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Creating a nation unified through sports committed to racial equity and social justice.

We are a national nonprofit that educates and empowers the sports community to eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice and improve race relations.

Through partnerships and programs, we inspire leaders in sports to create positive change on matters of race and equality.

Our Impact

Explore this map to see where we are and who we've worked with to improve race relations in our country. Want to bring RISE to your community?

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After RISE Programming


96%

say they learned something they can start using today

97%

of students say they want to deepen their knowledge of race and diversity issues

93%

of students feel equipped to have difficult conversations about race and diversity.

97%

would intervene to stop racial discrimination.

Our Team

Zoe Henriquez portrait
Zoe Henriquez

Vice President, Strategic Alliances & Development

Email Zoe

David Schmid portrait
David Schmid

Vice President, Strategic Partnerships

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Kathleen Cassino portrait
Kathleen Cassino

Director, Program Operations

Email Kathleen

Will Greszes portrait
Will Greszes

Director, Data

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Alexandra Jacobs portrait
Alexandra Jacobs

Executive Assistant/Operations Manager

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Ed Jones portrait
Ed Jones II

Director, Programs

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Joe Kalar portrait
Joe Kalar

Sr. Manager, Partnerships

Email Joe

Scott Koenning portrait
Scott Koenning

Sr. Director, Programs

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Scarlen Martinez portrait
Scarlen Martinez

Sr. Director, Empowerment

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Jerrell Price portrait
Jerrell Price

Sr. Director, Partnerships

Email Jerrell

Corey Posey
Corey Posey

Sr. Director, Curriculum and Programs

Email Corey

RISE was founded in 2015 to harness the unifying power of sport to end racism and champion social justice.

With a coalition of major U.S. sports leagues and media outlets, athletes, educators and social justice experts, RISE engages the sports community to advance values of respect, understanding, tolerance and equality. RISE has since grown exponentially, with programming in more than 40 states, educating more than five million people and empowering nearly 500 partners across all sports. RISE's vision is bold: To create a nation unified through sports committed to racial equity and social justice.

Board of Directors

PETE BEVACQUA

Co-Chair; Chairman, NBC Sports

TROY VINCENT, SR.

Co-Chair; Executive Vice President, Football Operations, NFL

JOCELYN BENSON

Secretary of State, Michigan

GARY BETTMAN

Commissioner, NHL

Kim Davis (Designee)

MAVERICK CARTER

CEO, SpringHill Entertainment

GEORGE CASEY, JR

U.S. Army (Retired), General

JON DIAMENT

Executive Vice President, Turner Sports Ad Sales

MARK EMMERT

President, NCAA

DON GARBER

Commissioner, MLS

JoAnn Neale (Designee)

ROGER GOODELL

Commissioner, NFL

LARRY JONES

Fox Sports Network Group, EVP

STACY TESSLER LINDAU, MD

University of Chicago, Professor of Ob/Gyn and Medicine

ROB MANFRED

Commissioner, MLB

KEVIN MARTINEZ

VP of Corporate Citizenship, ESPN

SEAN MCMANUS

Chairman, CBS Sports

LEW SHERR

CEO and Executive Director, USTA

STEVE PHELPS

NASCAR, President

Brandon Thompson (Designee)

SCOTT PIOLI

Former NFL Executive

LEE REED

NACDA Past President and Georgetown University Director of Athletics

MAX SIEGEL

CEO, USA Track & Field

DANNY SILLMAN

CEO, Relevant Sports Group

Renee Washington (Designee)

ADAM SILVER

Commissioner, NBA

Kathy Behrens (Designee)

DANIEL TOWRISS

CEO, Group1001

SETH WAUGH

PGA of America, CEO

Sandy Cross (Designee)

PAUL TAGLIABUE

Board Emeritus, RISE; Former Commissioner, NFL; Senior of Counsel, Covington & Burling

STEPHEN M. ROSS

Board Emeritus and Founder, RISE; Chairman of the Board and Managing General Partner, Miami Dolphins

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