RISE UP INDUSTRIES

RUI’s goal is to minimize gang activity through a three-pronged approach of gang prevention, gang intervention, and post-detention reentry services. The Reentry Program is the first step in our three-pronged approach. The goal of this program is the successful reentry of formerly incarcerated individuals and their departure from gang involvement. Successful reentry and reduction in gang involvement leads to safer and stronger neighborhoods and a reduction in the social and economic costs of re-incarceration.

The overall Reentry Program effectiveness is measured by tracking the following data, which is collected by the case manager:
1. Number of members successfully leaving gang life
2. Number of members successfully completing the program
3. Number of RUI alumni not re- incarcerated (tracked for 3 years)
4. Number of RUI alumni employed upon graduation
5. Number of RUI alumni retaining employment (tracked for 3 years)

The Reentry Program is guided by the following six principles:

1. Kinship First: We believe that a key factor that drives youth towards gang involvement is a need to belong. The Reentry Program offers a safe place to participate in a community grounded in mutuality and care.

2. Depth Over Breadth: The Reentry Program is 40 hours/week for 18 months. Each member receives over 3,000 hours of wraparound services that include job training and healing components. This provides each member the space for self-discovery and personal transformation.

3. Interim, Full-Time Employment: RUI provides interim, full-time paid employment in our Machine Shop Social Enterprise. This gives program members the opportunity to develop experience, confidence, and a strong work ethic that supports them in retaining employment upon graduation.

4. Spirituality: Many formerly incarcerated, previously gang-involved individuals who have successfully turned their lives around have indicated that faith was instrumental in their process. RUI is religiously inclusive and has graduated Christian, Buddhist, and non-religious members.

5. Education: Education increases opportunities for career development and economic mobility. RUI encourages and assists our members to, at a minimum, obtain high school dipomas/GEDs. Some members are also enrolled in night classes to complete their AA degree in Advanced Manufacturing.

6. Collaboration: We all benefit when we work together. RUI collaborates with the District Attorney, police department, parole and probation officers, educational institutions, local businesses, faith communities, and related nonprofits.

Management: RUI is governed by 19 board members with broad experience in business management, education, entrepreneurship, financial management, event planning, etc. Joe Gilbreath, co-founder and Executive Director, is a retired U.S Army Corps of Engineers Colonel. He is an established leader with experience overseeing large operations and numerous personnel. Jonathan Yackley, Deputy Executive Director, brings a decade of international business and development experience. Jonathan previously founded and operated a successful social enterprise that employed at-risk populations from an informal settlement in India. Dustin Greeves, Machine Shop Manager, oversees day to day machine shop operations. He has 27 years of experience in the tool and die/mold making industry. Joe, Jonathan, and Dustin are supported by seven additional full-time staff members.

Financials: The organization's primary sources of revenue are grants and donations. These funding sources have increased over the last eight years as the organization's public awareness increases and program results are demonstrated. The third largest source of revenue is the Machine Shop Social Enterprise (MSSE). Gross revenue from the MSSE has averaged approximately 20% of Rise Up's total revenue, with the exception of 2020 as contract work slowed down due to COVID-19. The slowdown in contract work has reversed and Rise Up now have large long-term contract work from just three of our 55 total customers. We have an interested large customer but have been unable to accept work as we are currently at capacity and projected to remain at capacity throughout the year. RUI’s total projected gross revenue by 2025 is $3,240,000, over half of which is projected to come from the MSSE.

Impact: The primary metrics used for assessing RUI’s impact in the community are employment and recidivism. Graduates of the 18-month Reentry Program have a 6% recidivism rate, while 100% were hired by local manufacturing companies immediately upon graduation. This significantly outperforms the national averages of 68% recidivism within three years of release and only 55% employment within one year of release.

What’s Next: Based on our experience since 2016; the demand for reentry services; the demand for trained CNC machine operators; and our expanding MSSE customer base, we developed our Five-Year Vision that projects doubling the enrollment capacity of our Reentry Program from 12 members to 24 members by 2025. At the expanded capacity we would have 16 graduates per year. In order to facilitate this growth, we will need to expand to a larger facility with more CNC machines and office space for additional staffing.

In the future we plan to launch a gang prevention program for youth, followed by a gang intervention program.