Thanks in large part to the blog post that Ruth over at Cranium Crunches wrote, my attention was directed to the work of two remarkable women, Amy Wise and Jennifer Meyers, Co-Founders of R.I.S.E. to Empower, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in San Diego, California.
R.I.S.E. to Empower is a passionate leadership team helping teenage girls to Reflect Internally and Share Externally. By empowering girls with skills and tools now, it sets them up to make positive choices that will carry them forward for their lifetime.
How many times as an adult have you thought — if I only knew then, what I know today.
Open letters to our younger-selves abound on the Internet. Passionate messages that encourage the teen we once were to believe that she is enough.
If only she didn’t have to wait and learn the hard way…
That is why I am so passionate about R.I.S.E. to Empower — their commitment is to grow strong confident women of tomorrow, today, one teenage girl at a time.
Amy and Jen are the real deal, their powerhouse strengths are their combined real-life experiences and training. Together they are ideal leaders to foster positive growth in young people from all walks of life.
R.I.S.E. to Empower offers a 3 month program that empowers teenage girls to make positive choices by offering a transformational experience in which they will be asked to take a deep look at their lives, the challenges they are faced with daily and their relationship to choice.
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Today is “Giving Tuesday“ and this year in support of R.I.S.E. to Empower, I am donating my time as a guest speaker for one of their teen groups along with 36 copies of my book, Tornado Warning, A Memoir of Teen Dating Violence and Its Effect on a Woman’s Life.
As a survivor of teen dating violence I know I am lucky to be alive. Furthermore, if we turn to the staggering statistics — I had a better chance of being plagued by domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, an eating disorder or worse — then being an author and an inspirational speaker. I was raised with love, and opportunity and it wasn’t enough.
When I look back at my own teenage years I can only wish that a program like R.I.S.E. to Empower existed. 1 in 4 women will experience some form of abuse in her lifetime. I am asking you today to help reduce that number because one is too many.
By donating to R.I.S.E. to Empower today — you will help a girl to develop the skills she needs to evaluate her life, plan for her future, and build on positive decisions with the help of a facilitator-led group.
Whether their goals are to pursue higher education, build healthy relationships, or live life at their highest and best potential R.I.S.E. to Empower is dedicated to helping girls make the choices that will allow them to create bright futures for themselves and ultimately, to fulfill their dreams!
R.I.S.E. to Empower is an advocate that empowers teen girls to find their joy, follow their heart and live their dreams.
You have the power to bring the 3 month R.I.S.E. to Empower Program to continuation schools, the juvenile system, foster schools, and public and private schools.
Together we can create confident women of tomorrow, today…
What a wonderful gift to one of the most promising organizations out there right now – your time, your voice, your heart, your BOOK! Thank you so much for spreading the word about R.I.S.E. to Empower and for being you wonderful Elin!!! I do believe that together, we can create a better future for teen girls and young women!!!
Thank you so much, Ruth. I agree, I think it is a promising organization. Young people deserve the best we can provide and I don’t think they should have to learn the hard way if it can be prevented.
There is nothing more important than mentoring young girls and women, in my opinion. I did this as a business professional and as a college instructor and this is an organization that’s on my list!
I couldn’t agree more. How wonderful that your professional life found you in roles that served young women, Carol. Thank you for adding R.I.S.E to Empower to your list and for reading and commenting today.
I love you and Ruth for not only writing about this important organization but doing something about it. Good luck with your talk today, Elin. I’d LOVE to know how it goes, what transpired, how it was received, etc.
I love this. We need to empower young women better than our moms empowered us. Each generation learns more, and so on and so on. This is such an important issue.
You are an incredibly strong and gifted writer, and I wish I could be in the audience today!
Cathy thank you so much for your support, actually the event is next year. I appreciate your desire to hear me speak, maybe you can come to one of the east coast events in the future. 🙂
I sure appreciate your support and your kind words.
I just LOVE what they are doing for these girls and all women with this program! This is wonderful!
Thanks Wendy, I agree, makes the world a better place.
I’ve been involved with a similar organization in northern California (Girls for a Change). I love that you are not only supporting RISE, you are giving to them.
How wonderful that you have been directly involved with Girls for a Change, Kim. I appreciate your comment today.
Mentoring young girls is so very important. Awesome post. When my kids were teens there were a few of their friends from school that could have used some mentoring. What a wonderful program!
Thanks Carolann, it is a wonderful program, Amy and Jen are such an inspiration. Thanks for being here today and for learning more about R.I.S.E.
Elin,
Your heart, your kindness and your generosity are so appreciated! We are truly grateful that you are so passionate about our mission! Thank you for everything!!!
In gratitude,
Amy and Jen
Hi Amy and Jen, thank you both for welcoming me! I am thrilled to be part of the program next year. I am a raving fan, what you are adding to the community here in SD and soon elsewhere, is sure to have an impact. I love the passion that each of you have!
I love the idea of teaching young girls to recognize how much power they actually have and how to use it well. Thanks for all you work and dedication to this organization.
I love the way you phrased your remark here, Toni. Helping a young person discover their own power is incredible. Thank you for your supportive comment.
I haven’t heard of R.I.S.E. before. Thanks for making this the focus of your giving Tuesday post. The media is doing better to diversify their representations of young women, but they could do more. I am abuse survivor as well, and it’s so necessary to help empower young women. Too often they are socialized to comply with other peoples’ will. All my best to you as you continue to achieve and advocate and write, Elin.
Thank you so much Karen, for both your interest in R.I.S.E to Empower and your willingness to share your experience. I agree, the gross representation of women in the media does not serve the self image that young people carry. I appreciate your supportive comment, Karen!
Inspiring in so many ways. Thank you for reminding me about this great organization and mission. I will be opening my wallet when I get home tonight and sharing this via my blog.
Mary, thank you so much for your incredible post today. Your willingness to lift R.I.S.E. up to your community is such an enormous testimony to the person you are. Thank you for your support and your contribution, very appreciated!
I am so proud of Amy and Jen for all the work they put into getting this amazing organization up and running, of Ruth for everything she brought to it and of you for giving your time and copies of your life-changing book to the girls. Awesome all the way around.
Thank you, Lois! The program is going to serve so many young people, so inspiring. 🙂
As the mother of three daughters who miraculously made it to adulthood despite dating violence, suicide attempts and more, I can’t imagine a more worthy organization for empowering girls. Kudos to you for the difference you’re making in helping R.I.S.E. makes difference. Amazing!
Lisa, it is amazing what young people are faced with today. Thank you for sharing your experiences, your remarks drive point the value that R.I.S.E. provides — and don’t our young kids deserve that sort of monitorship.