Our People Rise

Hey everyone, it's AJ.

Many of you know me, but for those who don’t, I went through a deeply transformative and devastating time living on the streets in my late 20s, struggling with meth addiction while homeless. A child of an alcoholic father and a mother with mental health challenges, I experienced trauma, violence, and near-death moments wandering the streets of San Francisco’s Tenderloin and Los Angeles.

But I was one of the fortunate ones—I made it out while many I knew didn’t.

Our People Rise project is about telling the stories of those of us who have survived and using our stories to inspire and guide others still caught in the struggle.

Support Our People Rise

We are raising $40,000 by September 1, 2025 to complete the documentary, launch the Rise Cards deck, and take these powerful recovery stories on a West Coast speaking tour.

Your donation directly fuels editing, filming, outreach, and events that bring hope, tools, and real solutions to those still fighting their way home.

Please donate today and be part of lifting voices that need to be heard.

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Our People Rise Mission

Our People Rise is a documentary project at the moment with a mission of shining a light on powerful, real-life stories of recovery and resilience.

We interview survivors who escaped homelessness, addiction, and mental health crises, sharing their hard-earned wisdom and the tools they used. We're also speaking with experts in trauma, mindfulness, recovery, mental health innovation, transformation, and positive psychology to bring cutting-edge insights and practical toolkits directly to those in need through the film and via the nonprofit being founded, Our People Rise.

"It took me over 10 years to find my way back to a stable baseline after leaving the streets because I lacked essential tools to navigate programs. I relapsed, landing in hospitals and psych wards and found myself near death time and again. Our People Rise aims to change this pattern by compiling and presenting effective tools clearly, accessibly, and through relatable stories."

Documentary Progress

In 2024, we started filming the documentary. With over 20 powerful interviews, authentic street vlogging, and unique B-roll footage, we're ready to enter post-production. The goal is to complete the documentary by the end of the summer, submit it to film festivals, and take it on a West Coast speaking tour, sharing at nonprofits, prisons, shelters, treatment centers, colleges, and churches.

We hope to extend this tour to the East Coast if we secure enough funding.

Beyond the Documentary

Our People Rise is more than just a film.

It’s my second nonprofit initiative after founding Harmonic Humanity in 2009.
Harmonic Humanity successfully created job opportunities for the homeless by producing compilation CDs with donated music from Grammy-winning artists.

After stepping back in 2015 for personal healing, and starting a small video and film production company to make ends meet, I'm now committed to building Our People Rise as a new community-driven platform, bringing new healing, my skills, resources, and community to help.

We'll finish the documentary by the end of the summer and aim to develop and offer free online curriculum modules teaching essential recovery and transformation tools in 2026.

So far, aside from the filming we've completed and securing the 501c3 status, we've begun developing a unique 52-card deck, each card featuring inspiring recovery stories paired with transformational teachings, designed to uplift individuals directly on the streets. Additionally, a 52-page workbook I'm writing, complementing the cards, will outline my journey, input from others who have risen, and experts to help facilitate group processes and personal growth techniques to support lasting change.

Early Support and Momentum

Our People Rise has already been supported by a growing community of individuals and organizations who believe in resilience and recovery:

Nearly $100,000 raised through early donations, grants, and individual supporters in 2024.
Grant support from organizations including The Lufkin Family Foundation and generosity from private donors.
Early partnership opportunities and speaking invitations from organizations such as Tech Collective (San Francisco), Midnight Mission (Los Angeles), Reach Church (Seattle), Santa Monica Community College, University of San Francisco, Berkeley Community College, and We Heart SF.
Collaboration with community leaders, nonprofit founders, street outreach workers, filmmakers, city officials, first responders, recovery advocates, and more.
Interviews with over 20 survivors, experts, and grassroots heroes who have entrusted their stories to this project, along with behind-the-scenes footage and B-roll along the journey.

Upcoming Goals and Events

This crowdfunding campaign supports our next critical phase over the next four months:

Final editing and additional filming for the documentary
Creating a pilot episode to pitch as a series
Completing the 52-card Rise Deck
Preparing a fall speaking and screening tour, with stops already planned in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oregon, and Seattle

We envision hosting community-building events, showcasing my photography, and screening the documentary to create joyful, uplifting gatherings that celebrate resilience.

How You Can Help

We need your support right now to complete the next critical phase of Our People Rise.

Over the next four months, your donation will directly fund:

Final editing and additional filming for the documentary
Creation of the 52-card Rise Deck
Production of a pilot episode to pitch as a docu-series
Launch of a West Coast speaking and screening tour this fall

Our immediate goal is to raise $40,000 by September 1, 2025 to complete these key milestones and bring this movement fully to life.

Every contribution helps move this forward:

$25 helps print Rise Cards to gift directly to people on the streets
$100 supports editing costs for a survivor’s story
$500 sponsors a full community screening and healing circle

Monthly giving is especially powerful — it provides steady fuel that allows us to focus on the work, not just fundraising.

Even if you can't give financially, sharing this campaign, introducing us to potential sponsors or grant opportunities, or spreading the word makes a huge difference.
Your voice, your belief, and your generosity are how we rise.

Please donate today and be part of lifting voices that need to be heard.

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We're doing this with very little funding. Donations now help pay for crew, admin and overhead, stipends for essential team members, including editors, social media coordinators, and event organizers.

My Personal Commitment

Losing my corporate job in late 2023 was challenging, yet it became a blessing—reconnecting me deeply to this meaningful work. I still face my own mental health challenges and ongoing healing. But my authenticity in this journey is precisely what qualifies me to lead Our People Rise. This project isn't about perfection—it’s about real, resilient, imperfect humans rising together and sharing how we have and are continuing to do it—a rare and needed contribution to a sector where trust is priceless in helping those afflicted rise up.

Acknowledgments and Gratitude

I deeply thank everyone who's supported this vision so far—the early donors who helped us raise nearly $100,000 in 2024, the friends, the dedicated crew, and everyone who shared their stories. This project continues because of your belief, generosity, and courage.

Why This Matters

Right now, in America:

Over 653,000 people experience homelessness on any given night.
1 in 5 adults live with a mental illness.
Over 40 million people are battling addiction or substance use disorders.
Suicide remains a leading cause of death.

Many of those suffering are unseen, unheard, and unsupported.

Storytelling is powerful medicine.
Research shows that sharing real, authentic recovery narratives can increase hope, reduce stigma, and inspire action more effectively than statistics alone.

Film can break barriers.
Visual storytelling reaches across walls of fear, shame, and misunderstanding—connecting heart to heart, creating empathy where lectures cannot.

Community matters.
Healing does not happen in isolation. Films and public conversations can create circles of belonging, helping people remember they are not alone.

Education changes outcomes.
Access to transformational tools—through free, accessible online learning—has been shown to dramatically increase recovery rates, mental health stability, and successful reentry into community life.

Closing Thoughts

A dear friend, Joseph Jaques, who helped me grow when I needed it most, shared a quote with me years ago:

"A rising tide lifts all boats." That's what Our People Rise aims to do.

Thanks for caring, daring, and believing in this shared journey, Joseph and others.

Your support means everything.

Happy Easter, God bless, and remember—the simple wisdom still holds true:

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

With gratitude,
AJ

Our People Rise: A Movement in the Making