RYSE Youth Center

What RYSE Youth Center does

RYSE Youth Center (RYSE Inc.) is a nonprofit community organization founded in 2008 in Richmond, California, that operates a youth-led development model for young people ages 13-21 in Richmond and West Contra Costa County. Programming is anchored in the organization's Theory of Liberation framework, which centers youth voice and leadership, and is delivered free of charge to all members across six interconnected departments: Youth Power Building, Health Justice, Media/Arts + Culture, Education + Economic Justice, Youth Justice, and Housing Justice. Services include paid internships, restorative justice diversion (RESTOR), mental health and case management, college and career access, housing advocacy, and creative arts training.

The organization delivers its programming primarily through the 45,000 sq. ft. RYSE Commons campus at 3939 Bissell Ave, which includes the RYSE Health Justice Center (activated Summer 2023) and the near-complete RYSE Village, featuring a Black Box Theater, teaching kitchen, studios, and collaborative spaces. Tenant partners include The Hidden Genius Project and Asian Pacific Environmental Network. Standard non-AI technology stack includes Drip, Piano, Freshbooks, and Xero for operations.

RYSE's revenue model is diversified across individual donations, foundation and corporate sponsorships, government grants, and event-based fundraising. Key institutional supporters include Kaiser Permanente (8+ year partnership), John Muir Health (10+ year Beyond Violence initiative partner), JDC Partnerships, Chamberlin Education Foundation, Constructive Solutions Inc, The California Endowment's Building Healthy Communities initiative, the California Department of Public Health, and the City of Richmond. RYSE influenced the 10-year, $99 million reauthorization of the Richmond Fund for Children and Youth (RFCY) and runs the annual Be a Kid! fundraiser, which raised more than $74,000 in 2025. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Lishaun and co-led by Executive Director Kimberly Aceves-Iñiguez and Associate Director Kanwarpal Dhaliwal.

Name

RYSE Youth Center

Legal name

RYSE Inc.

Website

https://rysecenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RYSE Youth Center is a nonprofit, youth-led community organization in Richmond, California, providing free programs in education, health, arts, organizing, justice, and housing for young people ages 13-21 across West Contra Costa County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development and Community Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Youth development services
• Community youth center
• Nonprofit youth programs
• Mental health services
• Restorative justice programs

Headquarters

HQ city

University Of Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: RYSE relies on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. The annual Be a Kid! fundraiser generates significant revenue (over $74,000 raised in 2025). The organization accepts cryptocurrency donations, gifts of stock, and mail-in checks.
2. Government Grants and Public Funding: RYSE receives public funding including grants from the Center for Wellness and Nutrition (CDPH), support from The California Endowment's Building Healthy Communities initiative, and City of Richmond funding through RFCY ($99 million secured over 10 years).
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors including JDC Partnerships, Chamberlin Education Foundation, John Muir Health, Constructive Solutions Inc, and Kaiser Permanente provide event sponsorship and ongoing program support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RYSE Youth Center is a community-based nonprofit that provides free youth development programs for young people ages 13-21 in Richmond and West Contra Costa County. Its core offerings include safe physical spaces, arts and media programming, mental health and wellness services, education and career support, restorative justice programs, housing advocacy, and youth-led organizing—all anchored in its Theory of Liberation framework.

Product overview

RYSE Youth Center is a community-based youth development organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs and physical facilities for young people ages 13-21 in Richmond, CA. The organization operates through its flagship facilities (RYSE Commons campus and RYSE Health Justice Center) and five interconnected program departments: Education + Economic Justice, Health Justice, Youth Power Building, Media/Arts + Culture, Youth Justice, and Housing Justice. All programs are provided free of charge to members and are grounded in RYSE's Theory of Liberation framework, which centers youth leadership and lived expertise. Programs include cohort-based internships, individual counseling, creative arts training, college/career preparation, violence intervention, and restorative justice diversion programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RYSE Commons
• RYSE Health Justice Center
• Education + Economic Justice Programs
• Health Justice Programs
• Youth Power Building Programs Internship and organizing programs including Richmond Youth Organizing Team (RYOT), DLCAPS Fellows, Young Stakeholders Program (YSP), Immigrants Justice Fellow (IJF), and Organizing Club; focuses on civic engagement and policy advocacy.
• Media, Arts, + Culture (MAC) Programs Programs in music, video production, visual arts, and performing arts including SPEAK Poet, Land of Sankofa Production, Lifeline, Graphic Design, RYSING Art Club, Beat Production, Videography 101, and Advanced Media Producers (AMP) Internship.
• Youth Justice Programs Programs including Case Management Support and R.E.S.T.O.R. (Restorative Justice diversion program) that demand equity within justice systems and support system-impacted youth.
• Housing Justice Programs Direct financial support, intensive case management, and advocacy for young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, operating at city, county, regional, and state levels.
• Youth Cohorts & Internships (RYSing Leaders) Paid internship opportunities and cohort-based programs where young people develop leadership skills while earning stipends.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of members feel safer at RYSE than anywhere else
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kaiser PermanentecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Lead sponsor of Be a Kid! 2025. 8+ years of partnership engaging in linkage and support of RYSE's Healing Justice leadership for young people in West Contra Costa. 75-year history as nonprofit healthcare organization with investments in healthy communities.
• John Muir HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Lead sponsor and 10+ year partner on the Beyond Violence initiative, a Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program providing coordination and care for young people harmed by gun violence or physical assault. Also addresses social conditions of violence through prevention and systems transformation.
• JDC PartnershipscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead sponsor of Be a Kid! 2025 fundraiser. Has worked with RYSE since before doors opened to innovate ways to reflect and learn from impacts at individual, organizational, community and systems levels. Supports people, organizations and efforts in deepening contributions by interrupting habits and investing in different practices.
• Chamberlin Education FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead sponsor of Be a Kid! 2025 fundraiser. Long-term supporter of RYSE in uplifting young people's vision and leadership toward a student-centered education ecosystem. Honored Ann (Youth Power Building Coordinator) with Julie Wright Changemaker Award in 2025.
• Constructive Solutions InccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead sponsor of Be a Kid! 2025. Played key role in construction of RYSE Commons, bringing young people's dreams and designs to life. Expanded RYSE's physical presence from 6,000 sq. feet to 45,000 sq. feet campus. Continues to support ongoing building maintenance.
• The Hidden Genius ProjectcoreTechnology or IntegrationCurrent tenant partner at RYSE Commons, providing technology and entrepreneurship programming for youth.
• Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered in design of RYSE Commons as a Resilience and Liberation Hub to address climate, political and other crises. Collaborating on Youth-Led Climate Resilience and Liberation Hub project.
• Reem's CaliforniaminorOthersAward-winning restaurant that catered the Be a Kid! 2025 fundraiser event.
• Understory OaklandminorOthersCo-founded by RYSE alumni Jenabi Pareja. Catered Be a Kid! 2025 fundraiser. Jenabi mentors RYSE's Food Justice cohort as a paid six-week program teaching culinary skills and food justice concepts.
• All Of Us Or NoneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in youth justice advocacy. RYSE youth engaged alongside this organization at Quest for Democracy 2025 lobby day at California State Capitol.
• Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in youth justice advocacy. RYSE youth engaged alongside this organization at Quest for Democracy 2025.
• Dignidad RebeldeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerXicanx Femme Cultural worker Melanie Cervantes from Dignidad Rebelde guided screen printing workshops at Youth Leadership Institute, co-creating art with young people as a tool for resistance.
• Freedom Community ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner at Youth Leadership Institute offering holistic wellness practices through sound baths, energy work sessions, and introduction to herbal medicine. Supports cultivating resilience and fostering physical and emotional well-being.
• Cafe con CariñominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLatin-American inspired café hosted potion making workshop at Youth Leadership Institute, introducing participants to ancestral plants and herbs for spiritual, emotional, and physical benefits.
• Ella Baker Center for Human RightsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded Night Out for Safety & Liberation (NOSL) in 2013 as an alternative to National Night Out. RYSE hosts annual NOSL event reclaiming safety narrative and focusing on restorative justice.
• Contra Costa Crisis CenterminorOthersReferenced in RYSE resources as provider of 24/7 youth crisis hotline (800-833-2900) for mental health supports when RYSE is closed.
• UC TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through concert career pathways program supporting youth opportunities to perform music or spoken word at conferences and events in Richmond and Contra Costa County.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• East Bay Asian Youth Center (EBAYC): Oakland-based youth development nonprofit serving API and other youth of color with leadership, education, and organizing programs. Most comparable peer organization geographically and demographically to RYSE, with similar cohort-based and community-organizing youth models.

Direct peers

• Ella Baker Center for Human Rights: Oakland-based organizing and policy nonprofit that founded Night Out for Safety & Liberation (NOSL), the annual event RYSE hosts. Operates youth-led campaigns on restorative justice, violence prevention, and reentry — closely aligned with RYSE's theory of change.
• All Of Us Or None: Oakland-based grassroots organizing project co-led by formerly incarcerated people, partnered with RYSE on Quest for Democracy 2025. Comparable focus on justice-impacted communities and policy advocacy in California.
• Youth Together: Bay Area youth organizing nonprofit where RYSE co-founder Kimberly Aceves-Iñiguez previously served as Executive Director. Comparable mission of building youth power in communities of color and using youth-driven campaigns for systemic change.
• Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN): Bay Area API-led environmental justice organization co-designing RYSE Commons as a Resilience and Liberation Hub. Comparable in centering youth leadership and Asian American/Pacific Islander communities in Richmond, with overlapping youth organizing methodology.
• The Hidden Genius Project: Oakland-based nonprofit that trains and mentors Black male youth in technology and entrepreneurship; co-located as a tenant partner at RYSE Commons. Comparable youth-development program model with strong employer and college pathways for the same target demographic.
• Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ): Oakland-based youth-led organization partnering with RYSE on the Quest for Democracy 2025 California lobby day. Operates parallel youth organizing, restorative justice, and policy advocacy programs for system-impacted youth of color.
• Larkin Street Youth Services: San Francisco nonprofit providing housing, health, and education services for homeless and at-risk youth ages 12-24. Directly comparable to RYSE's Housing Justice and Health Justice departments in target population and service mix.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of the East Bay: Regional YMCA serving the same East Bay geography as RYSE, providing youth programming, teen services, and wellness facilities. Comparable in serving Richmond-area youth but with a broader family/recreational remit and less specialization in youth-led organizing or restorative justice.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth-development network offering safe spaces, education, career, and arts programming for ages 6-18+. Provides the broadest comparable footprint to RYSE's integrated youth-development model, but serves a far wider geography with less localized youth-organizing depth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• TikToktiktok.com/@rysecenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/rysecenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ryse-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about RYSE Youth Center