RISE Awarded Union Pacific Railroad Grant

CommunityWorkforce Development
Written By McKenzie Ring

Union Pacific Railroad’s Community Ties Giving Program Awards Grant to RISE

$10,000 Grant to Fund Workforce Development in Nebraska through RISE

RISE is pleased to announce it has received a $10,000 grant from Union Pacific Railroad’s Community Ties Giving Program to strengthen its workforce development efforts and expand opportunities for justice-impacted individuals seeking long-term career success.

For more than 160 years, Union Pacific Railroad has fueled economic growth by prioritizing workforce training, employment, and support for underrepresented communities. Community grants from Union Pacific Railraod invests in programs putting youth on track for family-supporting careers, preparing adults for middle-skill jobs, and removing barriers to employment such as transportation, childcare, and second-chance opportunities.

“This grant will enable us to deliver direct, comprehensive, personalized support for individuals re-entering the workforce.,” said December Muhammad, Director of Employment Services at RISE. “Through targeted workforce development courses, financial incentives, and critical barrier-removal services—such as transportation assistance and essential work gear—these contributions empower participants to achieve stable, long-term employment.”

Funding will support RISE’s comprehensive employment services, including one-on-one job placement assistance, professional development, and resources for program participants such as workforce attire and supplies. It will also help RISE host community events, training sessions, and employer engagement opportunities that equip employers with best-practice tools when becoming a second chance employer. 

Through its employment services, RISE equips justice-impacted individuals with the knowledge, skills, and professional connections necessary to overcome barriers to reentry. By partnering with employers committed to second-chance hiring, RISE provides more than traditional job placement—it builds sustained pathways of desistance and creates safer, stronger communities across Nebraska

About RISE

RISE is the largest nonprofit in Nebraska focused solely on habilitative programming in prisons and reentry support. With a mission to break generational cycles of incarceration, RISE prepares and supports individuals through character development, leadership, workforce readiness, reentry services, and entrepreneurship.

About Union Pacific Railroad

Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) delivers the goods families and businesses use every day with safe, reliable and efficient service. Operating in 23 western states, the company connects its customers and communities to the global economy. Trains are the most environmentally responsible way to move freight, helping Union Pacific protect future generations. More information about Union Pacific Railroad is available at www.up.com.

McKenzie Ring

McKenzie Ring has over 20 years of experience helping businesses and organizations reach maximum audiences for growth. Specializing in social responsibility, digital marketing, photography, and content creation, McKenzie uses that experience to educate the public and grow a network of volunteers, donors, employers, and support for people returning to the community after incarceration.

Specializing and trained in documentary-based work, McKenzie has been an award-winning Midwest photographer and content creator for much of her professional life. She is passionate about bridging unlikely communities and building empathy through storytelling.

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