Rising Now, Inc.

When and how are new participants selected?

The Rising Now application process takes place each fall, spring, and summer semester. Those interested in applying must first fill out an application (please see the front page of our website). Your application is reviewed by staff then an interview is set up to determine your level of commitment to the program.

What happens if I do not get selected this year?

If you do not get selected this term and you qualify then your application will be kept on a waiting list for the next available space. We will contact you as space opens.

How much does it cost to join the program?

At this time, we are offering sponserships for some families.

What is my commitment to Rising Now?

Students who are accepted into Rising Now are accepted for the remainder of their school careers provided they keep their grades up and continue to participate. We ask that students attend all Rising Now sponsored events. Remember, you can’t get anything out of a program if you don’t put anything into it. We promise to make an investment in your education, if you promise to invest your time and energy by participating.

What kind of commitments must families make?

One of our goals is to develop a strong working partnership with each student and his/her family. Therefore, it is important that the whole family consider the following: purpose of the program, services provided, time commitments for the school year and summer programs, and the importance of open communication & returning phone calls and messages.

What if a Mentor leaves the program?

We ask Mentors to commit to the program for one year this allows the Youth and the Mentor to build trust and to be a support for our Youth during the high school application process. While rare, sometimes Mentors do need to leave the program early. In those cases, we work to pair the Youth with a new Mentor for the remainder of the program.

Are Mentors allowed to contact Youth outside of workshops?

With parental permission, Mentors are allowed to email Youth between workshops, with the partner teacher copied for visibility. Mentors and Youth are not allowed to exchange social media information.

What if my Youth want to participate early – can they join?

The curriculum is designed to take place over one year, so to get the full experience of the program we recommend committing to our program in 5th grade. However, sometimes there are openings made available in 4th grade, and you should submit an inquiry to info@risingnowinc.org or with the partner teacher at your Youth’s school to inquire about space. For our younger students , we are accepting applications on a trial basis only.