Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Chevalier.
Hi Scott, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
From Inspiration to Impact: The Powerhouse Pathway to Purpose
Powerhouse began in 1999 in Nashville, Tennessee, as a high-energy school assembly built around one simple but life-altering message: the Power of Choice. What started as a rock-and-roll production quickly became a movement. In just 25 minutes, students were challenged to take ownership of their decisions and imagine a future shaped by intention rather than circumstance.
The response was overwhelming.
The program’s success opened doors across middle and high school campuses—and eventually all the way to the Pentagon—where Powerhouse partnered with the National Guard to expand its reach nationally. For eight years, the assembly format inspired thousands of students. But over time, a hard truth became clear: inspiration alone was not enough.
Students didn’t just need to believe life could be better—they needed a pathway to get there.
A Call to Restart the Mission
After relocating to Florida in 2017, Powerhouse found itself at a critical crossroads. A local law-enforcement officer shared a troubling reality: large numbers of students were being Baker Acted, held for 72 hours, and then released—only to return to the same destructive patterns with no direction and no hope.
When asked whether Powerhouse could be revived in Florida, the answer wasn’t immediate confidence—it was obedience to the need.
Though new to the state and lacking local connections, collaboration meetings were launched. Community leaders, educators, and advocates gathered around a shared concern: students were desperate for hope and opportunity. One meeting ended with a challenge that would change everything:
“You should go to Leesburg High School. I bet you’ll never do it there.”
Leesburg High School—defined by high homelessness rates and systemic barriers—became the proving ground. A meeting with the principal ended with an unexpected moment: a set of keys slid across the desk and a simple question asked—
“When do you start?”
Designing a Different Kind of Classroom
At that point, Powerhouse had no formal curriculum—only a conviction that students needed something radically different. Creative thinkers came together to design an on-campus strategy that would sustain passion, build direction, and restore belief.
The result was Pathway to Purpose.
Launched in 2022 at Leesburg High School, Pathway to Purpose consists of 17 on-campus sessions led by trained Powerhouse facilitators in classrooms designed with intention. These are not traditional learning spaces. There are no desks, no harsh fluorescent lights, and no grades.
Instead, students enter rooms filled with couches, bold Powerhouse colors, and statements that challenge the way they think:
Choices Matter.
Choose Your Hard.
Opportunity Is Now.
Mentors Matter.
Every detail communicates the same message: this space is different—and so are you.
Direction Beyond the Diploma
Students are typically referred to Powerhouse by school leadership—30 to 40 at a time—and often labeled “at risk.” Powerhouse rejects that term. The belief is simple: all students are at risk without the proper tools.
Each session begins with a chant that becomes the heartbeat of every Powerhouse experience:
Passion. Purpose. Profit.
Students are challenged to believe that their past does not define them—and that their story is far from over. They hear from “Hope Dealers,” individuals who once faced similar struggles but chose a different path and now live with purpose.
Exposure leads to awareness. Awareness leads to opportunity.
Powerhouse defines its core deliverables with two words: Hope and Opportunity.
From Vision to Workforce
As sessions progress, students gain practical skills—how to write a résumé, dress for an interview, and communicate with confidence. They participate in career panels featuring more than 25 professionals who once sat where they now sit, proving that success is possible.
The journey culminates in one of Powerhouse’s most powerful components: career-aligned mentorship. Students are matched with mentors working in the same field they aspire to pursue—creating authentic, lasting connections that extend beyond the classroom.
The Results Speak for Themselves
Does it work?
According to the Lake County Economic Development Office, the answer is yes.
90% of students who participate in Powerhouse report having career conversations or clear direction after high school.
In schools without Powerhouse, that number drops below 30%.
Pathway to Purpose is working—and the mission is just getting started.
Powerhouse continues to refine its model, train new facilitators, and expand beyond Lake County, carrying the same conviction that launched the movement decades ago:
When students are given hope, opportunity, and a clear pathway, they rise.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the most consistent challenges Powerhouse has faced is securing sustainable financial support. As a growing organization new to Florida, we have had to build trust, credibility, and relationships from the ground up. While that process takes time, it has strengthened our commitment to the communities we serve and reinforced the importance of long-term partnerships.
Another ongoing challenge has been engaging adults to step into the lives of students through mentorship and involvement. We recognize that working with young people can feel intimidating, yet Central Florida is home to one of the largest senior adult populations in the nation—individuals rich in wisdom, life experience, and available time. We believe this untapped resource has the power to profoundly impact the next generation when given a clear invitation and purpose.
Powerhouse does not position itself in opposition to the education system; rather, we exist to support and enhance it. Our focus is helping students find direction beyond the diploma. While graduation is a milestone worth celebrating, research shows that nearly 63% of graduates never fully accomplish their goals. We believe this is not due to a lack of potential, but a lack of clear planning, guidance, and ongoing support. Powerhouse exists to help bridge that gap—walking alongside students as they turn hope into a practical pathway forward.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What I am most known for—and most proud of—is my unwavering passion for students. For more than forty years, I have served in the roles of pastor, entrepreneur, and youth evangelist, yet one thing has never changed: I have never stopped searching for solutions that create real opportunity and restore hope in the lives of young people.
What makes my approach unique is the way these experiences intersect. With a degree in Communications, everything I do—on a stage, in a classroom, or in a conversation—is shaped by a deep awareness of both message and delivery. I am constantly evaluating not only what is being said, but how it is being heard. Blending creative intuition with analytical strategy has given me a distinct perspective in developing and delivering messages that today’s generation can truly understand, engage with, and apply.
I do not see students merely as they are today, but as who they can become—and often, who they will be ten years from now. I believe deeply that the right moment, the right message, and the right support can alter the trajectory of a young person’s future. The sessions we provide are designed with that belief at the core: that meaningful change today can shape the next decade of a student’s life.
While many organizations become comfortable with routine and “the way it’s always been done,” I continue to challenge that mindset. Progress begins by asking a simple but powerful question: Why not try something new? That question has driven innovation, growth, and impact throughout my work—and it continues to guide everything we do.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t believe luck has played a role in my life or in the launch of Powerhouse. I believe I was created for this purpose, and each day I take intentional steps toward fulfilling it—engaging students, walking alongside them, and helping them see what’s possible. This work is not accidental; it is calling.
Perseverance is what keeps the fire lit. When challenges arise, it is faith that sustains the vision and provides the strength to keep moving forward. Purpose is rarely convenient, but it is always clear when it’s rooted in conviction.
At Powerhouse, we believe every student has a passion and a purpose worth discovering. That belief isn’t theoretical for me—it’s personal. Just as students are created with intention, so am I. My purpose is students, and I will continue stepping faithfully into that calling every day.
Pricing:
- Our budget is simple. It takes $25,000 to launch each campus.
- Everyone can participate at some level and we provide that opportunity on our website
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.powerhouse.org
- Instagram: powerhouse youth project
- Facebook: powerhouse youth project
