21 New RISE Graduates. 9 New Nebraska Entrepreneurs.
The 9th In-Prison Program cohort at the Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln was a huge success!
On March 28th, 21 participants pitched their business ideas to 21 community volunteers, celebrated their growth with over 30 loved ones, and graduated with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility.
Did you know April is both Second Chance Month and National Volunteer Month? That makes it our favorite time of year at RISE and a perfect opportunity to acknowledge the 1,282 volunteers we've had since 2017 believing in second chances. (That's a lot of volunteers!)
A huge thank you to the 27 online research volunteers who helped the Cohort 9 participants hone-in their business ideas! Their efforts were instrumental as our participants often lack access to the research tools needed to deeply develop their ideas.
Because of them, they had the information and insight to finish strong. This behind-the-scenes work directly shapes RISE participants' final capstone projects and helps them cross the finish line with confidence.
A heartfelt thanks also goes to our day-of in-person volunteers, including teams from Dundee Bank, and our board members Natasha Nuytten, Jamie Berglund, and Melissa Taylor, who not only joined us in celebrating but also brought new volunteers with them.
And the Business Pitch Competition Winners Are…
1st Place: James - Deck Bros
2nd Place: Eric - Moove and Groove Moving Company
3rd Place: Patrick - Liquid Dreams Keenan Customs
4th Place (tie): Aleyah - Collateral Beauty
4th Place (tie): DeWayne - Macks’ Mania Popcorn Balls
Peer Favorite: James - Deck Bros
Family Favorite: DeWayne - Macks’ Mania Popcorn Balls
817 RISE In-Prison Program Graduates To-Date
Inspired?
If you want to see this work firsthand, we’d love to have you volunteer with us inside prison for an upcoming event:
There’s still time to get you approved by the Nebraska Department of Corrections if you have not done so already!
Apply today to volunteer inside.
Why Are In-Person, In-Prison Volunteers Important to RISE’s Program and Reentry?
In-person, in-prison volunteering with RISE is crucial because it provides participants with human connection, encouragement, and a sense of dignity—often missing from their incarceration experience.
Volunteers offer real-time feedback, mentorship, and perspective that help participants grow their confidence and develop stronger communication and leadership skills. Seeing community members invest in their growth reinforces the belief that change is possible and that their future is worth building.
This type of engagement also helps break down stereotypes and fosters empathy across communities.
But Wait! We have MORE Graduates!
We’re also celebrating the 12th Cohort - 9 new graduates and local business owners of our RISE Business Academy! On Saturday, April 5th they delivered their businesses in a 7-minute rocket pitch and truly blew us away!
This 12-week entrepreneurship course is open to anyone in the community impacted by incarceration directly or indirectly.
Business Academy Pitch Competition Winners:
1st Place: Shannon G. - Tire Buddies LLC
2nd Place: Michele M. - Strategic Edge Consulting
3rd Place: Neosha B. - Red Recruiter Career Strategist & Training Solutions LLC
4th Place: Talequa M. - Braid Runner LLC
Huge thanks to our inspiring judges:
Shelly Wedergren - Executive & Team Coach + Strategic Planning Consultant at Wedergren Consulting and Coaching
Manny Quevedo - Managing Partner at MOVE Venture Fund & Board Member of Nebraska Startup Academy
Curt Drew - CEO & Owner at Radon Defense Midwest / Iowa Radon Defense and Co-founder of Hustle Conference
Willy Theisen - Founder of Godfather's Pizza and Pitch Pizza
Todd Chaney - Financial Advisor at Ameriprise Financial Services
