Keri Spencer and her daughter first founded RISE in 2015. What started as a church ministry has since helped young girls restore their lives and re-introduce them as thriving survivors in their community. RISE officially opened its doors in February of 2018 aiming to provide young girls from the ages of 12-18, a safe haven while equipping them with the tools and skills as resilient members of society.
Rebuilding each young girl’s life and providing them with opportunities for a bright future is at the cornerstone of the organization. The non-profit provides both group and individual training. “We at RISE have training that is centered on teaching young girls life skills and focuses on the overall aspect of each young lady, for a more holistic approach. Skills such as cooking, arts & crafts, job skills, CPR licensing, and even helping with their GED are all provided by our skilled team. The team are experts in trauma handling and mentor the young girls that come stay with us” Mrs Spencer explained.
Through the support of the community and the donation of Wells Fargo, the shelter has obtained a second building to support their growth. The new building will provide more bed space to take in and help even more girls. It will increase their bed capacity and give them even more room to grow and heal.
With sexual exploitation and sex trafficking being prevalent, the demand for organizations such as RISE and the help of the community continues. “It takes resources to ensure that each girl is well cared for and properly nurtured. But this is a challenge we so bravely and continuously take on. What started as a ministry is now a mission for all of us here at RISE.” very passionately said the director.
For Keri Spencer, we can do our part to help curb the sexual exploitation of young girls by paying attention to our children and their online activities. Teachers and school administrators, as well as parents need to be more cognizant of the behavior of our young girls. “Be aware who they are talking to, what social media apps they are on, who their friends are etc. It is being mindful of what they are exposed to online and the activity they engage in since this is where predators often lurk” she explained.
To know more on how you can help young girls at RISE, visit their website www.riseshelter.org.
