Telling the stories that haven't been told

It seems like only yesterday we were asking ourselves: can we launch a magazine in the middle of a pandemic?

This issue of Elevate marks our one-year anniversary.

Really?

No, really, can we?

I’m still not sure we have an answer. But, against our better judgment—against any judgment, really—we dove into the deep end of a shallow pool, which is something your mother told you never to do.

Our mission with this magazine, just like the mission of Elevate Rapid City: try to Elevate the region for everyone.

So, we started telling stories. And putting stories on the cover that weren’t being told. We wanted to show the diversity and people that make Rapid City more than you see in the tourist brochures.

Are we Mount Rushmore, The Badlands, and Custer State Park? Sure. But we’re also tap houses, native arts, co-ops, hipster barber shops, and barbeque—and these are just some of the stories we’ve told in the past year.

This issue continues that tradition. You’ll meet local muralist Aaron Pearcy, whose work you’ve no doubt seen in downtown Rapid City. You’ll read how the Suzie Cappa Art Center has weathered the pandemic. And you’ll learn how zero-waste and art are able to go hand-in-hand. Finally, you’ll see the world through the eyes of a young local photographer who has mastered the art of staying in the present moment at the young age of 17. If only we’d all been so lucky at that age.

What’s coming in the next twelve issues?

We’ll let you know when we get there. We’re staying present and we’re taking the time to savor this one-year anniversary issue and we hope you do as well.

Stay safe and God-speed.