Check out the latest aerial footage from the RYSE Commons construction.

“The RYSE Commons project was, from its earliest inception, built from the dreams of young people. RYSE engaged with youth members month after month, and even engaged groups of young people in the community who were not RYSE members to answer what turned out to be a pretty radical question – what do you need in a space for you to feel safe, grow, and heal?” Read the full letter by RYSE Commons Construction Manager, Shiloe Bear →

There have been several exciting developments since our last construction update shared in October.

Check out our time lapse video of the first three months of the RYSE Commons construction, read more about the expanded spaces to come in the new campus, and learn how you can support us with purchasing essential equipment for Richmond youth!

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

“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.“