What GSM.elevate() Is All About

There’s Nothing to Sign Up For

GSM.elevate() isn’t a service with accounts and memberships. It’s a community. You don’t need to register, create a profile, or commit to anything. Show up when you want, leave when you want, come back whenever.

There are two ways to be part of it: in-person classes and our Discord server. Both are free. Both are open.

In-Person Classes

We meet every Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 PM in Athens, TN. Topics rotate regularly, and you can join any week. You don’t have to start at the beginning of a series, and you won’t be quizzed on last week’s material.

A typical evening looks like this:

1. Quick check-in: we go around the room, say what we’re working on or interested in
2. The lesson: a focused topic with live demos and real-world examples
3. Hands-on time: you try things yourself, ask questions, and work through exercises
4. Wrap-up: what’s coming next week, plus resources if you want to dig deeper on your own

The pace is conversational, not lecture-hall. If you’re lost, say so. If you want to go deeper, ask. That’s what the mentors are there for.

What to Bring

• Yourself. That’s the only requirement.
• A laptop if you have one. If you don’t, no problem. We’ll have resources available and plenty of material works on paper.
• Questions. The best classes are the ones where people ask things.

What You Don’t Need

• Prior experience. Zero. None. The classes are designed for people starting from scratch.
• A computer science degree, certifications, or a tech job.
• To have done the homework. There is no homework.

The Discord Community

Between classes, the conversation keeps going on Discord. Ask questions, share what you’re working on, get feedback, or just hang out. It’s where connections form that go beyond the classroom.

You can join the Discord without ever attending a class, and you can attend classes without ever joining the Discord. Use whichever piece works for you.

Who Shows Up

A mix of people at different stages. Some have been in IT for years and want to sharpen specific skills. Some are in college. Some are switching careers. Some are in high school. Some just want to understand their computer better. The one thing everyone has in common is that they showed up.

No Strings

There are no fees, no commitments, and no pressure. This is a community built on the idea that people learn best when they learn together. Come as you are, take what’s useful, and if you’re in a position to help someone else along the way, even better.

The only wrong move is not starting.