CREATING AN INCLUSIVE WORLD WHERE EVERYONE PROSPERS
Rising is creating a global community where underrepresented and under-resourced people have the opportunity to improve their own lives and the lives of others through social entrepreneurship. Our collective success is guided by economic equity, inclusiveness, and belief in the power of survivor leadership.
Rising entrepreneurs are primarily women. Many are survivors of extreme poverty, homelessness, discrimination, gender-based violence, and human trafficking. Through the power of entrepreneurism, these survivor leaders use their wisdom, strengths, and aspirations to create profound change.
Rising offers 3 entrepreneurial paths to individuals who are experiencing economic hardship: Path 1 -Rising Artisan, Path 2 - Rising Representative, and Path 3 - Rising Expert. All Rising entrepreneurs have access to free ongoing business training, a mentor, comprehensive resources (social and financial), and an emergency fund.
Rising Artisans earn income by selling their handcraft fair-trade jewelry, home goods, and accessories through a Rep’s online store, and at virtual or in-person events. Rising Representative’s learn to run their own Rising businesses selling these fair trade goods made by Rising Artisans. Rising Experts draw upon their lived experience with human trafficking to teach human trafficking awareness, and prevention at schools, corporations, and at community and non-profit organizations.
Awards: Ashoka Changemakers and The Packard Foundation's Activating Empathy Award, Silicon Valley Community Impact Award, 1st place in the CruzCares Social Innovation Award, 2nd place in SVCC-Opportunity Hack, and our founder Carmel Jud won the Woman of the World Award.