About us.

Empowering leaders of tomorrow.

We seek to provide high-quality mentorship to Middle Schoolers in need.

We serve schools in underserved communities and intentionally recruit mentors that represent them. Over the course of a two-year program, the Leaders participate in monthly workshops alongside their mentors to prepare not just for high school but for the world beyond. The curriculum is crafted around four key areas; building self-esteem, increasing self-awareness, and enhancing communication skills while cultivating healthy relationships. The workshops cover core elements of leadership, such as public speaking, how to work well with others, and resiliency. After completing the Rising Leaders program, Leaders have shown improvements in social-emotional skills and identify development, proven to enhance academic performance and deepened connection to their community.

Learn more about the workshop curriculum here.

 

Testimonials.

Hear it from our Mentors!

 
 


”It has been a privilege to work with Rising Leaders in partnership with St HOPE for the last four years. St HOPE is a charter school located in Harlem, NYC. Our school community is dedicated to giving our students the space to shine in their own light; Rising Leaders has been a major help in doing that. Rising Leaders consistently go above and beyond to provide the space, time, and resources to give kids the stage to share their words. From (delicious) breakfasts to going to kids’ games--they’ve got all the bases covered. Each Saturday we have the opportunity to meet, I know kids will get to learn about important topics from financial literacy to self-advocacy to knowing our rights. It is clear that Rising Leaders’ mission is to inform kids about mature topics in a nurturing and thoughtful manner. Kids have real-life opportunities to generate entrepreneurial plans and learn about community service opportunities. Scholars who join the program are set up for success from jump. The program gently pushes kids outside of their comfort zone. Nearly all scholars who have joined Rising Leaders have gone on to apply for additional mentorship opportunities. Rising Leaders helps to plant the seed that builds the strength in our community. They continuously give kids the opportunities to be who they are, ask the questions they have, and work with trusted adults to find those answers.”

- Jillian Mayhew, middle school teacher at St. Hope Leadership Academy