We find ourselves in a pivotal and frightening moment: there are those in power who are seeking to silence women, sideline their influence, and diminish their impact. But they won’t. Time and again, women have demonstrated an ability to rise to the challenge. To lead. To persist.
At Elevate, we are not watching from the sidelines—we’re amplifying the stories of those at the frontlines of progress. It’s why we launched Nevertheless, our first docuseries from Elevate Studios, showcasing unstoppable women—each an Elevate Prize winner—and their struggles, victories, and unshakable resolve to transform the world.
Nevertheless is more than just a docuseries. It’s a storytelling project meant to shine a spotlight on the women who persisted—the extraordinary leaders who are spearheading transformative change across the globe., Stories that are more important now than ever.
First, meet Teresa Njoroge, a 2023 Elevate Prize winner who was wrongfully convicted of a crime, incarcerated, and now helps give women a second chance.
Teresa served a one-year sentence at the Langata Women Maximum Security Prison in Nairobi, Kenya and was accompanied by her then three-month-old daughter. Turning her pain into purpose, she launched Clean Start Africa and committed her life to working with women, girls, and children impacted by the criminal justice system in Nairobi, Kenya.
In our second episode, we meet Cindy Eggleton, another 2023 Elevate Prize winner and changemaker turning empty houses into safe havens for kids.
Cindy, whose family experienced poverty firsthand, is on a mission to create affordable, sustainable, and equitable cities with her nonprofit, Brilliant Cities. At the heart of her work is a belief in the power of neighborhoods to uplift their youngest members. Through a community-driven model that started in Detroit, she’s ensuring that children ages 0-8 have the support they need to be healthy, empowered, and ready for school. And the impact is spreading with Brilliant Cities now bringing this transformative approach to even more communities across the U.S. — soon launching in Chicago, Philadelphia, and beyond.
In the third and final episode, we meet Dr. Aparna Hegde, a 2021 Elevate Prize winner and visionary maternal health leader on a mission to save as many lives as possible – through mobile phones.
While working as a resident in a Mumbai public hospital, Dr. Hegde saw firsthand the heartbreaking reality of maternal mortality in India. To bridge the systemic gaps in healthcare, she founded ARMMAN, a nonprofit that harnesses the power of mobile technology to reach the most vulnerable mothers. With direct phone calls, vital health guidance, and an expanding training network, ARMMAN is working to transform maternal health across India.
Nevertheless is a call to action, a celebration of resilience, and a powerful reminder that no matter the opposition, women will continue to rise, lead, and rewrite the future.
Be sure to subscribe to Elevate Prize Foundation’s YouTube channel as we continue to share more authentic and transformative stories about the changemakers in our communities.
About the Elevate Prize Foundation
Founded by Joseph Deitch, the Elevate Prize Foundation empowers changemakers and social entrepreneurs with the visibility, funding, and support they need to Make Good Famous. Learn more at elevateprize.org.
