April 2024
Welcome to Root 2 Rise
We place high school students as tutors and mentors in neighborhood elementary schools. This leadership experience is a powerful catalyst for academic achievement and personal growth.
Several staff members attended the 50th anniversary celebration of JustDane, a social justice group advocating for reform of the criminal justice system, where they heard an address by Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries. From left: Paul Krc, Root 2 Rise Treasurer and Vice President, Elvis Mejia, a former gang member from Los Angeles, Father Boyle, and Denise Hanson, Root 2 Rise Founder and Executive Director.
Hope is the Key
“Hope is the key to everything,” said Elvis Mejia, whose life was transformed by participating in Homeboy Industries, the world's largest gang-intervention rehabilitation and re-entry program.
I recently had the privilege of hearing Mejia speak at the 50th anniversary of JustDane, and also heard a powerful address by Father Gregory Boyle, the founder of the Los Angeles organization, whose compassion and dedication are widely admired.
Root 2 Rise shares Father Boyle's belief in the transformational power of hope.
Many of our students say they lacked self-confidence and found little purpose in attending school. This changes when they are given an opportunity to succeed and to discover their natural ability. Root 2 Rise provides that opportunity.
As Father Boyle said of his students, they learned that they “are exactly what God had intended when He made them,” thus dismantling “the message of shame and disgrace that keeps them from seeing the truth.”
Root 2 Rise is an investment in a student’s future, one that will benefit the whole community deep into the future. Almost all (96 percent) complete the program and many (30 percent) express interest in a career in education. Parents, younger students, and teachers also benefit.
We have supported 302 high school Tutor-Mentors who have served over 6,000 K-8 students. Our goal is, as Father Boyle said, to remain an integral part of a much larger effort to “create a circle of compassion so large that we can imagine that no one stands outside it.”
Denise Hanson, Founder and Executive Director
The "Right Thing"
Creating a level playing field for students
Maureen Geraghty has a visceral understanding of the toll exacted by social and economic stresses - and is committed to solutions offered by Root 2 Rise and other programs.
”Roto 2 Rise addresses the need for systemic change in education,” said Geraghty, who has been a teacher in alternative high schools for 33 years.
“These kids aren’t ‘sitters.’ They are doers. Having our students engaged in tutoring elementary school children has been a win for everyone. High school attendance increases because they want to work with the kids, and realize their teacher and students count on them. R2R students know they are role models. These leadership qualities apply to other aspects of their lives. Their pride and self-esteem increase.
“It’s a genius program. I see miracles happen,” she said.
While schools recognize the importance of equity and diversity, Geraghty said that help often falls far short of what’s needed for meaningful results, and often fails to consider the difficult choices faced by students. The stipend Tutor-Mentors receive can make a huge difference for students who often work late night shifts to contribute to their families’ living expenses.
Geraghty, who serves on Root 2 Rise’s board of directors, recently implemented Root 2 Rise at Reynolds Learning Academy, an alternative high school near Portland, Oregon.
“After our first year implementing Root 2 Rise, two students graduated and are now in college attending an ‘Introduction to Education’ course and plan to become educators. It’s amazing!”
She is convinced that Root 2 Rise can (and should) be widely implemented, but believes that doing so will probably be a “ground-level effort by a lot of good people committed to change” due to the lack of funding from schools.
“Root 2 Rise is a labor of love for me. It’s the right thing to do.”
Drumline Live
As a partner organization of the Overture Center in Madison, Root 2 Rise was provided tickets to attend a recent performance of Drumline Live, an energetic, inspiring showcase of the marching band tradition of Historically Black College and University marching bands.
A Belief in Transformation Through Education
Peggy Ahlgren, Madison, is an enthusiastic supporter of Root 2 Rise.
Denise Hanson, the founder and executive director of Root 2 Rise, said Ahlgren’s support and generous donations have been instrumental in the organization’s success.
“It’s a win-win-win program,” Ahlgren said, citing the clear and compelling benefits to Tutor-Mentors and K-8 students, teachers, and parents.
She includes a couple of additional winners - the educational system (Root 2 Rise leverages existing resources) and society (which benefits from educated and productive citizens).
Ahlgren, who earned a national reputation for her distinctive pottery, said her faith in education runs deep because it enriched the lives of her forebears. She said Root 2 Rise will ensure the same opportunities are available today for everyone.
“I can’t think of a more potent positive influence than that offered by Root 2 Rise - to be admired by a classroom of younger students, and to be respected by a teacher,” Ahlgren said. “I believe this program should be available in every school district.
“Many people criticize some of today’s educational policies and practices. I can’t think of a reason why anyone would criticize Root 2 Rise. If in doubt, talk to the students, teachers, and parents who’ve participated in it ”
New Role Models
Our Tutor-Mentors are influential role models.
Here's what this meant for one family.
Ashley Moncrief's daughter, Savannah, 16, had Tutor-Mentor Joseph Thigpen, Jr., in fourth grade in 2017, her first Black role model in a school.
"He made a difference. Everyone looked up to him," Savannah says.
Ashley's younger daughter, Danielle, had Jayden Wilson as a Tutor-Mentor in kindergarten two years ago, and Ashley says Danielle still enthusiastically refers to him.
When she started high school, Savannah was too young to join Root 2 Rise, but says she would have eagerly done so if her schedule had permitted.
"Root 2 Rise is a great opportunity, particularly for students who need a second chance," says Ashley. It's very empowering for students of color, as are the stipend and the credit toward graduation.
"I grew up in Madison and attended Alabama State University so I could be with other Black students. It changed my life," Ashley says.
Savannah also plans to attend a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and major in sports medicine.
