New Challenges,

New Opportunities

For some, high school is a difficult time. A recent survey by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction revealed that high school students face “unprecedented mental health challenges" – soaring rates of depression, anxiety, and social isolation.

Schools do their best to help, but often lack the resources to do so adequately. There is also an ongoing debate as to whether it is within the school’s purview since many of the trials faced by students involve deeply personal and societal issues.

Root 2 Rise does help.

It does not categorize or label students. It does not make them jump through a hoop or over a bar in order to participate. It’s available to anyone genuinely interested in helping others. It offers opportunities seamlessly woven into the fabric of a normal school day, and as part of a genuine community.

The overwhelming majority of Tutor-Mentors are pleasantly surprised at how much they enjoy the experience – and how much they learn from it.

Tutor-Mentors are respected by dozens of people – students and teachers – for the help they provide. Their assistance profoundly influences younger students, many of whom say it’s the first time they’ve interacted with an authority figure in school who “looks like them.” 

Root 2 Rise fosters confidence and hope. 

Learning should be accompanied by excitement and joy. It's a tall order, but Root 2 Rise delivers.

Denise M. Hanson, Founder and Executive Director

These short videos provide different perspectives on Root 2 Rise.

BRYANNA

DANIEL

DACIA

There was considerable interest in Root 2 Rise among those attending the Wisconsin Public Education Network's Summer Summit held July 31 at La Follette High School in Madison, Wis. Those fielding inquiries are (from left): Jorge and Jimena Ayala, Denise Hanson, Ethan Xiong, Martina Sancristobal, Cquemiah Clark Richmond, and Joseph Thigpen, Jr.

Daniel Wilson and his mother, Valerie.

Making Life Even Better

Root 2 Rise enriches success.

When life is good, Root 2 Rise makes it better.

Daniel Wilson, a graduate of Sun Prairie West High School, didn’t know what to expect from working with first graders. He already did “super good” in school, was an accomplished athlete (football and track), and had the enthusiastic support of a caring family.

But after a semester helping first graders, he said he “automatically became a leader,” learned to be more responsible, and refined his career goals. (He already runs a lawn care business.)

His mother, Valerie, said the experience taught Daniel to be more patient and “more relatable” to adults, kids, and peers. Daniel said each child was unique and he found a way to relate to each of them.

But most of all, Daniel loved the kids he helped. “I remember every single one of them,” he said, “I keep photos of them on my phone”. He beams when recounting how they hugged him and gave high fives every day. One asked for his autograph. And he remembers how sad he was at the last day of school at the thought of never seeing many of them again.

“I would definitely do it again,” he said.

Daniel considered a teaching career, but opted to study business at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He plans to apply the leadership skills learned in Root 2 Rise when leading Bible study and preaching.

Valerie said she and her husband worked hard to ensure her children never experienced the difficulties she experienced as a child. 

For a decade, they have provided long-term care in their home for the same two mentally disabled adults, an unusually lengthy tenure since most care arrangements change annually. Valerie is employed as a Certified Nursing Assistant, but plans to work solely at home once her husband starts a medical non-emergency transportation company.

And stay tuned. Daniel has his sights set on participating in the Olympics. He placed third in the 100- and 300-meter hurdle events at the state track meet.

“I could have done better,” he said. 

From left: Quemiah Clark Richmond, Martina Sancristobal, and Ethan Xiong. Richmond and Clark attended Madison West H.S. Xiong attended Sun Prairie West H.S.

Creating Career Opportunities

Three Tutor-Mentors weigh aspirations and obstacles.

Three recent Root 2 Rise Tutor-Mentors say the program was instrumental in their considering a career in teaching, although each is on a different route toward that goal.

“Root 2 Rise gave me the confidence to continue when I felt lost and doubted that I could go on,” said Martina Sancristobal.

Cquemiah Clark Richmond said she felt ”completely unwanted” at high school and “was on the verge of getting kicked out” without graduating before she found Root 2 Rise.

 “I felt I had nothing going for myself,” she said, and worried if she could avoid the pitfalls that had led to the incarceration of both parents. Often, she didn't leave the house unless she had to do so. “No one was there for me, not even my own family,” she said. “I was nobody. Now, I want to believe in myself enough to start college.”

Ethan Xiong will attend college this fall to major in business, although now, due to his experiences in Root 2 Rise, he is also considering a career in teaching. His parents want him to pursue a career that’s likely to offer higher pay, Xiong said. His aunt, a teacher, told him the rewards of teaching outweigh any downside.

Xiong felt teachers were “very supportive and willing to help.” Sancristobal and Richmond felt many teachers intended to help, but were too busy to do so.

“I would ask for help, but it was all talk and no action,” Sancristobal said. She couldn’t help noticing the disparity between the difficulties she experienced in planning to attend college compared to other students who had help preparing for the ACT exam and completing forms, in addition to having family financial support for college.

All three were disappointed in help provided by high school counselors, who they felt were overworked.

Sancristobal said she didn’t struggle academically, and therefore wasn’t seen as needing help. “My counselors didn’t know about my deeper and more complex problems. I also felt that I was stigmatized if I didn’t have plans to go to college.

Root 2 Rise encouraged me to continue during times when I wondered why I should bother,” she said.

Sancristobal works part time and has enrolled in a community college. She worries about incurring debt, and doubts whether she and a friend can find an affordable apartment so she no longer has to live with her aunt and uncle.

After several years of working full time as a Special Education Assistant for the Madison Metropolitan School District, Richmond has saved less than $1,000 and plans to take a second job. She lives with her mother. She doesn’t have a driver's license, and doubts whether she has the time or money to attend college now unless Root 2 Rise Thrive can help.

“I know I can attend college if I believe in myself,” she said.

Root 2 Rise presented an overview of its programs to the Sun Prairie Optimist Club on Aug. 14. From left: Tracy Frank, Denise Hanson, Joseph Thigpen, Jr., Bill Dunlop, and Jennifer Bull

Another Step Forward

Daisy Jimenez, 16, an 11th-grader at Reynolds Learning Academy in Fairview, Oregon, has taken another step toward a career in education following her work with third-grade students through Root 2 Rise. 

She recently completed a month-long Education 100 class at Portland Community College, and subsequently assisted a college student who was completing her classroom experience prior to earning her teaching degree. "The sixth-grade students Daisy worked with during summer school loved doing creative projects with her," said Maureen Geraghty, Root 2 Rise coordinator.

“Root 2 Rise helped me see more opportunities and take more chances,” Jimenez said. “Before Root 2 Rise, I just focused on graduating, and nothing more.”

HELPING OTHERS HELPED HIM

Root 2 Rise “made me feel accomplished,” said King Stokes, 18, who often helped fifth graders who were falling behind. This was a counterweight to the way he often felt in high school. “My spirits went up and I felt happy as soon as I walked into the elementary school,” he said. “It was a great experience,” one that he would definitely recommend for his brothers and sisters