The new Rio Romeo (except they're trans masc)
by Astro, RYSE Member
For once
I can look into
a mirror
and not feel
dysphoric.
My hair,
now matches more
of who
I am.
New earrings
and a few dress-ups,
I can feel
happy with my body
without having to try
and pretend to see
that I am a boy.
A very pretty, handsome boy.
Learning to play keys,
pluck strings on wood,
and creating music.
How happy I am
with who I am.
To all in our beloved community,
All June, RYSE revisited what it means to create and facilitate safe spaces. This year’s PRYDE and the month as a whole gave us ample opportunity to revisit some of the original elements of what made RYSE necessary in the first place.
Before RYSE, back when the city—in particular this generation of young people—was suffering through what seemed to be a persistent stream of homicides, back in that beginning, before an engaged youth voice was chiseled into civic life, before anyone set forth to rethink young people’s place in the city, before all of that, there in the open corners of Richmond were its youth. And the youth wanted safety and insisted on being heard.
Let us reflect on the above quote, pulled from our origin story. Let us reflect on Astro’s poem above. And let us reflect on all that RYSE has initiated, facilitated, and galvanized this month.
Scroll below to learn more about what RYSE did in June, and click the button to the left to read RYSE’s PRYDE Statement from the beginning of the month.
Richmond Rainbow Pride Parade
RYSE’s Health Justice Program Assistants Bryan and Lulu set off the month early June by taking up the AMAZING opportunity to bring the incredible LGBTQ+ identifying RYSE youth to not only participate in but LEAD the Richmond Rainbow Pride Parade, joining Reimagine Richmond, Rich City Rides, Richmond Rainbow Pride, and PinkSpots. Former RYSE youth themselves, Bryan and Lulu brought the fun, community and safety of RYSE full circle for the next generation of RYSErs.
Board of Supervisors Pride Proclamation
On June 4th RYSE was invited to the Board of Supervisor Chambers in Martinez to accept a proclamation from the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors recognizing Pride Month. RYSE Staff got a chance to speak on the mic, reflecting on the proclamation, the community, and RYSE’s decade-plus work toward LGBTQ+ youth safety.
PRYDE Spirit Week 2024
RYSE creates safe spaces grounded in social justice that build youth power for young people to love, learn, educate, heal and transform lives and communities. LGBTQ+ youth were an integral part of RYSE's inception and the idea of creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth is an important building block to all we do. This PRYDE will be centered around joy, belonging, and safety by way of an eventful, electric, colorful PRYDE Spirit Week stacked with fun activities, music, and food! Each day members are encouraged to dress in different themes, filling the space with looks, colors, and homages, ending with Friday’s event! This PRYDE serves as a reminder that RYSE’s cultural weeks throughout the year are our collective opportunities to celebrate, learn about, and share our intersecting histories of struggle and liberation
Summer 2024 at RYSE
This month we kicked off our Summer 2024 season: one full of opportunities to learn, explore, grow, and have fun with amazing activities, programs, internships, and field trips!! All programs are designed for youth to come together to organize, learn about their expressive freedom, identities, and create new connections within their community, with programs spanning art, graphic design, music, animation, content creation, physical health, financial education, food justice, basketball, and SOOO much more.
Considering the shootings, and other violent acts that have been taking place in our community, our young people need an opportunity and safe space to talk about how the violence they're witnessing and experiencing is impacting them. RYSE is collaborating with Teens on Target to provide a 6 session series on violence prevention! Young people will have an opportunity to discuss and learn about topics such as root cause of violence, gun violence, gang violence, family abuse, relationship abuse, and peer pressure. There will be a $50 incentive for anyone who completes at least 4 sessions of the series!
Calling all youth content creators: join our Financial Freedom program in partnership with Stay Diff.
Got your own creative business? Already creating your own artistic content? Join these workshops and learn how to monetize your music, videos, and designs, understand the basics of online marketing, branding, and the financial aspects of content creation.
Open to all RYSE members! Email mediaarts@rysecenter.org with any questions.
More about StayDiff: StayDiff is a BIPOC-owned multimedia creative studio based in Oakland, CA that provides an array of creative services to clients in a variety of industries. From creative production to educational programming, Diff Works prides itself on cultivating cohesive working relationships with organizations in order to produce at a high level.
We've got some exciting new FREE VIDEO PROGRAMS for members! Members ages 13-21 are welcome to join either program and learn some new skills.
Tik the Tok: Creating Video Content is a program that will equip RYSErs with the skills and knowledge to create explainer videos on various topics of interest. It's an opportunity to learn filming, editing, voiceover and general content creation.
Animate YOU! will show you how to digitally animate yourself! Animation includes photos/bio shots of yourself, your name, business name, or banners.
Questions? Email pamela@rysecenter.org !
GRAD SEASON AT RYSE
In conversation with our Education Justice Manager, Deysi, she had a realization about the youth experience of the last couple of years: there’s been a loss of moment-markers.
This is a generation that experienced the once-in-a-lifetime coming of age benchmarks during a global pandemic, at the expense of moments like meeting their peers during freshmen orientation, or dressing up and dancing at junior/senior prom or walking the stage in a cap and gown. These young people are experiencing something unique to their generation and so Deysi played part in creating a moment all their own. It started with cap and sash decorating workshops, wherein members got a chance to personalize their graduation ceremony accessories, then a full on graduation photoshoot, and capping off with RYSE and Shine: Dawn of a New Chapter, a graduation lounge celebrating members’ incredible accomplishments with fun activities and our very own grad ceremony for all grades moving up!
Internship Wrap-Ups
Beyond Youth Organizing & Power (BYOP)
The Beyond Youth Organizing & Power internship returned this past Spring, as an opportunity to cultivate and amplify youth leadership through organizing and trainings to help develop leadership, communication, public speaking, community organizing, and campaigns development skills. The interns went out with a splash, taking a team field trip to Six Flags!!
Roots of Success (RoS)
Interns involved in RoS closed out the program with an event commemorating their journey. RoS is an Environmental Specialist Pre-Apprenticeship program for young people to explore jobs and career pathways in environmental fields, get hands-on work experience, and become activists for environmental problems and injustices in their communities. The interns went on to connect with environmental organizations such as Groundwork Richmond and Growing Together, intern Aashir saying “The instructors willingness to foster a beautiful learning environment is one that I haven’t come across in my K-12 schooling experience. I have learned so much in regards to environmental stewardship through this program and have been connected to so many like-minded individuals that I truly would recommend this program to anyone who is interested in an environmental specialist position.”
And a HUGE Welcome to Our New Hire, Former RYSE Member, A’Zaria!
Upcoming Events
JUL 9th
Join The Lewis Prize for Music for the premiere of short films created by and with young people from Richmond (CA), Stamford (CT), Detroit (MI), and Crownpoint (NM) - Navajo Nation. These films beautifully showcase inspiring stories of strength, resilience, and joy.
We look forward to watching these remarkable short films, engaging in meaningful discussions, and celebrating together!
This Accelerating Change Series was created in partnership with The Heartbeat Music Project, RYSE Youth Center, INTEMPO, We Are Culture Creators, and The Lewis Prize for Music.
July 19th
RYSE’s Health Justice Department is hosting this year’s Wellness Day that will, among other things feature a sound bath, mobile clinic, coloring, cooking, Zumba, dance, tea, and various presentations as our partners convene at RYSE to discuss and immerse ourselves. Save the date and stay tuned to our socials and upcoming newsletters!
August 6th
Night Out for Safety and Liberation is the night when people across the country come together to reimagine what #SafetyIs.
Join RYSE in reclaiming safety and looking beyond fear, punishment, policing, and incarceration. Our communities carry deep knowledge, love, and practices of safety that sustain us. Come celebrate our Constellation of Care, Resilience, and Freedom!
Festivities will include a resource fair, performances, art activities, music, a food truck, and more!
This is a FREE intergenerational community event.