Together Rising

TOGETHER RISING EXISTS TO TURN OUR COLLECTIVE HEARTBREAK INTO EFFECTIVE ACTION.

FOR OUR LARGEST PROGRAM, TOGETHER RISING INVESTED IN DOZENS OF TRUSTED, BOOTS-ON-THE-GROUND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS MEETING THE MOST URGENT NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE BOARD VOTED TO APPROVE A TOTAL OF $2,093,467.05 IN ORGANIZATION GRANTS.IN RESPONSE TO REPEATED ATTACKS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ON LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES AND TRANSGENDER YOUTH, TOGETHER RISING INVESTED $375,000 IN TRUSTED PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES AND HELP PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE. OUTMEMPHIS IS ONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS. EVERYDAY, OUTMEMPHIS IS LITERALLY MAKING A WAY OUT OF NO WAY BY CREATING A PIPELINE OUT OF TENNESSEE AND THE MID-SOUTH AND INTO ILLINOIS, THE CLOSEST TRANS-FRIENDLY STATE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) THERE, OUTMEMPHIS COORDINATES RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR LGBTQ+ YOUTH TO RECEIVE THE GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE THEY WANT, NEED, AND DESERVE. AS THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN GAZA REACHED NEW LEVELS OF DEATH, DESTRUCTION, AND VIOLENCE, TOGETHER RISING TURNED AGAIN TO SUPPORT TWO TRUSTED ORGANIZATIONS: THE MIDDLE EAST CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE (MECA) AND THE PALESTINIAN CHILDREN'S RELIEF FUND (PCRF). WITH INVESTMENTS TOTALLING $358,207.31, THESE TWO ORGANIZATIONS WERE ABLE TO EXPAND THEIR EFFORTS OF PROVIDING ESSENTIAL FOOD STAPLES, CLEAN WATER, FRESH PRODUCE, HYGIENE SUPPLIES, AND MEDICAL SUPPORT TO THE PEOPLE OF GAZA. DESPITE THE VERY REAL DANGER THESE PARTNERS FACE DIRECTLY, MECA AND PCRF REMAIN COMMITTED BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF RELIEF.IN RESPONSE TO SEXUAL AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, TOGETHER RISING INVESTED $300,000 TO THE ORGANIZATION ME TOO. INTERNATIONAL. THE FUNDS WERE USED TO SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS TO SHOW THAT SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS A PRODUCT OF OUR CULTURE, INSTITUTIONS, AND POLICIES, WHILE PROVIDING SURVIVORS WITH A PATH FROM HEALING TO ACTION.ME TOO. INTERNATIONAL CREATES INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGNS TO REDEFINE THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE AROUND SEXUAL VIOLENCE. DECADES OF WORKING WITH SURVIVORS HAS SHOWN THIS ORGANIZATION THAT HEALING IS THE FOUNDATION OF ALL TRANSFORMATIVE ACTION. IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS THEY HAVE CENTERED THEIR EFFORTS IN FOUR AREAS OF WORK: 1) DEVELOPING CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY THAT BRINGS HEALING RESOURCES DIRECTLY TO SURVIVORS, FREE OF COST; 2) TRAINING STUDENT AND ADULT SURVIVORS IN HOW TO INTERRUPT SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES; 3) CONVENING LEADING ADVOCATES, MOVEMENT ORGANIZATIONS, AND THEORISTS TO WORK TOGETHER TO END SEXUAL VIOLENCE ON A GLOBAL SCALE; AND 4) INVESTING IN STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES THAT HAVE INTERRUPTED HARMFUL NARRATIVES ABOUT THE REALITIES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND SURVIVORS.THROUGHOUT 2023, TOGETHER RISING INVESTED $111,822 TO SUPPORT REFUGEE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. WE INVESTED $48,922 TO COVER THE SALARY FOR ONE LAWYER AND CLIENT MANAGEMENT COSTS FOR SIX MONTHS WITH FENIX HUMANITARIAN LEGAL AID TO MEET THE NEEDS OF REFUGEES FLEEING VIOLENCE FROM AFRICA, THE MIDDLE EAST, AND AFGHANISTAN. THIS SUPPORT WAS DEPLOYED THROUGH THE PROVISION OF IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES, PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS, PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID (40% OF THOSE ASSESSED REPORTED SUICIDAL IDEATION), AND REFERRALS TO PSYCHIATRIC CARE VIA LOCAL HOSPITAL PARTNERSHIPS. THE IMPACT IS THAT IT IS SIX MONTHS OF PEOPLE BEING TREATED AS WHOLE HUMAN BEINGS, DESERVING OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND INDIVIDUALIZED CARE WITH TRAUMA-INFORMED TRAINING.