RYSE exists because young people of color envisioned it. They called on adults to listen, invest, and rethink young people’s place in the city.

Today, youth are Rysing.

Their art enlivens the streets and their ideas shape local policies, leading toward a Richmond and West Contra Costa where their stories can thrive.

Now RYSE is deepening our roots and raising up a new structure to better hold and amplify youth voice: RYSE Commons. Renovating our existing center into a 37,000+ square foot campus will expand youth program and partnership space by 225%.

Over the next 18 months, we need to raise $6.9 million for the new campus construction, design, and implementation.

It will require bold and beloved supporters to bring this vision to life.. The campaign to raise these funds will be led by love - our love of this city, of the possibility the future holds, and of the youth who hold that future in their hands.

Young people are Rysing for Richmond. Will you RYSE with them?

Learn More about RYSE Commons

RYSing from Center to Commons

RYSE Commons will be a hub for healing, personal development, play, expression, incubating ideas, performances, art, launching businesses, exploring technology, and connecting with universities and partners. Our expansion will:

Increase our indoor/outdoor healing-oriented programming space by 225%
Create new youth-centered sanctuary and healing spaces that includes increased access to primary care and mental health services
Support community transformation by creating additional space to engage partners in shared educational opportunities
Increase our capacity to co-house critical support programs and services with community and systems partners
Provide access to high-quality facilities for technology exploration, workforce development, and media production
Increase opportunities to engage parents, guardians, and extended support systems
Expand our age range for youth ages 11 - 24

What youth-driven components will RYSE Commons include?

Sanctuary and Healing Space
Counseling and Peer-Support Rooms
Hangout Spaces
Space for Physical Activity
Outdoor Free-Play and Learning Space
Performance Theater
Art Exhibition Space
Art Studio
Computer Labs

Media Production Facilities
Makerspace & Pop-Up Shop
Innovation and Business Center
Academic Assistance
Resources for Diversion and Re-entry
Teaching Kitchen
Garden Space
Youth-led Organizing and Base-building
Community Partner Space

Support RYSE Commons

Donate below to support the vision for RYSE Commons.

If you would prefer to mail us a contribution, please send a check payable to RYSE Center to: RYSE Center, ATTN: RYSE Commons, 205 41st Street, Richmond, CA 94805.

Thank you to early RYSE Commons investors

We are building and realizing a beloved community

Years of collaboration, persistence, and strategic effort have led to this moment, and we look forward to sharing our progress with you. Please contact RYSE if you have any questions.

PICTURED: RYSE staff and local youth at a workday on the RYSE Commons property.

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Past RYSE Commons Updates:

RYSE Commons: Animated!

RYSE with us and watch our animated Call to Action for RYSE Commons, created by Next Day Animations and featuring the voice of RYSE youth artist, Nyree McDaniels!

RYSE Commons Groundbreaking Ceremony

Thank you to everyone who celebrated the RYSE Commons Groundbreaking with us. We are grateful to everyone who joined us—whether it was in person, through our Facebook livestream, or in spirit—last Friday, September 6, 2019, as we celebrated the bold dreams of young people in this community. Here are our photos from the event!

Our Education for Liberation Interns on RYSE Commons

As part of the Education for Liberation summer internship program, we develop our youth leadership skills through participating and facilitating a series of storytelling, healing, and educational justice workshops.

RYSE Commons will be a space where young educators like us can continue to learn how to build equity within our education system, and disrupt the cradle-to-prison pipeline.

RYSing to Commons: Week 2

As with all other RYSE projects, the plans for RYSE Commons began by listening to youth and their needs first.

From their feedback, the team identified the need for balance between “active” and “chill” spaces—so youth can exercise together physically or engage in activities with a quieter energy.

A vibrant community garden where young people can grow vegetables for our teaching kitchen was a must, as was a meditative, healing garden. A full basketball court was needed, but also benches, patios, and terraces where young people can just gather to talk with their friends.

Our Music & Audio AMP Interns on RYSE Commons

As part of the Advanced Media Producer (AMP) internship program, we work specifically to expand the music and audio horizons of our youth peers at RYSE. For us, sound and audio production are forms of healing and community building.

RYSE Commons will provide young artists like us with newfound hope and inspiration.

RYSing to Commons: Week 1

“There was an emotional moment as we watched our outdoor stage become a pile of concrete in a matter of minutes. Many of our staff and members remember when the stage was first built and opened in 2012. Now, the concrete from the stage will be repurposed into the building of RYSE Commons.“

RYSE COMMONS