RiseUP Blog

Many of you are trying to decide what career field to go into as you get ready to graduate from high school and move to college. Don’t believe anyone who tries to tell you that you aren’t supposed to enjoy your career, or that you’ll be stuck in a dull nine-to-five existence and hate it...

It doesn’t seem possible that we are almost to the middle of August already. Next comes the beginning of high school and college football games, falling leaves, and cooler weather...

What doors can we open, if we open the door for creativity and chasing our dreams? Hope. People living instead of just existing...

Happy Friday, RISERS! I hope that this week has been good to you and that you’ll have a safe, enjoyable weekend. Sleep in late…take a nap…eat one treat that makes you happy.

In this parent workshop, Love’s Arm advocacy team members Mimi Nikkel and Brandon Culpepper addressed the important topic of sex trafficking. They shared how parents can recognize the signs of human trafficking, help their children establish a healthy sexual identity, and teach their kids SMARTS.

I hope you have made the most of your summer vacation, and if you are going back to school, I hope it will be your best year yet. With the weekend almost here, just sit back and relax and do that one thing that makes you happy.

What are your capabilities? What is that fire in you dying to escape? Everyone has a great amount of potential, and so many hold it back.

The following recap highlights a teen workshop presented by Kimberly W. Cohen of New Season addiction and recovery center. She has worked with families since 2001, addressing issues such as teen addiction, trauma, suicide, loss of family, and foster care placement. She is also the mother of five children and five grandchildren.

You must take some risks to get the huge rewards, but don’t be afraid to try. Sometimes the most awesome things come from that one moment of bravery where you dare to do something you’ve never done before.

A healthy brain can solve problems, feel happy, be creative, and improve the overall health of the body. To keep your brain healthy, you need three basic things: oxygen, nutrients, and practice.

The movie I want to recommend this week is Racing Stripes. Yes, that is the story about a zebra who thinks he’s a horse. This movie is special because...

While this world is crazy, be sure to be intentional with your work, your friends, and above all, yourself. Don’t get caught up in the “have-tos” of your daily life. ...

People fear what they lack understanding of, because it is unknown territory. People fear the unknown more than anything and usually try to stick with things they know, because it is comfortable and predictable with a safety net.

(In this teen workshop, Love’s Arm advocacy team members Mimi Nikkel and Brandon Culpepper addressed the important topic of sex trafficking. In the process of explaining how to be safe online and protect yourself against predators, they discussed five different subjects: who you are, what you like, “no” is a good word, sex does not define you, and stupid smartphones.)

Happy Friday, RISERS! I can’t believe we are heading into a holiday weekend. Sunday is the Fourth of July, and that means…

Good and bad people don’t really exist. We are all both good and bad, because we are human. You can’t know good without the bad, and vice versa; you must choose based on the desires of your heart and what you truly want.

(This recap features Denise Johnson, a high school English teacher who led a teen workshop on writing.)

(This workshop recap features advice from Jessica Perkins, a preschool worker—who has been in the education system for as long as she can remember—and a mom of four.) Babysitting may seem like it’s all “fun and games,” but the job includes more responsibilities than you might think. I want to share a dozen and one tips that every aspiring babysitter can embrace. Be responsible and dependable. Your employers—the parents of the children you are babysitting—are trusting you to t

What would I tell my teenage self? Dream bigger. Shoot higher. Shine brighter. Embrace being different, unique, and special. Own the beauty in you. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the belief that something else is more important than that fear. Chase your dreams!! The only true failure is never trying at all. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Try and try again, and if that doesn’t work, find a path around the mountain in your way or climb it. It does not have to move

(This workshop recap is from a recent teen workshop by Robin Turnipseed, a former high school teacher who is now a mother of two, a writer, and the owner of Placementofprettythings.com. She shared several useful tips and tricks on managing time—and self—and how this can lead to a more successful life.)