Our twenty-six RISE Fellows for the 2020 program year represent some of San Diego’s best and brightest community leaders, activists, practitioners, and agents of social change. They have demonstrated their experience in and commitment to a variety of issues affecting urban communities across San Diego.
Peter is a public education professional who was been working with youth and young adults since 2007. He started his career in education in 2012 and has worked for two of the largest charter
Marissa has served as a prosecutor for the past fourteen years as a Deputy Attorney General for the California Department of Justice and currently as a Deputy District Attorney for the
Gemma is a diversity practitioner seasoned in strategy, EEO/AAP, program development, diversity recruitment, veteran hiring, relationship cultivation, community outreach and employee
Sinai grew up in the heart of Barrio Logan, a lively and culturally vibrant community tucked away under the Coronado Bridge. The community became her lifeline after she became homeless at
Jessica is a life empowerment coach and trainer who creates space for people who know they’re made for more to explore their heart’s desire and empower them to make their dreams and goals
Jehoan is a community organizer who has worked to elect candidates that will work for our communities and to educate and engage communities in Los Angeles and San Diego
Daniela strives for a better San Diego that commits to safety and beautification. Her career started in the customer service field where, as a part-time sales associate for Foot Locker
Born in Chicago, Ariel she had early exposure to poverty and violence in urban areas. Desperate to create a better future, she involved herself in several activities in high school, including
A first-generation college graduate from Sherman Heights, Liset is currently in their fifth year of teaching at the Chula Vista Learning Community Charter School, where they are
Shophar is a qi gong, sensual energy, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner and the author of S.O.L: Sacred Orgasmic Living. He uses his podcast, Fo Sho Holistic Health, and
“Motivating”, “relevant”, “ambitious”, “educational”, “connected”, “consistent”, and “committed” are just some of the words that have been used to describe Shane. As a child,
Ebonāy is a thirty-three-year-old Hawaiian-born, El Cajon-raised mother of two beautiful children. Raised by her mother in a single parent home, she maintained a 3.5 GPA in high school and had
Born and raised in Anaheim to Haitian-American parents, Chiara moved to San Diego over fourteen years ago to attend San Diego State University. There, she earned a Bachelor of
Michael began formal work at the age of sixteen as a busboy and progressed through opportunities at Macys, Chanel, UC San Diego, and Mesa Community College. During his teens
Carlos, also known as Smiles, is a social entrepreneur and a lover of life. You can spot Carlos wearing a smile and reminding us of the choices we each have in our pursuits of
Born to a Mexican-Filipina mother and an African American father, and raised by his Spanish-speaking immigrant grandmother, Christian is a true multicultural San Diegan native. This has
Ignatius is the lead youth support at Urban Beats, where he uses the arts to destigmatize mental illness. It’s here where he discovered that one of his gifts is simplifying mental health concepts
Nadia is a San Diego-Tijuana bicultural woman who has focused her efforts on promoting art as a healing and empowerment tool. Her love for art, the built environment, and community
Theresa is a first-generation college graduate with a passion to support and create loving, healing spaces for all students through narrative writing. While away from home at college she
Born and raised in San Diego, Olivia is a PhD candidate in the Department of Ethnic Studies at UC San Diego. Olivia’s family is from Guahan (Guam) and she’s used her academic
Lorain is an interdisciplinary visual artist, arts educator, and community organizer. She holds a BA from San Diego State University in applied arts and sciences with an emphasis in
Anne serves as the lead attorney for Al Otro Lado’s Otay Mesa Detention Center Release Project. Previously, she was a managing attorney and executive director of Think Dignity, where
After laying roots in the "hidden city" known as Escondido, Cassandra immersed herself in the community and was amazed to see the evolving agricultural presence. Growing up in Temecula
Jonathan personifies a story of courage and resilience. As a teenager, he fell into street culture and began to cope with his problems by affiliating with a local gang. Fortunately, he
Joshua graduated from the University of San Diego in 2016 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He was captain of the football team, founder and president of the campus chapter of
Cherisce serves as a lieutenant with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, where her current assignment is as a watch commander at the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility in