young age of 15. Since then, he has worked as a Paraprofessional, Restorative Practice Coordinator, and Teacher-Mentor.

As a key program staff member with Elevate Indy since Jun 2021, Josh currently serves as the Eastside Pipeline Manager, offering leadership and direction to all of the Eastside Pipeline schools.

As a leukemia survivor, Joshua learned early on the value of life, which has been his motivation since in working with youth. Joshua was honored as an MBK Honoree in 2019 by Mayor Hancock in Denver for his work with youth; he brings that drive and passion for servant-leadership with him to Elevate Indy. Joshua is pursuing a B.A. in Business with a focus on Communication Studies with an expected graduation date of 2023.

Aside from spending time with his wife, Ashley, and two beautiful daughters, Milah & Addie, Joshua enjoys playing sports (mostly basketball), watching the Denver Nuggets, writing, and doing outdoor adventure activities.

Mandy Schumerth
Mandy@elevateindy.org
Teacher-Mentor, College Common Core & Mentoring Lead

Ms. Mandy Schumerth, originally of Culver, IN, is a graduate of Anderson University with a major in Spanish and a minor in Education. She studied abroad in Mérida, Mexico, & loves traveling both internationally & domestically. She has over a decade of youth development experience and planted herself on the East side after a position called her to Indy in 2012.

Mandy serves our Eastside pipeline as a Teacher-Mentor, focusing on College Common Core programming and provides leadership as the Mentoring Lead.

Mandy enjoys being active and generally spends her time out and about at concerts, athletics, or community events. She’s a passionate Notre Dame fan (for better or worse), loves learning about different cultures, spending time with friends and family, and being outdoors (when it’s warm).

Remus Woods
Student Success Mentor
College Common Core

Remus Woods will serve Elevate students currently enrolled in the College Common Core IVYT program. He is a graduate of Indiana University and has 18+ years of experience working with youth in education and through a prior role with Indy Parks. He is a state championship winning coach, husband, and father of three young ladies.

Anyea D. Gooch
Anyea@elevateindy.org
Site-Based Teacher-Mentor

Ms. Anyea D. Gooch is a native of Indianapolis, IN, Anya, and has made her return to Indianapolis from Vincennes University where she served as a Student Success Coordinator. She comes with a heart for helping people come back and finish what they started and the energy to push them forward. After graduating from Ball State University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising, she worked as a Program Director with AYS, Inc. AYS, Inc. is a non-profit that allowed her to continue her passion for elevating students. Anvea is all about leveraging her knowledge to help our students with integrity, empathy, and a smile on her face.

Neonna Witty, Elevate Alumni Class of 2019
Neonna@elevateindy.org
Teacher-Mentor

Ms. Neonna is an Indianapolis native and attended Arsenal Tech High School and is also an Elevate Indy alumna and former intern. She graduated from Oakland City University in the Spring of 2023 with her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications Journalism. Neonna gained experience with youth through Elevate and project transformation. She values family and friendship. In her spare time she enjoys movies, music, and spending with family and friends. In her role at Elevate she serves Purdue Poly High School as a Teacher-Mentor and co-teaching classes and helping lead the Elevate Club at PPHS.

Jasmynn Mullen, Elevate Alumni Class of 2019
jasmynn@elevateindy.org
Teacher-Mentor

Jasmynn graduated from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Safety Management and Sociology. Originally from Grandview, IN, Jasmynn was drawn to Public Safety due to a keen interest in the criminal justice system and its complexities, leading to participation in the Indiana University Police Academy. The fascination with human behavior and social dynamics led Jasmynn to pursue Sociology. Beginning at the age of 18, Jasmynn gained valuable experience and loved working with youth groups, which paved the way for a role as an assessment worker at the Department of Child Services.  In her spare time, she enjoys immersing in fantasy books. With a love for traveling, Jasmynn has explored destinations like the Caribbean and Mexico, with a special fondness for Honduras. In all that she does, Jasmynn prioritizes her faith as her guiding principle.

Kara Simmons
Kara@elevateindy.org
NothWestside Pipeline Manager

Ms. Kara Simmons has served her home community of Indianapolis throughout her career to help develop youth, beginning with Elevate Indy in October 2019. Kara has spent most of her time with Elevate as a Teacher-Mentor, at George Washington High School. She now serves as the NorthWestside Pipeline Manager offering leadership and oversight to all NW schools including Geoge Washington and Shortridge High Schools.

Kara began working within her local church, where she served as a teen youth leader before working with middle school youth at Emma Donnan as a teachers’ assistant and mentor. Her main goal is to be an aid in positively influencing the lives of Indianapolis youth every day.

Kara has taken classes in pursuit of a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Jonathan Rice
Jonathan@elevateindy.org
Teacher-Mentor, 9th-11th Pathways to Purpose Lead

• Jonathan is a servant leader born & raised in Indianapolis, IN. He is a graduate of Pike High School & a proud alumna of Indiana State University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in African-American Studies with a Minor in Sociology. His extensive history in nonprofit work paired with his youthful spirit has led him to join the Elevate Team. He looks forward to hitting the ground running with the team & making an impact with the urban youth community.

  In his role he will serve the George Washington High School pipeline as a Teacher-Mentor investing in students and co-teaching various Elevate courses.

Theo Gilmore
theo@elevateindy.org
Teacher-Mentor, Sports & Adventure Lead

• Theo was born and raised in Demopolis, AL. He attended Demopolis High School before moving to Indy.  Theo attended Ivy Tech Community College where he obtained his AS in Human Services. He later attended Purdue University Global where he obtained his BS in Human Services with a focus in Youth/Family Services & Administration.  

  He is passionate about family and helping others. Theo has 10+ years of experience working with youth. He currently resides in Greenwood, IN. In his spare time, Theo enjoys working out, listening to music and attending sporting events.  

  In his role with Elevate Teeo is the pipeline lead and Teacher-Mentor at Shortridge High School.

Amanda was born and raised in Alliance Nebraska. She spent most of her childhood traveling back and forth to Mexico making her both fluent in Spanish and English. She started working with youth groups at the young age of 15 and has since developed a passion for teaching and mentoring. Together with her family, they moved to Indianapolis in 2016. She started working at Elevate Indy as a Teacher-Mentor and pipeline lead at Arsenal Tech High School in October 2018. In August 2022, after a year-long sabbatical, she’s back on the Elevate team as the Multicultural Specialist. She helped launch and establish Elevate culture at Purdue Poly High School and now Shortridge High School.

As a mother of two, she enjoys going on family hiking trips and camping. Together with her husband Abraham, they serve as Lead Pastors of Esperanza Viva Centro Familiar in the Garfield Park neighborhood of Indianapolis.

Kelsy Taylor
Kelsy@elevateindy.org
Site-Based Teacher-Mentor

Samantha Ryan
In-School & Program Coordinator

Samantha’s 13 year career in the nonprofit realm focuses on supporting youth, families, and marginalized populations. Sam has bachelor’s degrees in International Service Program and Spanish, from Valparaiso University, and is a fluent Spanish speaker. She graduated in 2011 summa cum laude. Her career has taken her to various parts of Indiana and Austin, Texas. She is also particularly passionate about learning more about and dismantling systems of oppression.

Sam is a native Hoosier and loves Indy! She is an avid reader, mostly fiction, loves to bike, and loves to go on walks with her Chihuahua. Samantha is a mom to a sassy and sweet toddler and is married to her partner, Gabe.  Sam also enjoys gardening, the outdoors, and meditation.

Braylon Myers
Braylon@elevateindy.org
Community Engagement Manager

Mr. Braylon Myers is from the North Eastside of Indianapolis where he graduated from Lawrence North High School. During high school, Braylon was the president of Character Crew and captain of the soccer team.

Since May 2019, Braylon has served students at Arsenal Tech High School, Harshman Middle School, and Theodore Potter School 74 as a Teacher-Mentor and pipeline lead and in Jan 2024 he has stepped into the role of Community Engagement Manager. In this new role, he will oversee and manage all partner relationships, both corporate and nonprofits.

Braylon played college soccer at Eastern Illinois University where he continued to develop his life skills with local mentoring and volunteering and now trains youth soccer athletes. He transferred to Ball State University where he graduated with a Communication Studies degree and now resides in Lawrence.

Kristine Knecht
Kris@elevateindy.org
Engagement Associate

Kris is a Hoosier native, born and raised in Ft Wayne and settled in the Indianapolis area for 35
years. Upon retiring from a 39-year accounting and finance career in January 2022, Kris knew she wanted to continue to add value to organizations through part-time work and volunteering, but with a non-profit focus. 

Kris is a CPA (inactive), with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of St. Francis. In her spare time when she is not playing with her grandchildren, you may find her hiking, biking, practicing yoga, reading, gardening, or volunteering at Second Helpings. In her role with Elevate, she assists the Community Engagement Team and Treasurer with various development and grant-related tasks.

Shareah Thomas
Shareah@elevateindy.org
Operations & Event Support Associate

Ms. Shareah Thomas grew up in the Eastside of Indianapolis, graduating from Arsenal Technical High School in 2018. During high school, she was a member and captain of the Tech Cheer Team and a member of the Capstone Leadership Initiative. Since graduating from Tech, she has grown in her administrative career and enjoyed serving as the assistant coach of the Tech Cheer Team. She loves seafood and Starbucks and in her free time, you can find her driving around town for Lyft and Uber. 

In her role, she will support the leadership team with various tasks and roles ensuring that both Development and Program related SMART goals are achieved.

Having served as Elevates’ President & CEO since January of 2018, Aaron is an active foster parent, basketball coach, community developer, and near eastside resident. In his role with Elevate, Aaron provides leadership and direction to the staff and board, cultivating like-minded partnerships to keep Elevate Indy as a youth-centered organization.

Aaron was born and raised in northern Indiana, and Aaron, Carrie, and their four children have lived in the Indianapolis area for over 20 years. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Indiana Wesleyan University, a Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies from Moody Seminary, and a Tobias Fellow Program of Indiana University Kelly School of Business. Aaron is the current City Coordinator for the Indianapolis DVULI cohort.

Tina Rhoden-Lewellyn
Tina@elevateindy.org
Chief Operations Officer

Tina has served the non-profit sector for over 30 year, primarily with youth prevention & intervention programs. She holds a Bachlor’s degree from Indiana University in General Studies with a Social Seience Concentration. She graduated with her Master of Organizational Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan in the winter of 2023. She has served as Executive Director, Program Manager, Quality and Compliance Director and Center Director for organizations such as the U.S. Dream Academy, Lutherwood. Community Health Network, Damar, Ben’s Ranch and the Shelby County Youth Center. She believes that children and families thrive through Faith, Opportunities and Relationships and is excited to join the Elevate Indy Team. Tina has 2 adult children, 2 grandchildren, and lives on a small horse farm. She is also guardian for her adult cousin, who lives independently in the community. She loves all types of music, dance and watching young people find their passions/purpose.

Adam Johnson
Adam@elevateindy.org
Chief Program Officer

Adam Johnson is a graduate of Arlington High School, with a BS in Urban Affairs from IUPUI. He is married with four children.

Adam has worked for the State of IN as a budget analyst and also for Lutheran Child & Family Services (an NPO specializing in the care, treatment, & counseling of youth who exhibit behavioral & emotional impairments) as a Classroom Teacher, Mentoring Program Coordinator, & Residential Program Supervisor. Today, Adam serves on the Board of Directors for LCFS, the VP of the Board of Directors for Grit Into Grace, and is a member of Heartland Church. Additionally, he an Indiana University Tobias Leadership Fellow.

In his work with Elevate, Adam builds and stewards long-term, life-changing relationships, with program team members, students and alumni. In his role as the Chief Program Officer, he provides direct leadership and guidance to all of Elevate’s four program areas, in-school, mentoring, sports & adventure, and pathways to purpose.