Elevator
Elevator is a two-semester, interdisciplinary, experiential learning undergraduate class sponsored by the Center for Positive Leadership.
What is Elevator?
Have you ever wanted to create real-world change?
- Elevator connects your passion with community stakeholders-and together you will work to make Louisville a better place.
- Elevator is hands-on, purpose-driven learning at its best.
- Work with mentors from across industries and build a network that lasts far beyond graduation.
Learn by doing. Lead by impact.
While earning your degree.
Across 9 Majors.
Before Graduation.
Work directly within the community.
Who is Elevator For?
Anyone can be a change leader:
Open to students majoring in business, criminal justice, communications, management, accounting, computer information systems, sociology, sustainability, urban studies and honors.
Courses count toward your degree.
2 semesters, 12 or 18 credit hour options.
Classes meet on campus twice a week.
Ready to elevate your college experience?
2025-2026 Elevator Change Project Accomplishments
Reduce Hunger and Food Waste
• Created a database and map of food producers (potential food donors) in Louisville.
• Submitted a House Concurrent Resolution bill in Frankfort on the Right To Adequate Food.
• Gathered over 700 items for a necessities drive.
• Created a video and helped launch an awareness campaign for Feed Louisville.
• Found a food donor and financial donor for Feed Louisville.
Increase DaLat’s Café Revenues
• Helped increase monthly revenue by 69%.
• Achieved 119% growth in combo sales.
• Increased lunch traffic sales by 78%.
• Increased Instagram followers by 153%.
• Built a financial dashboard.
• Hosted multiple events along the way to making DaLat’s into an events venue.
Reduce Senior Loneliness
• Collected data from five Louisville neighborhoods on loneliness among seniors.
• Designed and ran interventions at the Arthur Kling Center.
• Measured and reported the impact of events.
• Codified instructions for the continuation of events and found people to run the events.
• Codified learnings to guide continued research in other neighborhoods around Louisville.
Improve City Greenspaces
• Secured a $2,000 grant for beautifying the Paristown Food Forest.
• Legally clarified property ownership of the space.
• Worked with city council and a local nonprofit to put the Food Forest on a path to a lease.
• Doubled the households involved in regular maintenance of the space.
• Built tools for use in developing Greenspaces elsewhere.
Unique student opportunities
Support Elevator
The Elevator course is presented thanks to a generous donation from the Bufford family. Help us continue to offer this unique course to the students of UofL.