Kripa Patwardhan

Kripa comes to Elevate with a passion for promoting social and environmental justice and sustainability through education and civic engagement. Before joining the Elevate team, she interned with NARAL and the US Department of State. She went on to teach in a grant-funded after school program in a Section 8 neighborhood and subsequently worked for Edu-Futuro, a nonprofit that empowers immigrant communities through education (and an Elevate client!). 

Kripa continues to empower the community through education in her work as a homebound teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools. She also serves on the Family Life Education Curriculum Advisory Committee for Fairfax County Public Schools and on the Fairfax County Library Board of Trustees. She holds a teaching license with endorsements in Spanish, French, and math from the state of Virginia; a master’s degree in public policy from George Mason University; and a bachelor’s degree in French and international politics with a concentration in South Asia from the University of Virginia.

Outside her work at Elevate, she can be found advocating for native plants, transit oriented development, and voting; cooking; participating in community theatre; and turning everything into a Disney or Simpsons reference.

Clarise has a huge heart for women and young children. She has spent many years working in education and with nonprofit organizations that develop curated experiences for women and children. In her pursuit to continue to make meaningful investments towards the future, she decided to sow her time into organizations that also align with that pursuit. With a background in Marketing and Communications, Clarise is motivated to continue to provide a well organized and intentional experience in her career here at Elevate.

Clarise volunteers at her local church in the food pantry and on the media team. She graduated from Canisius College with a degree in Integrated Marketing (Communications and Marketing) with a focus in Media Studies.

She enjoys creating content, modeling, dancing, and spending time with her family and friends.

Pronouns : she / her / hers

Julie brings to Elevate a guiding belief in the nonprofit sector’s potential for real impact on systems and the aspirations and lives of individuals, communities, and movements. Her background in the nonprofit world spans over five years and includes experience with two domestic and sexual violence crisis centers, an LGBTQ+ public interest law firm, and a number of museums. Most recently, she worked in marketing for an educational technology company and served as an English Language Assistant for secondary school students in Seville, Spain.

Julie holds an MPhil in Social Anthropology from the University of Cambridge with emphasis in gender, sexuality, and museums. Her dissertation included original research into museums as social agents with ethical obligations for activist practice. Julie earned her BA, magna cum laude, in Politics from Washington and Lee University with minors in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Medieval and Renaissance Studies. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha honor society, and Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women.

Outside of work, Julie can be found reading LGBTQ+ fantasy and mythology retellings, searching for the perfect donut, or listening to a Hercule Poirot audiobook.

Jamaya’s passion for nonprofits stems from a lifetime community of helping hands. An advocate for academic outreach, Jamaya has a background in childhood education from her volunteer work with various programs including National Institute for Standards and Technology and the Fund for Advancement of Minorities through Education. A strong believer in the phrase “It takes a village”, Jamaya appreciates the help from nonprofits she’s received throughout her childhood and is passionate to pay it forward.

Prior to joining Elevate’s team, Jamaya obtained a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Criminology from the University of Miami in 2022. During her time in college, Jamaya assisted her peers with private tutoring in education and volunteered with her school’s Digital Media department. Jamaya uses her scientific background to allow her to lead with an analytical and thorough approach.

When not at work, Jamaya can be found on the beach, playing video games, listening to music, or relaxing with her (fur) son Trevor.

Kelly has always been passionate about social justice and equality, which is what has driven her to begin working with nonprofits. She previously worked as a research coordinator in a psychiatry neuroimaging lab, where she learned a lot about the grant submission process and honed her coordinating skills. She prides herself in particular on her organization skills and is excited to use them to help nonprofits through working with Elevate.

Kelly graduated from The College of New Jersey with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Mathematics. During her time in college, she worked with multiple on-campus clubs in organizing volunteer and fundraising projects. Now that she has settled into a new area, she is excited to start volunteering at local LGBTQ organizations.

In her spare time, Kelly can be found hanging out with her partner and their pets. She also enjoys playing video games and crocheting.

Rachel comes to Elevate with a lifelong passion for education and equity. She received a Bachelor of the Arts in Education from the University of Akron in 2015. Since graduating, Rachel’s primary focus throughout her career has been service, especially for communities in need.

Prior to joining the Elevate team, Rachel taught high school English in Cleveland for two years through Teach For America. She then transitioned into the nonprofit world where she continued to work toward closing the achievement gap in education. As she gained experience in the nonprofit world, she came to find that her most valuable skill set was her knack for organization and logistics. Her final chapter prior to joining Elevate was working as an administrator for The Public Interest Network, a national nonprofit focused on environmental and consumer issues. She wore many hats in this role and gained some experience with grants, which led her to Elevate!

Outside of the work, Rachel enjoys spending time with her two cats, watching sports, and trying out new dinner recipes.

Pronouns: she/her, they/them

Jayne is an enthusiastic visionary with a longstanding passion for social justice. She received a Bachelor of the Arts in Theatre Studies and a Women & Gender Studies Certificate with an Emphasis in African American Studies from Ohio University in 2011. At her core, Jayne is devoted to creating a more just, equitable world. From a place of awe and gratitude, she is always seizing the magical opportunities that come her way to contribute to the advancement of supportive, inclusive communities.

Prior to joining the Elevate team, Jayne served as Shop Manager, Shop Support, and Program Coordinator at Upcycle Parts Shop, a nonprofit creative reuse center in Cleveland. Driven by a love of people, art, and the environment, she channeled the intersecting creative potential of these interests into providing affordable arts programming to low-income families, hosting painting parties for developmentally disabled adults, and teaching social entrepreneurship programming to high school students. Through these edifying experiences, Jayne felt called to immerse herself more deeply in the nonprofit sector, desiring to devote her energy to uplifting even more amazing organizations doing so much good in the world – which led her to Elevate!

Before her term at Upcycle Parts Shop, Jayne worked as the Bakery Manager at The Root Café in Cleveland, Ohio. The Root Café is a vegetarian and vegan restaurant that serves organic, local food and is deeply invested in community building. A transplant to Cleveland, through her experiences at The Root Café, Jayne learned the immeasurable value of everyday people coming together to affect positive change.

In addition to baking scrumptious pastries, Jayne also taught yoga at The Source Yoga Studio on a voluntary basis. Committed to fostering relationships across differences in order to create a more loving world, Jayne is a firm believer in the power of inner peace to have a huge impact when nurturing community building. She feels it was a privilege to serve as a guide to others committed to their own healing, that intentional healing energy naturally radiating out into the world as a result.

In her free time, Jayne loves to make art, forest bathe in local parks, and study Human Design.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Evelyn comes to Elevate after attending university and working as a Research Assistant for multiple years. During her time as a Research Assistant, she also worked as a tour guide for the May 4th Visitor Center in Kent, OH. Her passion for nonprofits stems from her experiences in undergraduate and graduate school. She has various interests relating to her studies including nonviolent activism, volunteer tourism, and the nexus between peacebuilding, development, and humanitarianism in disaster-prone and conflict-affected areas.

Evelyn currently attends Georgetown University and is working towards an MPS in Emergency and Disaster Management. Before Georgetown University, Evelyn received a BA in Psychology and in Applied Conflict Management with a minor in Nonprofit Studies from Kent State University.

Outside of work and class, Evelyn attempts to read books not related to her studies, is often found with a cup of coffee nearby, and enjoys going for walks or staying in to watch a favorite TV show or movie.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Haven’s interest in working with nonprofits stems from her passion for food advocacy in cities. Haven has a background in managing farmers’ markets in Philadelphia to bring local and organic produce to community members. In addition, she has worked as a researcher to develop podcasts focused on local foodways and US food history. Haven plans on bringing that same level of detail and commitment to her role at Elevate.

She has recently spent a year in Italy to obtain a Master in Food Culture and Marketing from the University of Gastronomic Sciences.

In her free time, Haven enjoys going on road trips, watching Wong Kar-wai films, and designing menu concepts for a future restaurant she plans on opening.

Pronouns : she / her / hers