RYSE Commons in the News
In the San Francisco Business Times: Richmond youth are turning dreams into reality through innovative economic pathways
“RYSE will be expanding its workforce development programming and leadership pipeline within RYSE Commons, providing the training needed to be next-generation leaders, to manage small businesses, and to build confidence and competence to change workplaces into spaces that are welcoming, responsive, culturally rich, and demand equity.”
In Tax Credit Advisor: A Place of Safety and Healing for California Youth
“Richmond, a city of 110,000 people, is “seeing a lot of changes” both from gentrification and persistent challenges of violence and trauma and disinvestment… But city youth are “full of resiliency, passion and love for their community… They need a space to shape the future of the city they see.””
In Richmond Confidential:
Building on Dreams of Richmond Youth
“Kylaa Prejean, a RYSE member and current high school senior, is also excited for the new building […] Prejean will be attending The Juilliard School in New York after graduating. She credits RYSE for playing a big part in her passion for dancing. “RYSE helped me take it seriously,” she says. She hopes to return to RYSE Commons in the future as a mentor or counselor.”
In the Richmond Pulse:
RYSE Breaks Ground of Expansion of Youth Center
“More than 10 years after it opened amid skepticism and resistance, the RYSE Youth Center took a major step in its efforts to help local young people build better futures.”
In the East Bay Express:
Rising to the Challenge in Richmond
“RYSE was based on the then-controversial idea that the youth whom the center would serve could identify their own needs, as well as help shape the services offered and the atmosphere in which they were provided. A decade later, the concept's success is unquestionable.”
In Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas: This center is a space for youth to learn how to create change
“RYSE Center… was built by young people in response to their needs, and in its 11 years of existence, has become a national model for how to engage youth in community action and build out an alternative to a justice.”
In The Richmond Standard: RYSE celebrates groundbreaking for expansion
“Early this year, at just 26 years old, Pineda was appointed as a city councilmember for the City of San Pablo. The city leader is among a growing list of young people coming up in Richmond who credit RYSE programs for providing a positive, encouraging environment that offered career and life skills.”
In the Richmond Standard: Richmond Planning Commission approves RYSE expansion project
“The RYSE Commons project will create the type of community hub that is a valued asset in any neighborhood… The project will expand RYSE’s ability to work with youth, as well as their larger support networks of guardians, teachers, pastors, social workers, therapists, coaches and more. The expansion will also allow RYSE to better partner with other youth-serving organizations and government partners and provide a space for community gatherings.”