My Rise aspires to deliver life changing opportunities to under-resourced children and youth in Washington D.C, specifically connecting them to partner-lead programs with a focus on Performance and Martial Arts.

Why this focus, and why does this matter?

All children need access to positive programs; this might be organized team sports, or music, or maybe building computers or learning to code. The Arts, specifically breakdance and martial arts (muay thai and Brazilian jiu jitsu), offer incredible opportunities that appeal to a set of children that may not be as attracted to other activities.

Specifically, and deliberately, My Rise is passionate about unlocking inner confidence in children as they explore body movement in dynamic environments. Both Breakdance and Martial Arts are individual in nature, while COMMUNITY oriented. Many practitioners pursue both as lifelong pursuits and a 3rd space where their peers are considered family.

This blend of individual, independent progression accommodates a broad range and spectrum of students, and the journey students are afforded uniquely includes required discipline, yet freedom in expression, and a uniformly positive mentor setting while avoiding position requirements/yelling/binary expectations typically associated with team sports.

There is no barrier to entry, no minimum requirements other than attitude, many ways to be successful, pride in individual success and no exclusivity in the pursuit of improvement. This inherently incentivizes students to continue pursuing excellence.

As we build out our platform, we are oriented to very specific criteria and goals.

-Finding the students that want to and would be passionate about exploring the Martial and/or Performance Arts.

-Identifying strong community partners and vetting them to allow for more access

-Creating a curricula and forum for dialogue that leads to growth and continuous improvement

-Engaging with passionate stakeholders that believe in the power of movement based arts and their ability to change lives. Students are typically happier, more confident, inclined to participate with fellow practitioners younger and older, learn communication skills, and are engaged in a safe and POSITIVE environment.

As practitioners, we firmly believe that getting children into the appropriate journey is a monumental obligation and opportunity.