Project RISE was founded in 1993 as an experimental pilot program for at-risk males from the Greater Boston area. That first year, seventeen young men attended the program and their juvenile Probation Officers of the Courts referred nine. These young men participated in a six-week academic and cultural enrichment program that would be self-esteem and provide them with positive alternatives to their futures. RISE Summer programs were staffed by a combination of certified private and public school teachers, college students (counselors), and volunteers (tutors), who provide approximately 15 hours per week of literacy, math, and study and organizational skills using accelerated curricula along with extracurricular activities in the afternoons such as art, dance, aerobics, swimming, photography, and woodshop. As such, our summer program has grown significantly to offer more enrichment activities such as field trips to cultural events, museums, multicultural history classes, art projects, hands-on science experiments, and a guest speaker forum that allows prominent community and civic leaders to share their stories of resilience and success with the kids. Some of our former speakers at the program include, but are not limited to Governor Deval Patrick, attorney John J. Hightower, and Dr. Keith Motley, Former Chancellor of UMASS Boston.

Program History

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Organizational Goals

Short term

RISE Academy has three (3) major objectives or goals that encapsulates the aspirations we have for all of our students:

1) Improve the social and emotional well-being of children,
2) Improve students' aspirations for postsecondary education/careers and college readiness by modeling the positive behavior that yields such results, and
3) Improve children's academic development and performance in preparation for the coming academic year.

These priorities drive the primary goal for realizing RISE Academy's mission with a coed summer program that includes both an upper school program for students in rising grades six through eleven.

Long term

1) Reduce the drop-out rate of students in Boston area schools, to increase college enrollment rates, prevention of risky behaviors such as drug abuse, bullying, and teen parenthood, and promoting more socially responsible behavior through meaningful community service projects and youth leadership opportunities such as our junior counseling program for talented RISE Academy students.
2) Provide positive role models in the form of teachers and counselors (many from the same demographic backgrounds as our students), we hope to break the cycle of deprivation and hopelessness in this population of students. 

Monday-Friday, July 5 - August 11, 8:00 am - 3:00 pm, four 50-minute block with a 45-minute lunch break. Each day is bookended with ½ hour community meetings with a focus leadership topics.

Student Population

Students in grades 6 - 12

Class sessions divided into lower and upper sections in terms of grade and proficiency level.

*In cases where younger students show particular capabilities, administrators will make individual determinations to advance younger students into upper sections.

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Program Schedule

RISE is a summer program that prepares traditionally underserved, highly motivated students in grades 6 - 12 in the Greater Boston and South Shore area for the rigors of higher education and the workforce. RISE Academy employs a module framework in its summer to focus on key areas that will enhance student performance and their eventual matriculation to college. RISE Academy’s focus is unique in that it seeks to increase the number of college-ready students of color from marginalized communities and systems to pursue study at colleges and universities that offer financial assistance and academic supports where needed. Students have the added benefit of being exposed to world-class college and universities.

Our funding request is directly connected to our efforts to provide sponsorship support to families with limited financial resources to allow their children to participate in our academic and cultural enrichment programs for the summer of 2023. It will take a tremendous collective effort to change the lives of so many students in need of support. The financial contribution from a variety of donors will help eliminate the "opportunity gap" for many of the underserved families that RISE Academy serves.

  • Rob Dixon

    FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR