Rise: Healthy For Life

What Rise: Healthy For Life does

RISE: Healthy For Life is a private 501(c)-style nonprofit founded in 2018 and headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee, that delivers responsible, inclusive, trauma-responsive sexuality education across Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. The organization's core technology is its original evidence-informed Stellar Sexual Health Education curriculum, offered in middle-school, high-school, and adult versions, supplemented by the national Our Whole Lives (OWL) curricula at K-2 and older-adult levels, the Accessible Sex Ed Training for neurodiverse populations, and a broad catalog of facilitator training programs and short workshops (Consent Is Like Pizza, Healthy Relationships for Life, How to be an Askable Adult, Trauma-informed Practices, etc.). Delivery is human-facilitated rather than software-driven, with classes held at community venues such as churches, schools, universities, the shared Johnson City office with Pride Community Center, and partner sites including Ballad Health, ETSU, YWCA, and Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.

RISE's revenue model is a hybrid of earned program fees and philanthropic support. Earned income comes from workshops at $150 per class hour plus a $50 prep fee (two facilitators for up to 15 participants), facilitator training at $250 per participant, merchandise sales (t-shirts, tumblers, tote bags), proceeds from the Bellafina Chocolates Rise Truffle Collection, and a $1,500/year CoactionNet data-platform subscription. The majority of operating support, however, comes from individual donations and grants, including funders such as Ballad Health, the Tennessee Disability Coalition, ETSU Elevates, the Fund for Unitarian Universalist Social Responsibility, and contributions processed through BetterWorld. Many programs are delivered free or on a sliding scale to ensure accessibility.

The organization is led by director and co-founder Cindi Huss (a certified Our Whole Lives facilitator at all age levels and trauma-informed care trainer) and co-founder Sarah (Content Expert, certified OWL facilitator and trauma-informed trainer), supported by a board including an OB/GYN with adolescent-medicine expertise and a pediatric/adolescent-health nurse. In 2025-2026 RISE has shifted from a purely regional delivery model toward digital scale, launching a national/international online facilitator training pilot in April 2026, formalizing a shared-space partnership with Pride Community Center, and adopting CoactionNet for operational data handling.

Name

Rise: Healthy For Life

Legal name

RISE: Healthy for Life

Website

https://risehfl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

RISE: Healthy For Life is a Johnson City, Tennessee nonprofit (founded 2018) that provides trauma-responsive, inclusive sexuality education curricula, workshops, and facilitator training to youth, adults, families, and professionals in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sexuality Education Services

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sexual Health & Relationship Wellness Education (EDAAAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student Wellness & Prevention Programs (Substance Use, Sexual Health, Bullying) (EDAJAIAG), Sexual & Reproductive Health Services (EDALAFAG), Health, Wellness & Lifestyle Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAH)

Keywords

• Sexuality education programs
• Facilitator training services
• Trauma-informed workshops
• Inclusive curriculum materials
• Community health education

Headquarters

HQ city

Johnson City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Workshop and Class Fees: Classes and workshops priced at $150/class hour plus $50 prep fee. Includes two facilitators for up to 15 participants. Fee is negotiable for organizations with budget constraints.
2. Facilitator Training: Stellar Sexual Health Education facilitator training with fair market value of $250 per participant. Includes electronic access to curriculum. Sliding scale available for organizations with limited budgets.
3. Merchandise Sales: Shop selling t-shirts, stainless steel tumblers, tote bags with affirming messages. Every purchase directly supports RISE's work providing sexual health education.
4. Partnership Products: Chocolate truffle partnership with Bellafina Chocolates - RISE receives proceeds from Rise Truffle Collection sales.
5. Donations and Grants: Donations from individuals and grants from organizations including Fund for Unitarian Universalist Social Responsibility, Ballad Health, ETSU Elevates, and others. CoactionNet subscription is $1,500/year for data platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RISE: Healthy for Life delivers responsible, inclusive, trauma-responsive sexuality education through its original Stellar Sexual Health Education curriculum, Our Whole Lives (OWL) programs, and a portfolio of workshops, classes, and facilitator training serving youth, adults, parents, and professionals. Programs are delivered in person across Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, with a pilot online facilitator training extending reach nationally and internationally. The organization supplements program delivery with donations, grants, and mission-aligned merchandise sales.

Product overview

Rise: Healthy for Life is a nonprofit organization offering responsible, inclusive, trauma-responsive sexuality education in Northeast Tennessee. The organization provides multiple educational programs and workshops as a unified portfolio rather than a single platform. Core offerings include Stellar Sexual Health Education (the original curriculum for middle school, high school, and adults), Our Whole Lives (OWL) programs for K-2nd grade and older adults, and Accessible Sex Ed Training. The portfolio extends to facilitator training programs, professional development workshops for educators and medical professionals, youth programming through Teens RISE, and original affirming literature. The organization also provides community resources including STI testing information and hosts the Rising Voices panel series. All offerings emphasize inclusivity, trauma-responsiveness, and evidence-informed practices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stellar Sexual Health Education: RISE's original, evidence-informed curriculum that engages participants in exploration of inner and outer space, dismantling stigma and inviting honest, compassionate curiosity about bodies, identities, and relationships. Available for middle-school youth, high-school youth, and adults.
• Teens RISE

Products and services

• Stellar Sexual Health Education Curriculum RISE's original, evidence-informed curriculum engaging participants in an exploration of inner and outer space. Covers whole people, sexual anatomy, arousal, consent, body image, gender, orientation, power dynamics, healthy relationships, menstruation, masturbation, and STI/pregnancy prevention and testing. Delivered to middle-school youth, high-school youth, and adults.
• Our Whole Lives (OWL): K-2nd Grade Sexuality education for grades K-1 helping children learn about bodies, families, babies, and birth through songs, stories, activities, and at-home projects. Includes 10 lessons with active guardian involvement.
• Our Whole Lives (OWL): Older Adult Holistic sexuality education program for older adults modeling caring, compassion, respect, and justice. Addresses sexuality with candor, sensitivity, and respect for older adults' wisdom and life experience.
• Stellar Sexual Health Facilitator Training Comprehensive facilitator training covering curriculum content, facilitation best practices, and tips for making sex ed more accessible to all neurotypes, genders, colors, abilities, and orientations. Electronic access to the curriculum included for trainees. Fair market value $250 per participant; sliding scale available.
• Accessible Sex Ed Training Workshop designed for sex ed and family life educators to make programs more accessible to people with disabilities, particularly autistic people and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
• Our Whole Lives Facilitator Training Coordinates OWL facilitator training at three levels: K-6th grade, 7th-12th grade, and adult. Workshops typically run Friday evening through Sunday afternoon. RISE can also act as consultants/mentors for new facilitators.
• Trauma-informed Care Train-the-trainer Workshops Participants who have completed a Trauma-informed Care workshop can learn to educate others about trauma effects, trauma-informed care, creating safe spaces, and avoiding retraumatizing practices.
• Healthy Foundations Workshop 45-minute workshop for guardians and caregivers of babies, toddlers, and preschoolers on keeping communication lines open, building healthy relationships, boundaries, body knowledge, and talking about healthcare questions.
• Consent Is Like Pizza Workshop 30 minutes to 1.5-hour workshop for upper elementary youth through adults using pizza ordering as a metaphor for healthy communication in relationships. Developed with A Step Ahead Tri-Cities and ETSU Adolescent and Young Adult Clinic.
• How to be an Askable Adult Workshop 1-3 hour workshop for guardians of kids of all ages helping them become primary sexuality educators, addressing anxiety about 'the talk' and age-appropriate information sharing.
• People, Puberty, and Periods Four 1-hour sessions for kids ages 8-12 covering internal/external reproductive anatomy, puberty changes, menstrual cycle, and self-care. Developed with Leah Loveday, Rebecca Pearson, and Lily Hollenbeck.
• Healthy Relationships for Life Workshop 1.5-hour workshop for middle school through adult covering healthy/unhealthy behaviors, communication skills, and setting boundaries based on personal values.
• The Secret Life of Queer Folx Workshop 2-hour workshop exploring queer experiences throughout history, creating safe spaces, and building supportive communities. Developed with Matthew Gardenhour and ETSU Elevates.
• Let's Talk About Sex: Healthy Conversations with Your Partner Workshop for adults 18+ on honest, respectful communication about sex, negotiating boundaries, practicing safer sex, and improving relationships.
• Understanding Your Own Trauma Response Workshop Workshop for trauma survivors from high school through adult helping them understand the science of trauma response, develop self-compassion, and build resilience.
• Gender and Orientation: Reframing the Narrative Workshop Workshop for professionals covering sex assigned at birth, gender identity, attraction, orientation, stereotypes, and tools for compassion and inclusion.
• Removing Barriers to Care for Trauma Survivors Workshop 1-hour workshop for medical and mental health professionals on approaching patients with curiosity, recognizing biases, and improving health outcomes for trauma survivors.
• Trauma-informed Practices Workshop 2-3 hour workshop for businesses and community organizations covering trauma-informed approaches, recognizing symptoms, and organizational implementation.
• Trauma-informed Approaches for Faith Communities Workshop 3-4 hour workshop for clergy and church leadership on understanding trauma, its effects on brain/body, and creating trauma-informed faith communities.
• How (and why) do we do diversity and inclusion Workshop Workshop for community organizations, clubs, and businesses on understanding diversity and inclusion practices and embedding them throughout organizational work.
• Rising Voices Panel Series Panel series examining stories about healthcare, equity, respect, and myths with marginalized populations. Available panels include Women of Color and LGBTQ+ Folx. Includes companion workshops for professionals.
• Teens RISE Youth Program Youth program connecting teens in the Tri-Cities to learn accurate, inclusive information about bodies, relationships, identities, and resources, and to advocate for positive change in the community.
• Supplemental Sexuality Education Facilitator Training RISE works with other organizations to offer supplemental training on teaching methods and content related to sexuality education.
• RISE Shop Merchandise T-shirts, stainless steel tumblers, and tote bags with affirming messages. Every purchase directly supports RISE's work providing sexual health education.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free STI screening available through northeast Tennessee regional county health departments
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pride Community Center (PCC) of the Tri-CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2025Shared space partnership at RISE's Johnson City office location (2700 S Roan St, Suite 300-B). Both organizations share a welcoming, affirming space for education, advocacy, and connection. Partnership announced with community open house October 26, 2025. Organizations share commitment to creating spaces where every person feels safe, seen, and supported.
• Bellafina ChocolatesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit artisanal chocolatier in Kingsport. Partnership for Rise Truffle Collection - chocolate sales where proceeds support RISE's education work. Collaborative marketing around Valentine's Day and other occasions.
• Sex Education Collaborative (SEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRISE is an active member of the Sex Education Collaborative, which envisions a world where all young people's right to comprehensive, high-quality sex education is recognized. SEC is made up of sex education experts working to advance and scale K-12 school-based sex education across the United States.
• CardeacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational women of color-led organization addressing impacts of historical, systemic, structural, and institutional issues on health. Provides trauma-informed sex education resources and professional development webinars that RISE promotes and participates in.
• A Step Ahead Tri-CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) in the Tri-Cities area. Co-sponsor of Rising Voices panel series. Arranges appointments and transportation for LARC procedures including pregnancy and STI testing as part of well checks.
• Ballad HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Health Improvement (CHI) program partner in Northeast TN and Southwest VA. Funded 'Consent Is Like Pizza' workshop development and various community education programs. Implements and evaluates health improvement programming.
• ETSU (East Tennessee State University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple partnerships: Women's Resource Center co-sponsors Rising Voices; Elevates grant funding for Tri-FACETS program and community-engaged learning; hosts equity and inclusion conference sessions; student involvement through various programs.
• shOUT CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective impact initiative centering youth needs around sexual and reproductive health in Appalachian Highlands of SW Virginia and NE Tennessee. RISE is member along with YWCA and Ballad Health. Holds virtual roundtables, speaks in region, and annual cross-sector summit.
• YWCA of Northeast TN/Southwest VAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in STRONG ACC Regional Symposium addressing youth sexual and reproductive health. Dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace. Key areas: affordable childcare, racial justice, teen parent support, family strengthening.
• TN Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual ViolenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of Rising Voices panel series addressing healthcare, equity, respect, and myths with marginalized populations.
• Healthy and Free TennesseeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of Pregnancy Decriminalization Teach-In events. Addresses strict legal landscape around abortion with advice and trusted resources for navigating reproductive healthcare.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Healthy Teen Network: National organization providing sex education, adolescent sexual health programming, and training for youth-serving professionals. Directly comparable to RISE's mission and product set, but operates nationally with a broader organizational footprint.
• Scarleteen: Online inclusive sex education for young people with curriculum, content, and direct-to-learner delivery. Highly comparable to RISE's youth-facing Stellar curriculum in audience, inclusivity stance, and content style, but distributed exclusively online.
• Cardea Services: National women-of-color-led organization providing trauma-informed sex education, professional development, and curriculum. Stated strategic partner of RISE working in the same trauma-informed, inclusive education niche with overlapping curricula and training products.
• Our Whole Lives (OWL) / Unitarian Universalist Association: OWL is the secular comprehensive sex education curriculum RISE delivers and trains facilitators for (co-published by UUA and UCC). RISE is essentially a regional OWL delivery and training operator, making the publisher an upstream comparable.
• Answer (at Rutgers University): Provides sex education training, curriculum, and professional development for educators. Direct competitor to RISE's facilitator training product and operates the same Sex Education Collaborative, serving K-12 schools and community organizations nationally.

Broad incumbents

• Advocates for Youth: National organization that partners with youth-led groups to advance sex education and reproductive rights. Directly comparable in mission to RISE and a fellow member of the Sex Education Collaborative, but operates at significantly larger national scale.
• SIECUS (Sex Ed for Social Change): National policy and advocacy organization advancing comprehensive sex education. RISE is an active member of SIECUS's Sex Education Collaborative and operates in a directly overlapping mission space, though SIECUS works at the federal/national policy level while RISE delivers community-based programming.
• Planned Parenthood Federation of America: Runs large-scale sex education programs, professional training, and community outreach nationally. Broad incumbent in sexuality education with overlapping curricula, professional development, and youth programming that competes for similar grant dollars and partners.
• The Trevor Project: National LGBTQ+ youth organization offering crisis support, education, and training on inclusive practices for schools and youth-serving organizations. Overlaps with RISE's "Secret Life of Queer Folx" workshop and gender/orientation trainings in audience and curriculum content.

Regional players

• Healthy and Free Tennessee: Tennessee-focused sexual and reproductive health advocacy organization. Listed as a strategic partner of RISE and works on overlapping state-level issues including pregnancy decriminalization, but is primarily a policy/advocacy organization rather than a direct educator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Rise.HealthyforLife
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rise-healthy-for-life

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rise: Healthy For Life