A huge shoutout to Rising Ground’s Senior Community Educator, Heidi Peña, who spoke on behalf of our organization during #DenimDay and was recently honored at the Face Recognition Ceremony at Carnegie Hall! Heidi, you continue to inspire us all.

We are proud to spotlight Alvaro Pinion, Director of our Respect + Responsibility program, who also spoke on behalf of Rising Ground at this year’s #DenimDay! Alvaro’s voice represents a vital part of the conversation—accountability, healing, and transformation.

On Wednesday, May 14, we came together at the stunning Alhambra Ballroom in Harlem to celebrate the 2025 Employee Excellence Awards — an evening filled with joy, pride, and deep appreciation.

📞Wait… why is the CEO calling me on a Thursday afternoon?!” That’s the exact thought some of our staff had—right before finding out they were one of this year’s Employee Excellence Award winners! Watch these surprise moments unfold — congratulations to our amazing winners!

Say hello to our award winners — the changemakers shaping New York City. This is just the beginning. Stay tuned! #LeadersOfNYC #SoftLaunch #Changemakers

Our amazing team members standing proudly in front of one of our IDD residential homes, a reminder that at the core of this work is family. These homes aren’t just places to live, they’re places to grow, belong, and be loved.

A moment for our young people. Through the nation’s largest teen dating violence prevention program, they’re showing us what it truly means to show up for community and stand up for what matters.📍Rooted in New York. Focused on impact.

Proud to stand with our Rising Ground team at The Godsquad Gala — a powerful evening of unity, purpose, and commitment to community. It’s always a great day when we come together to support public safety and uplift the neighborhoods we serve.

Our CEO is named one of PoliticsNY’s 2025 LGBTQ+ Power Players! Honored to celebrate leadership rooted in care, authenticity, and impact. #POWERLIST #AMNYPP #POLITICSNYPP @POLITICSNYNEWS @AMNEWYORK

Did someone say PROM SEASON?! Our Jamaica Drop- In Center put on a prom that no-one will forget! Every young person deserves a moment to shine and to know that their community is cheering them on. Click the link in bio to find out more ways to support #ourcommunity

Meet Jennifer from our foster care education department! She shares the real challenges children in foster care face & why supporting their educational journey matters. Want to help? Click the link in our bio to contribute to our backpack drive! 🎒💙 #FosterCare #BackpackDrive

Today, we joined our partners Council Member Lincoln Restler, MercyFirst, Rising Ground, and Seamen's Society for Children and Families to share information on how to become a foster parent. If you're interested, call 212-676-WISH (9474) or visit nyc.gov/foster.

Yesterday, I joined Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, OPWDD, and community leaders to cut the ribbon on Rising Ground's new Day Habilitation Program for adults with developmental disabilities at CSAIR. I can't wait to see the impact this inclusive space will have for so many!

It takes a village and we're proud to be part of it. Shoutout to our incredible team for showing up, representing, and staying rooted in community. Whether we’re working behind the scenes or out in the neighborhood, we show up together. #ATLAS #RISINGGROUND

Look again. This isn’t just a mess. It’s imagination. It’s learning. It’s play. Every child deserves the joy of creativity and the tools to succeed in school. Support our Backpack Drive today. 📚🎨 Link in bio.

Back-to-school season is around the corner and for thousands of NYC youth, that means stress. Let's make it mean opportunity. Help us provide 4,500+ backpacks filled with supplies to students across the city because no child should start the year without the tools to succeed.

📈 Last year: 4,528 backpacks distributed. 📦 This year: Let’s break that record. Help us meet the growing need across all five boroughs! Click the link in bio and support our 2025 Backpack Drive

I donated because every child deserves the tools to build a positive future. Giving a backpack—and the supplies to fill it—was a no-brainer.” We’re grateful for every person who’s stepped up to support NYC youth. Let’s rise up and pay it forward for the next generation.

Purchase directly from our Amazon link to support our Backpack Drive. Every dollar brings a child closer to confidence, readiness, and a fresh start. Let’s rise up and give NYC youth the tools they need to succeed this school year. #BackpackDrive #SupportNYCYouth #RisingGround

Human trafficking is happening in NYC — and most of it is hidden in plain sight. 🔹 40% of victims are minors 🔹 Most cases go unreported Learn the signs. Join the fight. risingground.org #EndHumanTrafficking #RisingGroundNY