In this month’s blog, we’d like to share with you some of the powerful writing and poems by RYSE youth and staff from this workshop. These are reflections on self-determination and power—on what can be given to ourselves and to our communities—and our collective commitments moving forward.

Our RYSing Professionals youth interns created and led a storytelling project and social media campaign to share about community experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch the video interviews and read a reflection by collaborator Kimberly Balmorez, Health Career Pathways Program Assistant at Contra Costa Health Services.

¡Todos pueden participar en el Censo 2020 y marcar la diferencia hoy! Hay tres formas fáciles de completar el Censo 2020

The Census impacts Black, Indigenous and POC political and voting power. Here’s a breakdown on how you can help build power.

RYSE lives and leads in the legacies and present day leadership of Black queer revolutionaries. Read about the ways in which we further their work through our queer and youth-centered programs in this month’s blog.

RYSE stands in love and solidarity with Black young people and young people of color across the Bay as they stand in their power and speak out against white supremacy and state-sanctioned violence. We call upon adult allies and systems partners to show up for Black youth and youth organizers of color.

We call upon our white and non-Black community members to show up, educate themselves and each other, and support Black people. Anti-racist work and ending anti-Blackness is our responsibility.

A resource list of wellness resources made by and for Black community members.

We’d like to share that after the most recent health order lifting restrictions on construction, and after implementing new CDC and OSHA regulations and recommendations for worker wellness, the RYSE Commons crew has safely resumed work on site. Read our full update on RYSE Commons and our other work this past month!

“May Day is about resistance, about struggle, about power. Arundhati Roy tells us that “the pandemic is a portal, a gateway between one world and the next”—an opportunity to realize another world, other ways of being together.” Read the full letter by youth intern Dulce Garcia and staff member Andrew Yeung.