The Ripple of Change:
Real Stories, Real Impact
Every number tells a story of courage, healing, and community. Since our founding, RISE has proudly served survivors on their journey from trauma to transformation — empowering them to reclaim their confidence, voice, and hope.
Impact Report
At RISE, we believe that healing happens through connection, compassion, and community. Every survivor supported, every story shared, and every act of generosity helps break the cycle of trauma — creating ripples of hope that extend far beyond one moment or event.
💜 71 survivors supported through RISE programs and partnerships
✂️ 15 transformative makeovers provided, helping survivors see their inner strength reflected back in the mirror
🥋 5 hours of self-defense training, empowering survivors to feel safe and confident in their bodies
🎨 4 hours of art therapy, creating space for self-expression, reflection, and emotional release
💳 Over $2,500 in gift cards distributed to help survivors purchase clothing for job interviews, food, transportation, and self-care essentials
💄 More than 70 self-care kits gifted — filled with luxury haircare, skincare, and makeup products thanks to our incredible partners at Davines and Give N’ Glow
🗣️ 50+ hours of community speaking and advocacy, breaking stigma and raising awareness around domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault
🌸 10+ hours of Empowerment and Healing community retreats, offering restorative spaces for connection and growth
🧘♀️ 25 hours of Survivor Flow & Grow yoga sessions, helping survivors reconnect with their bodies, breath, and inner peace
Together, we’re proving that healing is possible, empowerment is contagious,
and no survivor walks alone.
"The afternoon started with a self-defense class — a strange kind of poetry, really. Learning how to fight back when so much of my life was spent just trying to survive. My body moved with purpose, my heart heavy but open. Then came the paint drop — colors spilling like old emotions that had nowhere left to hide. The splatter felt like release, like the messiness of my past finally landing somewhere outside of me. Yoga followed. Slow, grounding, quiet. And in that stillness, I found myself thinking about all the pieces that made me a survivor. The time I thought I wasted. The people I lost. The years I spent searching for love in broken places. Every scar, every setback, every hard lesson — they’ve all become part of what rebuilt me. Survival isn’t pretty. It’s raw, uncomfortable, and relentless. But it shapes you. It teaches you how to breathe through the ache, how to trust your own strength again. I’m not who I was. I’ve learned, healed, and grown. And now, I’m writing it all down — not because I’m stuck in my past, but because I’ve finally made peace with it. Nevertheless, I’m here. And for the first time in a long time — that’s enough." 💜 Bobbi
"Yesterday, I got to attend RISE Survivor Empowerment Day. The first part of the day was a self defense seminar. We learned a whole plethora of techniques to use if we are ever in danger. For a survivor like me, there were moment that were very activating. I breathed and pushed through. I allowed the instructor to put her hands around my neck against a wall, while I practiced the move to get her off me. Having actually been in this situation before, it was scary. Even when I know I am safe logically, my body keeps the score. My body still feels all of those things as if I am actually in danger. Still, I breathed and pushed through. The empowerment I felt from hitting a target or doing a technique correctly was exhilarating and worth every uncomfortable triggering moment. The second part of the day was a paint therapy. We wrote down words on a blank canvas that no longer served us. I wrote down some of the most awful thoughts and beliefs and cognitive distortions I’ve ever had. Then, we poured the paint over it and covered up the pain with the art. Everyone’s turned out so unique. Lastly, we did slow-flow, very trauma informed yoga. I had no idea how much I needed to slow down and return to my mat. I haven’t practiced regularly for a while, due to work/school/gym/recovery/kids. It’s easy to jump from one task to another, never slowing down and returning to my breath and body. As I practiced, I closed my eyes, and let myself feel some painful things I haven’t released yet. Thank you so much Rachel Wilkerson for collaborating with Freedom and putting this event together. You truly poured your heart and spirit into creating a day that was so restorative. You set aside all the tough stuff you were going through with getting into an accident and were fully present with us. You are a light and we so grateful ." 🦋 Mickey