September 1, 2021

Dear We Will All Rise Community!

The idea for We Will All Rise (All Rise) emerged from the voices of Black and Brown young men.  Brilliant and beautiful, they imagined an entity in their image and grounded in the community, wherever that may be.  They wanted deeper and more meaningful connections with young men with similar stories, yet they recognized that the lives of Black and Brown men are not monolithic. They believed in the power of diversity of thought and experiences. And they believed in the power of community fortified through shared experiences.

Ultimately, they demanded that we build an organization that would endure and never offer false hopes to those we serve.  Rising Forward 2025: A Targeted Investment for Community Impact, our first strategic plan, attempts to deliver on the commitment we made to the young men who helped birth All Rise. Rising Forward is a foundational strategy that we hope will set the stage for the organization to serve current and successive generations.  We work hard to seed individualized and exceptional educational opportunities.  We create avenues for young men and their families to thrive economically.  And we foster dynamic spaces for those we serve to be anchored and active in vibrant communities.  

Finally, we want the All Rise community to see itself as part of the village driving our success.  We want you to rise with us and bring others with you.  We are incredibly grateful to partner with you in our vision and our programming.  Please read our plan and get ready to rise!

With gratitude,

Ricardo Neal

President & CEO