Students Empowering Students

Growing the Next Generation of Leaders

Root 2 Rise

Root 2 Rise, in partnership with school districts, brings excitement to classrooms by placing high school students in neighborhood elementary schools, where they serve as academic tutors and behavioral mentors for younger students.

Since 2017, almost 7,000 younger students in Oregon and Wisconsin have been inspired by more than 300 high school Tutor-Mentors.

Students Inspiring Students

Tutor-Mentors and younger students inspire each other. It happens naturally when these high school students arrive. Everyone benefits.

Root 2 Rise Thrive

Root 2 Rise Thrive tailors career and educational support for our former students ages 18-26.

Root 2 Rise Advisory Board

Dr. Edward Holmes and Mary Burke have agreed to serve on an Advisory Board for Root 2 Rise.

“The board will identify new opportunities for Root 2 Rise. Their unique experiences and perspectives will be invaluable in helping us serve more youth and in our support of education,” said Denise M. Hanson, founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization.



  • Dr. Edward S. Holmes is the former principal of Madison West High School and recently retired as  Director of Diversity and Inclusion at the Overture Center in Madison. During his 40-year career in education, he emphasized creative, community-based programs and inclusive, engaging, academically successful public schools. At the Overture Center, he emphasized equitable access to bias-free, high engagement programs. He earned undergraduate degrees in English and Political Science; a Masters of Science in Social Work, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin.




  • Mary Burke has led a varied career ranging from leadership positions in the private, public and nonprofit sectors to currently pursuing a career in clinical mental health counseling. Most recently she was CEO and founder of Building Brave, a non-profit that created digital communities to advance and empower women in organizations. Her positions have included Vice President of Finance for Intrepid Corporation, Director of European Operations for Trek Bicycle, and Wisconsin’s Secretary of Commerce. In 2014 she became the first woman to win the nomination for Governor of Wisconsin from a major party. Mary earned her BS in Business Administration at Georgetown University and her MBA from Harvard University. 


“I’ve struggled with addiction and made some poor choices in the past. Fortunately, I found help and advice from Root 2 Rise Thrive and elsewhere when I needed it.”

Luis Rodriguez

“Root 2 Rise held me to a high standard. Many of my friends just went with the crowd, and many of them are now dead, in jail, or homeless.”

Joseph Thigpen, Jr.

Root 2 Rise addresses the needs of our most vulnerable youth. Root 2 Rise directly embodies many of the best practices identified by the National Gang Center to discourage youth gang involvement.

Since 2017, 334 Tutor-Mentors have inspired 6,680 young students.

Dr. Edward Holmes and Mary Burke join Root 2 Rise Advisory Board.

Thank You to
Our Partners

Student Success Stories

  • “I love what I do. This program is one of the best things that has happened to me this year.”

    — OLIVIA A., TUTOR-MENTOR, 2023

  • “My whole life changed in months. I didn’t see myself as a teacher at first, but then I started to see how I influenced kids. For me now, the sky’s the limit.”

    — JOSEPH THIGPEN, JR TUTOR-MENTOR 2017

  • “Root 2 Rise taught me how wonderful these kids really are. It’s an amazing feeling to know how much I have helped them.”

    — MARTINA S TUTOR-MENTOR 2021