Our Story
Built by women, for women — at the moments that matter most.
Rising Forward was founded on a simple belief: a second chance only matters when paired with real opportunity, structure, and community.
A message from our founder
When I came home, I thought the hardest part was behind me. It wasn't. The maze of paperwork, the closed doors, the loneliness — that was when I needed people most, and there was no one waiting. Rising Forward exists because no woman should have to walk back into the world alone.
Today we walk that road with hundreds of women each year — not as a program, but as a community. Every woman we welcome becomes part of a sisterhood that keeps showing up.
— Andrea, Founder & Executive Director
Our Vision
A world where every woman returning to society is met with opportunity instead of obstacles — where reintegration is treated not as a personal struggle, but as a community responsibility.
Our values
Dignity First
Every interaction begins with respect, empathy, and the assumption of strength.
Community-Led
We grow alongside the women we serve, building programs shaped by lived experience.
Long-Term Vision
Real change takes time. We invest in stability that lasts beyond the first year.