In April of 2021, as Rising prepared to enter its 19th year, a group came together to envision Rising’s future. The group consisted of Rising survivor leaders, women of color, and those with lived experience of trans and LGBTQI+ identities, immigration, and disabilities. Thanks to the brilliant guidance of facilitator Kirk Souder, Rising’s guiding vision was born.
Rising Higher
We’ve heard, “The system is broken.”
“Broken” implies that it was once whole.
“Whole” implies that the system serves all of us.
What if the system was designed to include everyone?
We stand for a rising world. Our hard-won wisdom calls for each of us to lead in the designing of a new inclusive world where everyone prospers. Because a new generation of our youth is headed toward the margins, we choose to divert and educate them to rise as tomorrow’s holistic leaders.
We call in love and equity to build this vision of a new system. We cast out our experiences of abuse, trafficking, bias, hunger, homelessness, war, and violence. Every human being has the innate capability and right to lead a vibrant life.
We are revered artists, entrepreneurs, and teachers for business, social impact, education, and government.
We’re rising to heal.
We’re rising to build.
We’re creating the world we want to live in.
No matter where you are on the journey, we invite you to join us.
We’ll turn walls into wings. Rising higher together.