Building Parent Leadership: Despite a budget of less than $85,000/year until 2013, Rise hired its first parent leader, Jeanette Vega, in 2010.

• In 2011, Rise hired Piazadora Footman, who helped build Rise over 6 years, writing and reporting more than 20 articles and leading the addition of a public speaking program at Rise.
• Longtime writers Evelyn Salazar, Ilka Perez and Nicole Goodwin joined Rise, and in 2013, Rise hired three parent contributors part-time: Antoinette Robinson, Sonia Diaz and Erica Harrigan.
• In 2014, Rise became a partner project of the Fund for the City of New York, after years of fiscal sponsorship by Youth Communication, and formed a governing board. 
• In 2015, Rise began offering public speaking workshops and created paid project teams staffed by parents. Rise’s video ‘I Have Risen’ and In Our Own Words gave voice to Rise as it grew into an organization.