Hi friends! If you know me, you know how passionate I am about RISE. I serve on the board of RISE, an incredible nonprofit organization doing important work in our state to lower recidivism and break generational cycles of incarceration. www.seeusrise.org I've been volunteering for RISE for years. I've served as a mentor at the Omaha Correctional Center, the Nebraska State Penitentiary, the York Correctional Center for Women and the Tecumseh prison…and I’ve brought a LOT of folks with me along the way. The first time I volunteered in prison, I went to Tecumseh, Nebraska. By myself. I met a father and son there. I remember thinking how sad that was to have them both in prison…but now I know this is not uncommon at all. In fact, it’s a pattern. A cycle. Criminality is like a lot of other professions…Mom is a physician…son or daughter becomes a physician. Dad is teacher, daughter becomes a teacher. Children know what they’re taught. One of the individuals I mentored starting running drugs at the age of 8. His mother and father introduced this lifestyle to him and he followed in their footsteps. I met a man named Josh at the Nebraska State Penitentiary. I’ll never forget him. He looked so much like my own son and was about the same age. While he had a solid business plan, he wasn’t taking the program seriously and I let him know I didn’t expect to see him graduate and felt he was wasting my time. Well, Josh DID graduate from the RISE program. And I met Josh’s Mom and his six year old Son at his graduation at the prison. We were all crying as he walked across the stage to accept his diploma in his cap and gown. The first accomplishment he achieved with pride. When you think of me, you associate me in some way with what I do. But, the truth is I share more in common with the folks I meet in prison than most of my friends and colleagues. I am the product of a teenage single mom. She had my brother and me when she was just 17. (No we’re not twins…we’re 10 months apart). My mom is a recovering addict alcoholic and a survivor of mental illness. My childhood was a mix of domestic violence, abuse of all forms, homelessness, shuffled to and from family members in states all over the country and general instability. I spent time in a youth detention facility. My mom achieved sobriety when my brother and I were teens- far too late to have much of an impact on our lives. I was a mom by the time I was 17. So, suffice it to say, I can identify with the folks I work with in prison and it’s why I’m so passionate about this organization. Because I have gotten so much more from RISE than I have given. Our prisons are overcapacity. We have the second highest prison population in the country. Building new prisons to house incarcerated individuals is not the answer. We have to invest in programs that reduce recidivism. Rise gives tools, hope and mentoring to these individuals…RISE connects people with their talents and potential so they can experience success upon release. Who can forget our slogan, NEBRASKA NICE? Nebraskans do care about our neighbors. We want them to come home and be valuable community members and it takes folks like you to help break the cycle. Today is our 2nd Annual RISE Day of Giving. Support for the RISE Day of Giving this year will help us meet our mission to break generational cycles of incarceration by using donations from the day towards four key growth areas: 1. RISE reentry case management services; 2. the RISE Youth and Family Program; 3. the RISE Business Academy; and 4. RISE Employment Services. If you are able, I would love your support for the 2nd Annual RISE Day of Giving. Donations can be made here. Thank you, Ava Thomas P.S. If you go to my fundraising page, the picture in my profile is my and Tommy, a formerly incarcerated individual AKA Dr. Thomas Moore who is working on a his book “From Prison to PhD”. He’s proof those impacted by RISE programming deserve a second chance and are pursuing positive changes and giving back to their communities. Take a moment to hear from Aaron. I promise you’ll be impressed! https://youtu.be/L8b2CZadYe0?si=BhFn7AzQYrm7lMka