admin@elev8villages.org
(888)76-ELEV8
(888)763-5388
Contact Us
100 Powell Place #1817
Nashville, TN 37204
From Crisis to Calling:
The Story Behind Elev8 Villages
In the spring of 2012, I walked into a friend's office and found out about a young lady named Jeanette. She was 15 at the time. Her mom was being evicted from her home that day and was being sent to rehab.
There were no foster homes available and no beds in the children's homes. So Jeanette was being sent to a homeless shelter.
Unwilling to let a young girl in our city sleep alone even one night in a homeless shelter, we got to work on a solution. Within 6 hours, I met Jeanette for the first time, settled her into my guest bedroom and spent the next year caring for Jeanette and learning about the dark corners of the foster system.
While Jeanette's story has a happy ending full of people that love and support her, thousands of youth every year are not so lucky.
Every year, over 20,000 young people age out of foster care without a safety net, facing tremendous challenges and leaving society with a profound loss of potential.
Driven by passion and innovation, we’re building a legacy of opportunity for youth aging out of foster care—creating lasting solutions that empower, uplift, and transform lives for generations to come.
--Melissa Kaye
Founder, Elev8 Villages
We All Deserve a
Place to Belong
Elev8 Villages are loving communities that create
life-changing opportunities.
We believe this challenge is not only solvable, but it’s our calling to solve it.
Our commitment to growth and learning is unwavering.
Every day, we show up—leading with love.
At our core, we know every human holds limitless value and an undeniable need to belong. When we step up for others, lifting them with love, resources, and knowledge -
we don’t just change their lives;
we transform our world.
There is room for everyone here.
Together, we can make a better world. A world that works for everyone.
We're starting with a village.
Our Unique Approach
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Customized Coaching: Everyone living in an Elev8 Village is encouraged to stay curious and to continue to learn. Our diverse coaching staff is there to guide and encourage. We know there is not just one way to a fulfilled life and we encourage each individual within the community to strive to maximize their gifts and talents.
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Practical Strategies: Our communities become what they are, based on practical, actionable strategies. Everyone has the responsibility of reaching out their hand to build and join this unique village.
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Continuous Support: We're with our youth every step of the way, providing ongoing support, guidance, and feedback to help them refine their skills and techniques. Some days they need the support and some days they offer support.
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Real-World Experience: Through multiple companies representing a variety of industries, we offer jobs to our village participants so that they have all the skills needed to live the life that they desire.
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Confidence Building: By observing themselves using their talents to help others and to imagine new and innovative ways to elevate their world, our youth develop self-confidence.
We understand our residents are unique and have varied life experiences, and we provide customized solutions to address them.
Our Villages
Our first village will break ground in 2025.
Tiny Homes
Community Center
Ampitheatre
Fire Pits
Hydro-Stack Farm
Luxury Tiny Living
Tiny Living helps us focus on what's important in life and also extends our life beyond our own home and encourages us to build community.
Indoor/Outdoor living at it's finest!
Elev8 tiny homes are each unique and have full kitchens, bathrooms and thoughtful living spaces. We encourage you to be mindful of your possessions and save some money with the low cost of living tiny!
The community amenities leave you lacking for nothing. High value conversations and frequent community gatherings keep you connected and inspired.
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Community
If family is who you choose, your choices are all around you at Elev8 Villages.
All are welcome, no limit on age, race or personalities.
We Elev8 each other by being the authentic and best versions of ourselves.
Our population of youth will inspire and be inspired!
While a tiny home is great for a young adult just starting out, we welcome and encourage others to choose the tiny lifestyle so that our awesome youth have great neighbors to connect with. Your life experience and wisdom will be an encouraging example to our youth.
Village wide volunteer hours give you ways to work together to build organic relationships.
Hydro Stack Farming
Growing up in poverty and having no voice and little training in how food affects their health, our youth will be encouraged to take control of their food choices.
Each Elev8 Village will have its own Hydro Stack farm where fresh fruits and vegetables will be grown year round in rotating crops.
Fresh and healthy!
Those of you that love growing things are welcome to spend your volunteer hours in the greenhouse while everyone is welcome to partake.
We're excited to host a great farmers' market. This way of farming assures plenty of produce to share with the village and the surrounding community.
© Copyright 2025. Elev8 Villages is a US registered not-for-profit, section 501(c)(3) EIN#93-3149114