Dear Friends, 

It is a very special year for Rise Up — 2024 marks the 15-year anniversary of our once small team with big dreams that has created change for millions of people around the world. I still remember when Josie Ramos and I began this journey, hosting our very first workshop on girls’ leadership and advocacy in Guatemala, and it is incredible to think how far we have come since that time. 

In partnership with Rise Up Leaders and their organizations, we have made significant progress on some of the world’s biggest challenges, including helping bring an end to child marriage in India, strengthening protections for gender-based violence survivors in Nigeria, increasing women’s economic opportunities through workplace safety measures in South Africa, improving access to education for girls in Kenya, and enhancing prenatal and postpartum care for Black mothers in the U.S. 

Since Rise Up’s scrappy beginnings in 2009, we have positively impacted the lives of more than 160 million people and counting around the world. 

Our successful model of change is grounded in trust. We have learned from our 15 years of experience that the people closest to the problem are the people closest to the solution. And yet – we also recognize that we have a long way to go. Even though achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls is one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, we are NOT on track to achieve gender equality by 2030.  

We knew when we started Rise Up that this work was not for the faint of heart. Changing the trajectory of people’s lives by advocating for stronger education, health care, and economic opportunity requires painstaking effort and the long road to victory is filled with obstacles. 

With so many of our fundamental human rights at stake, the fight for gender equity and justice is now more important than ever. We want every woman, girl, and gender-nonconforming person to live their fullest lives – finish school, make their own health care decisions, become financially stable, and achieve their true potential.

I want to thank you for your support – whether you have been with us from the beginning of Rise Up, or whether you just recently joined us in this movement. What truly matters is that you are here now. Throughout this year, we will commemorate our 15 years of creating change and we look forward to including you in our celebratory events, calls to action, and reflections. 

We would love to hear from you about why fighting for gender equity and justice is so important and why you support Rise Up. Please take a moment to share an anniversary message with Rise Up and our global team here. 

In Solidarity, 

Denise