Our Story
There was once a 15-year-old girl who faced some unexpected challenges, as we all face in life. Instead of suffering alone, she reached out to her parents and community for help. Together, they discovered three powerful keys that really made a difference.
CONNECTION. PURPOSE. RESILIENCE
This experience sparked an idea. Over the next three years, the founder networked with individuals and professionals to be part of a team to collaborate with professors, psychologists, and mental health professionals to create an effective program to empower youth from all walks of life. What began as one family's journey has grown into Rising Up Together—a movement dedicated to build resilience in today's world, grow in confidence, to find purpose, and a sense of belonging.
BUILDING SOMETHING GREATER TOGETHER
The Resilient Youth Program is not only a great place for youth to connect and build friendships—it's where transformation happens. This program brings youth together to engage youth in the three key pillars: Connection, Purpose, and Resilience. Through community service projects that make a real difference, Discovery Shows where youth showcase their unique talents, fun challenges that build confidence, and authentic conversations that foster deep friendships, participants discover they're not alone in their struggles.
What makes our program truly special is the environment we create for the youth as they become part of a community where they're seen, valued, and empowered. The combination of research-based curriculum with engaging, youth-centered activities creates a lasting impact. Parents share how their youth are more positive and grateful and are able to build friendships that extend beyond the program. Teens have grown in confidence, developed healthy coping skills, and built friendships that extend far beyond program hours. This is youth development at its best—where life skills training meets authentic relationship-building.
THE DIFFERENCE WE'RE MAKING
Rising Up Together has partnered with schools, organizations, community centers, youth groups, and churches to bring the Resilient Youth Program nationwide. With a turnkey approach, anyone can transform a community by hosting this program. This allows all youth to participate in this program in an accessible host license model.
THE TEAM BEHIND THE MISSION
Rising Up Together is more than an initiative, it is a true labor of love made possible by the commitment, compassion, and selflessness of more than 450 professionals and interns who generously volunteered their time, talents, and expertise. Each individual played a meaningful role in bringing this vision to life, united by a shared purpose and genuine desire to make a difference. Their countless hours of hard work, collaboration, and behind-the-scenes efforts reflect the very heart of what it means to rise together. We are deeply grateful to every volunteer whose dedication transformed a shared vision into a collective achievement and a powerful testament to what can happen when people come together with purpose, passion, and love for each other.
LOOKING AHEAD
Everyone deserves to feel seen, supported, and equipped to overcome life's obstacles. Through strategic partnerships, innovative programming, and a commitment to accessibility, Rising Up Together is building a future where overall wellness support and resilience training are available to youth everywhere. Join us on our mission—whether as a host, partner, intern, volunteer, or supporter—since this is the only way we can succeed and rise up together.
Starting a nonprofit is never easy, and when COVID-19 hit, progress nearly stopped, but challenges often lead to innovation. Rather than give up, Rising Up Together pioneered a unique partnership model with universities and colleges, bringing talented student interns onto the team. These passionate leaders don't just support the mission—they help shape it, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative ideas while gaining invaluable real-world experience in nonprofit management, curriculum development, grant writing, and community outreach.
What started with just a handful of interns has grown into hundreds of applications from students across the country who have the opportunity to be part of something meaningful. This collaborative model allows Rising Up Together to stay dynamic and innovative, continuously evolving to meet the needs of today's youth. It's proof that when we combine lived experience, academic excellence, and passionate commitment, we can create something extraordinary. Every intern, every volunteer, and every partner helps write the next chapter of this story—proof that together, we truly can rise up.
