READY TO RISE
L.A. County currently incarcerates more Black and Brown youth than anywhere else in the nation. Research has shown that punitive methods of arrest, incarceration, and probation are ineffective and do not acknowledge the high needs of many youth. A community-based model of intervention focused on prevention and treatment decreases the number of youths incarcerated and improves overall outcomes, including the likelihood that youth will go on to college, become gainfully employed, and avoid the justice system as adults.
Ready to Rise is a transformative public-private partnership between the California Community Foundation, Liberty Hill Foundation, and the Los Angeles County Probation Department. Our mission is to revolutionize the traditional models of youth intervention by shifting from arrest and incarceration to a model grounded in positive youth development, rehabilitation, and opportunity creation.
Ready to Rise offers comprehensive support to community-based organizations that champion holistic, asset-based approaches to engaging youth with prior or existing connections to the juvenile justice system and those at risk due to various socio-economic challenges. These challenges may include family disruptions such as arrest or incarceration, unstable living conditions like foster care or housing insecurity, educational setbacks such as chronic absenteeism, behavioral issues, poor academic performance, or other at-promise factors (i.e., low-income, LGBTQ+, gender expansive, gang-involved, alternative/continuation school students, transition-aged youth, youth living in under-resourced neighborhoods, etc.). Targeted organizations should serve youth aged 11 to 24 and strive to extend support into early adulthood, fostering long-term empowerment and resilience.
Grant Recipients:
Grantees are awarded grants to accelerate impact in targeted communities with the goal of transforming the educational, personal, and professional outcomes of young people, as well as vastly decreasing youth interactions with the justice system.
Ready to Rise funding helps grantees provide a variety of programs focused on educational attainment, leadership, workforce development, mentorship, arts, wellness, youth organizing, and other areas. All grantees share a focus on multiple aspects of positive youth development and a commitment to improving outcomes for Black and Brown youth.