Rising leaders
Three-year incubator program
Rising Leaders is an award-winning, three-year leadership incubator that empowers young men from across Portland to become confident, community-minded ambassadors. Launched in 2017, the program begins the summer after a student’s freshman year of high school and guides participants through a series of hands-on experiences rooted in self-discovery, leadership, and service. Each year builds on the last—beginning with personal and community leadership, advancing to workforce development through paid internships, and culminating in a two-week international leadership immersion in Ghana, West Africa, known as the Black Star Homecoming Expedition. Completely free and accessible to all, Rising Leaders removes traditional barriers to entry such as grades or extracurricular requirements. Participants are selected through an inclusive “Un-Interview” process designed to create diverse, balanced cohorts. Ambassadors receive meals, professional attire, haircuts, and a photoshoot to prepare them for success. The program concludes with a celebratory community showcase, where families and friends witness the growth, achievements, and leadership potential of each Rising Leader.
Year 1 - Identity Development
During the first year of Rising Leaders, ambassadors are introduced to our leadership framework through weekly themes, including the development of self, law and community safety, business, and outdoor leadership.
A new Cohort every summer
Each summer, we onboard a new cohort of community ambassadors into our leadership pipeline. Each cohort consists of up to 15 young men who are eligible to join the summer after their freshman year of high school. Each cohort is unique and built to incorporate our four key demographics: African American, African immigrant, high barrier, and high socio-economic background young men.
Boyz in the Woodz Camping Trip
Oregon is home to some of the most pristine outdoor spaces, from mountains and forests to hiking trails and ski slopes. However, access to the outdoors isn’t a privilege for all. Representation of Black people in outdoor spaces and barriers to accessing outdoor spaces remains a challenge. Within our program, over 75% of participants have never been camping. Boyz in the Woodz is a two-day campaign trip for ambassadors in the first year of our Rising Leaders program. For many of our program participants, this is their first time camping. All participant cell phones are collected at the beginning of the trip at Lost Lake, at the base of Mt. Hood. Leaders spend two days, hiking, swimming, pitching tents, and building leadership. With Boyz in the Woodz, we increase representation and access to the outdoors for Black boys.
Redefining Justice Week
This is a dynamic weeklong workshop series in the first-year track of Rising Leaders centered around creating dialogue between young Black men and law enforcement officers. Local law enforcement officers from over 10 local agencies are invited to participate in this week, which focuses on dialogue, active listening, and centering stories of young Black men. Each day of the workshop builds progressively, from storysharing and team building, leading to more challenging conversations around race, police brutality, and white supremacy. Officers attend out of uniform and without weapons. Throughout the week, through engaging workshops and activities, participants learn about each other, share truth, and build understanding. Community ambassadors lead officers on self-designed tours of their neighborhood to learn about their communities and the elements that shaped them. The final workshop involves police attending in uniform for a final, powerful day of dialogue. Our workshops are staff-led, with youth voice through a trauma-informed lens and a culturally grounded curriculum.
Black Women’s Luncheon
An annual celebration of Black women. Hosted each summer during our Rising Leader, Black women from across the region are invited to a special celebration and honored. Each luncheon is facilitated by a woman of honor. During the luncheon, attendees talk with program participants to share their experience, leadership, and expertise. The goal is for ambassadors to better learn about how they can support and engage with Black women.
Year 2 - Workforce Development
In Rising Leaders Year Two, Ambassadors hone in on workforce development through placement in a professional internship at a premier business in Portland.
Professional Internship
In year two of Rising Leaders, ambassadors are placed in a professional internship. Each seven-week internship is geared towards the interests and future career aspirations of our ambassadors. Internships span a variety of career fields with a focus on professional career fields, including commercial real estate, law, business analytics, sports marketing, and more.
Year 3 - Global Citizenship
The capstone, the third and final year of the Rising Leaders program, focuses on global citizenship. Ambassadors travel to Ghana, West Africa, for a two-week international leadership immersion experience, the Black Star Homecoming Expedition.
Black Star Homecoming Expedition
In the capstone third year of Rising Leaders, ambassadors travel to Ghana, in West Africa, for a two-week immersive leadership expedition. This is our Black Star Homecoming Expedition, an experience earned through years of commitment to leadership within and external to our programs. Ambassadors must complete the first two years of Rising Leaders to qualify for this once-in-a-lifetime trip.
Rising Leaders Showcase
Each Rising Leaders summer ends with our community showcase, an annual gathering of family, friends, and community celebrating a summer of leadership and excellence. Our community hosts an interactive exhibition and presents on stage, giving our leaders an opportunity to sharpen their communication and public speaking skills.
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