Rise Richmond (Formerly CHAT)

Rise Richmond (Formerly CHAT) serves the youth of the East End of Richmond and equips them with the heart, head and hands to make transformative life decisions. Over the past fifteen years, Rise has served over five hundred youth in the community.  Rise believes that every child is made in the image of God and has inherent dignity, worth, and potential. But the cyclical forces of poverty that these students face deny this value and create barriers to relationships and resources. In spite of these challenges, there is hope for the future of our youth and city. There is power in the gospel, community and education to shape the future.  

Rise operates four key programs to reach youth and impact the community. The after-school programming serves over a hundred students through after-school mentoring, summer day camp, and high school youth group.  Church Hill Academy is an independent Christian high school where academics, character, and community are emphasized for forty students each year.The Work Leadership Institute provides opportunities for twenty youth to develop professional skills and experiences in one of three small businesses. The newest business, The Front Porch Cafe, opened in October 2017 and is a place where students and young adults can gain valuable job skills while creating a gathering place for the entire community.