Rising Innovators in Service and Economics

A leadership and innovation fellowship for young people who want to build the future.

Through mentorship, real-world experiences, networking, and hands-on projects, fellows explore how communities grow, how systems work, and how innovative ideas become reality.

Applications Open Now

RISE (Rising Innovators in Service and Economics) is a leadership and innovation fellowship that challenges young people to explore how communities work, how opportunities are created, and how real-world problems are solved.

Throughout the summer, fellows learn directly from entrepreneurs, business leaders, developers, public officials, communicators, and community leaders as they prepare for the RISE Future Builders Challenge—the fellowship’s capstone experience.

Every experience in RISE is designed to prepare fellows for the RISE Future Builders Challenge.

Throughout the fellowship, students will meet leaders across multiple sectors, visit projects and community spaces, develop leadership and communication skills, build professional networks, and explore how business, government, and community organizations work together to solve problems.

As they learn, fellows will research a community challenge, develop innovative ideas, and begin building a solution that they will present at the end of the program.

RISE is 15-20 year old students who are:

• Curious

• Ambitious

• Creative

• Community-minded

• Interested in leadership

• Interested in entrepreneurship

• Interested in public service

• Interested in making an impact

RISE is for curious, ambitious, and creative young people who want to better understand how the world works and how they can help shape it.

Whether you’re interested in business, entrepreneurship, communications, public service, community development, economics, leadership, or innovation, RISE is designed for students who are eager to learn, ask questions, think critically, and develop solutions to real-world challenges.

No prior experience is required.

The RISE Future Builders Challenge is the culminating experience of the fellowship and the reason every workshop, site visit, speaker session, mentorship opportunity, and project throughout the summer exists.

Working in teams, fellows identify a significant community challenge and develop an innovative solution designed to create meaningful impact. Along the way, they research their issue, engage with experts, explore real-world constraints, and develop an implementation strategy.

Teams will also explore what partnerships, funding mechanisms, and policy changes may be needed to bring their ideas to life, including developing a legislative or policy proposal when appropriate.

At the final showcase, fellows present their solutions before business leaders, entrepreneurs, developers, elected officials, community leaders, and potential supporters who provide feedback on the innovation, feasibility, impact, and future potential of each proposal.

The challenge is designed to help students move beyond identifying problems and learn how to build solutions.