Have you ever made a mistake that you regret but cannot change? Have you or anyone you loved ever experienced a stressful or traumatic event that caused them to make a decision that negatively impacted themselves or others? The answer for all of us is "Yes." As the Director of Employment Services, I ask these questions of employers every day. RISE graduates and system-impacted individuals are no different than you or I! They are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters who somewhere along the way made a mistake. Meaningful employment is one of the biggest barriers to individuals returning home from incarceration. If you had a son or daughter who made a mistake at 15 years old, how long would you want them to suffer for it? 5 years? 10? 20? This is the reality for many individuals coming home. Imagine being sentenced to 15 years in prison at the age of 15, underdeveloped, missing prom, sports, dating, building relationships, college, and the list goes on. I am asking that if you answered yes to any of these questions, please donate so RISE can continue to support individuals returning home with additional workforce development programming, employment support, and education to prepare them to enter into career pathways. Thank you in advance for your donation. Outside of your donation, another way we need your support is to HIRE OUR BUILDERS and become an Employer Partner. My information is below. December Muhammad [email protected] 531-329-9028 Again, thank you for supporting RISE and the work we do as an organization to Break Generational Cycles of Incarceration.