Meet Rachel

Rachel Wilkerson: Founder & Executive Director

A Survivor. An Advocate. A Voice for the Voiceless.

The Journey from Darkness to Light

In 2006, Rachel Wilkerson made the hardest decision of her life: she left. She walked away from violence, abuse, and a life that was slowly erasing who she was. What she didn't know then was that leaving would be just the beginning.

The next 15 years were a quiet battle—wrestling with shame, navigating the aftermath of trauma, and rebuilding herself piece by piece. There were days when survival felt like the only victory. But Rachel held onto a belief that carried her through: no experience is wasted in the hands of the divine.

The Moment That Changed Everything

In 2018, Rachel walked into Pure Smiles dental office in Westerville, Ohio, carrying more than dental pain. Her broken smile was a visible reminder of everything she'd endured. She didn't know if she could afford care. She didn't know if anyone would believe her story.

But instead of judgment, she found Jody—a hygienist who saw her, really saw her, and offered care at no cost. Not out of pity, but out of compassion.

With each visit, Rachel didn't just reclaim her smile. She began to reclaim her voice. The dental chair became a sanctuary. Walls came down. Healing began to rise.

That simple act of kindness planted a seed that would become RISE Foundation.

Building a Movement

In 2021, Rachel founded RISE—not just to give back, but to build a movement rooted in dignity, empowerment, and second chances. Her vision was clear: What if every survivor could experience this kind of care? What if entire communities learned to recognize, support, and celebrate survivors?

Today, RISE is that vision brought to life.

Rachel's Expertise & Impact

Trauma-Informed Yoga Instructor

200-Hour Certified through LIT Life + Yoga

Rachel creates safe spaces where survivors reconnect with their bodies through breath and movement—offering choices, not commands, and honoring each person's autonomy. She's developed specialty programs for PENZONE Salons, Paul Mitchell Schools, and leads regular trauma-informed sessions for RISE survivors.

Community Educator & Public Speaker

Rachel brings trauma-informed training to workplaces, salons, schools, and at-risk communities—teaching people to recognize signs of abuse, respond with compassion, and support survivors. From corporate teams to beauty professionals to youth programs, she equips communities with the tools to become informed allies.

Career Empowerment Coach

Rachel guides women through resume building, personal branding, goal setting, boundary work, and the neuroscience of confidence—helping survivors and professionals alike step into their power.

Art Therapy Facilitator

Through creative expression, Rachel helps survivors process emotions, reclaim their narratives, and discover joy in healing—offering a non-verbal pathway to transformation.

Rachel's Mission

To walk alongside survivors as they rise—not just from what they've survived, but into who they were always meant to be.

Rachel believes that healing is not linear, that community is medicine, and that every survivor deserves to be seen not as broken, but as brave. Through RISE, she's creating a world where survivors encounter support everywhere they turn—from their yoga mat to their workplace, from their salon chair to their community.

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Rise Story & Mission

In Rachel's Words

"For years, I believed my past defined me. I carried shame like a second skin. But through the kindness of others and the slow, sacred work of healing, I discovered something powerful: my story didn't end with my trauma. It began there."

"RISE exists because I know what it's like to feel invisible. To believe you're too broken to be loved. To think no one would understand. And I also know what it's like when someone finally sees you—really sees you—and offers dignity instead of judgment."

"Every survivor I meet, every workshop I lead, every yoga class I teach—it's all rooted in one truth: You are not alone. You are not broken. And you are rising."