Hello, my name is Karizma Harper and I am 17 years old. I attend El Cerrito High School and I have been a RYSE member for 3 years. I originally joined to attend Breaking the Frame: Anger Management (BFAM), but RYSE seemed fun so I started coming to hang out.

Hello, my name Luis Cubas, also known as “Cubas.” I first heard about RYSE in 2013 when I was a senior in high school in 2013. I started coming to RYSE as a youth member to learn about the different programs that were available. I’ve been officially on RYSE staff for almost a year and a half now, working as the College Access Coordinator.

“As a therapist at RYSE, I co-create holistic healing spaces, grounded in social justice, with and for young people to share their pain, joy, disappointments, truths and dreams… I love that I get to be a part of young people’s healing journeys. Healing is hard work and there is also a lot of laughter and celebration in the process.”

“I love that I am working with young people that grew up in the same city as me. I love that I can make a mistake and still be held with love.”

“My favorite thing about RYSE is the people, I make new friends and participate in many programs with them.”

“I have met some young people who now hold a big piece of my heart. I love how they continually floor me with how amazing young leaders they are. I love so much watching them claim small victories every day whether it be a good grade, speaking up for themselves, or getting an interview opportunity. The energy and joy they exude is infectious and I always love sharing those moments.”

"Our youth are constantly giving back to community, making ends meet through their organizing, art, and storytelling. Through a sharing of healing and cultural practices we build community, re-ground ourselves, and stop as needed to prevent youth burnout. Our youth understand that our liberation is bound up with each others, so the need to work together, listen to each other, and love each other is crucial and ever so impactful in our collective movement towards liberation."

“Jeremiah has shown tremendous leadership at RYSE. It is always great to have him in the space. He is always leading with love and is always helping to lift up other people with his positivity.”

“Some of my favorite programs at RYSE have been Youth Justice Initiative (YJI), counseling,  Sister Circle, Let's Talk About Sex, Breaking the Frame: Anger Management (BFAM), and the different art programs.”

“Often adults think youth aren't educated or mature enough to make any sort of political action or to affect change. We are inexperienced, but capable. We just need some guidance, a light push in the right direction since it will most definitely be the first time we ever did something like this.“