In Just Two Years, All Rise Already Soars
A longtime educator, community organizer, and non-profit leader, Ricardo Neal has focused much of his career on education equity, with a focus on elevating and empowering Black men in their personal and professional growth. In 2019, he brought together six young men and asked them to dream without boundaries. What would happen if the barriers to their goals were removed, giving them limitless opportunity to learn, grow, and build? The result of this conversation was We Will All Rise, founded the following January by Ricardo, who serves as President and CEO, and other trusted colleagues.
Neal knows firsthand the power of loving and sustained mentorship, which is the foundation of All Rise’s mission. While working at Eastern Senior High School in Washington, DC, he harnessed the strength of a team of male educators of color (teachers, administrators, social workers, and paraprofessionals) to establish programming for young men in Grades 9-12. Everything - from tying a tie, to processing their identities, to lifting their voices, to higher education exposure and access - was covered, and the benefits extended to the mentors as well.
Today, We Will All Rise has assisted close to fifty Black and Brown male college students through over $200,000 in total scholarships and hands-on guidance as the young men prepare for future careers. Many, with support and exposure from All Rise, have chosen the path of teaching as a profession, studying to enter early childhood or elementary education. These men are eager to pay forward their blessings as they step into the position of role models themselves.
“I [decided to consider] teaching as a career because… it’s up to us, it’s up to our own, to make sure we’re always giving back to our community.” says Lincoln University graduate Linquoia Walker. Imran Farook, who is studying at Towson University in preparation for a career as a teacher, agrees. “It is motivating to see how the kids responded to me [in the classroom], seeing how excited they were.”
Ricardo O. Neal, President & CEO
There is a pervasive stereotype of ”young men not having the drive and the will to do great things in this country,” says Neal. “There is so much untapped talent that exists in our community. All Rise is that vehicle to find, support, and nurture these incredibly beautiful minds who want to do great things for themselves and for their families.” One way that Neal does this is to position the young men to impact the organization through board service, thought partnership on program design, and prominent placement of their voices and stories in All Rise’s communications.
The young men all describe the most significant benefit of their involvement with All Rise to be mentorship. Ahmir Hampton, who received a scholarship from the organization to assist with college expenses at Coppin State, appreciates having “someone who has been in my position before to give me insight and ideas.” Tony Moulden, a student at McDaniel College, soaks in the lessons learned from those who’ve walked a similar path. “I don’t really have a lot of Black male figures in my life… it’s important to see other people that made it, so I have someone to look up to and know what to do after college.”
While primarily based in Baltimore, the early and significant impact of We Will All Rise has caught the attention of other cities. Milwaukee, Washington DC, and Philadelphia have partnered with the organization to leverage results for young men of color in these communities. Neal seeks to strengthen roots in All Rise’s current locations, deepening the work and broadening the impact. In the future, he hopes to expand to Lawrence, Massachusetts - a town with considerable need, and where he himself was raised after immigrating from Jamaica. And ten years from now? “Our young men whom we helped along their journeys will be running for office, starting schools, leading education reform. And giving back to All Rise, of course!”