Art, self-expression, and confident communication in welcoming spaces.
Rising Up Now
Helping People Rise, Grow, and Build Brighter Futures
Rising Up Now creates meaningful opportunities for children, teens, adults, and families to build confidence, develop practical skills, prepare for the future, and feel supported by their community.
Programs that strengthen encouragement, belonging, and shared growth.
A future-facing mix of education, mentorship, and workforce readiness.
Education, empowerment, and community-centered growth.
Responsive workshops, partnerships, and practical support pathways.
Mission Introduction
Stronger People Build Stronger Communities
Rising Up Now provides educational, creative, leadership, workforce, youth, and family-focused programs that help people recognize their strengths and take meaningful steps toward their future.
The work is rooted in hope, dignity, compassion, and real community connection. Each opportunity is meant to help people feel seen, encouraged, and prepared for what comes next.
About Rising Up NowWho We Serve
Responsive support for different seasons of life
Programs may support children, preteens, teens, young adults, parents, caregivers, families, foster youth, job seekers, college-bound students, schools, and community organizations. Not every program serves every audience, which is why each offering is described clearly and can be discussed directly.
Impact Areas
Programs built around growth, confidence, and meaningful support
Youth Development
Workshops and mentoring experiences that help young people build confidence, voice, and direction.
Learn moreEducation and College Readiness
Practical support that helps students and families prepare for next steps with clarity and encouragement.
Learn moreLeadership and Confidence
Strength-based programming that helps participants lead with purpose in school, work, and community life.
Learn moreFamily Empowerment
Family-centered spaces that encourage communication, trust, and shared growth.
Learn moreWorkforce Readiness
Career preparation resources focused on résumés, interviews, job-search strategy, and professional confidence.
Learn moreCommunity Wellness
Connections to helpful information, community encouragement, and responsive support pathways.
Learn moreBullying Prevention
Awareness and prevention programming that promotes safety, respect, and healthy peer relationships.
Learn moreFoster Youth Empowerment
Dignity-centered support that helps foster youth recognize their worth and prepare for future opportunities.
Learn moreFeatured Programs
Support that feels practical, hopeful, and grounded in real life
Art Workshops
Creative workshops that encourage expression, imagination, communication, and confidence through hands-on art experiences.
Learn MoreFAFSA Workshops
Supportive workshops that help students and families understand the FAFSA process and prepare required information with greater confidence.
Learn MoreCollege Readiness Workshops
Workshops that help students and families prepare for applications, planning, transitions, and informed decision-making.
Learn MoreTeen Empowerment
A supportive empowerment program that helps teens recognize their strengths, communicate effectively, and plan for future opportunities.
Learn MoreEMPOWERU Teen Leadership Program
A flagship leadership program that helps young people strengthen confidence, communication, responsibility, and a leadership mindset.
Learn MoreFearless Futures
A confidence and self-discovery workshop that helps participants reflect on identity, values, strengths, and future goals.
Learn MoreEMPOWERThem
A family-centered empowerment program that creates space for communication, encouragement, and shared growth.
Learn MoreJob Search and Résumé Building
Career readiness support focused on résumés, job-search strategy, interview preparation, and professional communication.
Learn MoreRising Above Bullying
An initiative that supports bullying awareness, prevention, respectful communication, and informed help-seeking.
Learn MoreRising Beyond
A dignity-centered initiative that helps foster youth discover their worth, recognize their strengths, and prepare for a future filled with confidence and opportunity.
Learn MoreFeatured Spotlight
Rising Beyond: A Foster Youth Empowerment Initiative
Rising Beyond helps foster youth discover their worth, embrace their journey, recognize their strengths, and build a future filled with confidence and opportunity.
Why This Work Matters
People move differently when they know they are respected
- Being heard helps people feel seen instead of overlooked.
- Encouragement and positive role models can shape confidence in lasting ways.
- Useful skills make school, work, and future planning feel more possible.
- Supportive communities create room for belonging, resilience, and healthier choices.
Ways To Get Involved
Every strong community is built with people who show up
Volunteer
Support workshops, events, outreach, and behind-the-scenes planning that helps programs run well.
Take the next stepBecome a Community Partner
Collaborate on space, expertise, outreach, sponsorship, referrals, or community-based programming.
Take the next stepSponsor a Program
Help make workshops, resources, materials, and participant support more accessible.
Take the next stepSupport Our Mission
Start a support conversation while payment processing, compliance details, and receipts are finalized.
Take the next stepInvite Rising Up Now
Request a workshop, speaker, or collaborative program for your school, organization, or community event.
Take the next stepShare a Resource
Recommend tools, opportunities, or community connections that may benefit families and young people.
Take the next stepA Message From Our Executive Director
“Belief in people changes what feels possible.”
I believe people grow when they are given encouragement, practical support, and opportunities that truly meet them where they are. Rising Up Now was created to make space for that kind of growth.
Every workshop, partnership, and conversation is rooted in the belief that children, teens, adults, and families deserve to be seen, respected, and supported as they move toward their goals. We want our programs to respond to real community needs while helping people build confidence, strengthen relationships, and prepare for the future.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about Rising Up Now. I invite you to explore our programs, stay connected, and join us in creating opportunities that help people move forward with hope and purpose.
Maria Arroyo
Executive Director
Rising Up Now
Stay Connected With Rising Up Now
Request updates about programs, workshops, events, and resources
Closing Call To Action
Change Begins When Someone Believes a Better Future Is Possible
Join Rising Up Now in creating opportunities that help individuals, families, and communities move forward with confidence.