Ages 11–18
Rise Youth Mentorship
One-to-one mentorship, tutoring, and college readiness for students navigating middle and high school.
Program details
Together we rise
Building better futures on our own block
Better Brand Community Foundation pairs neighbors with mentors, groceries, and career pathways — free, year-round, and led by the people who live here.
- 4,800
- Neighbors served each year
- 312
- Students mentored since 2019
- 96%
- Program graduates placed or promoted
- $0.89
- Of every dollar goes to programs
Our mission
We remove the barriers that keep families from thriving
Since 2019 we've believed the same thing: consistent relationships change outcomes. Every program pairs a neighbor with a real person and stays long enough for progress to compound.
Mentor
Students matched for an average of 26 months.
Nourish
A dignity-first choice market every Saturday.
Employ
Certifications plus real hiring-partner interviews.
Programs
Free, year-round, open to every neighbor
Registration takes two minutes and a coordinator follows up within one business day.
Open to all neighbors
Fresh Table Food Program
A dignity-first market where families choose fresh groceries at no cost, plus home-delivery for elders.
Program details
Adults 18+
Career Forward Workforce Lab
Job-readiness training, certifications, and employer introductions for adults ready for their next step.
Program details“I came for help with groceries. Two years later my daughter has a mentor, and I have a job I'm proud of. This place treats you like family, not a file.”
Danielle M. — Fresh Table neighbor & Career Forward graduate
Community impact this year
- Grocery carts filled at Fresh Table18,400
- Mentorship hours logged9,750
- Certifications earned241
- Volunteers active monthly400+
What's next
Upcoming activities
Join us at the next community day, orientation, or cohort kickoff.
- 19Sep
Together We Rise Community Day
10:00am – 3:00pm · Lincoln Park Pavilion
Free family festival with health screenings, live music, resource fair, and a back-to-school giveaway.
- 26Sep
Fall Mentor Orientation
6:00pm – 8:00pm · Better Brand Center, Room 210
Training and background-check clinic for new Rise mentors joining the fall cohort.
- 05Oct
Career Forward Cohort 12 Begins
5:30pm – 8:00pm · Better Brand Workforce Lab
Six weeks of certification training, coaching, and guaranteed interviews with hiring partners.
- 14Nov
Harvest Table Food Drive
8:00am – 2:00pm · Fresh Table Market
Pack and deliver 1,200 holiday meal boxes with neighbors, students, and corporate teams.
Join us
Three ways to make this neighborhood better today
Give a gift, give an hour, or bring your whole team. Every path starts with one step.