Creating a space for individuals with special needs to participate in activities
Pediatric Physical Therapist, Alyssa Pearson, started the R.I.S.E. League in 2023 after one her patients expressed that they wanted to participate in sports. After researching opportunities in the community, Pearson said she realized there were no options available.
“I set up meetings with Cleveland Youth Soccer Association in the fall for soccer and with the park commission in the spring for T-ball,” said Pearson. “During our preparation for T-ball, I brought a tee, bat, and ball to the clinic. All the children loved playing with it, so we started asking their parents if they would want to play too, and the answer was YES! God took one child and turned it into 24 kids who signed up for the first T-ball season.”
After seeing what the sports were doing for the children, Pearson said her and her team of volunteers “started offering activities that the children and their families were interested in”. The team of volunteers and a few very active parents eventually turned into the Executive Board for the league as it grew.
The R.I.S.E. League, which stands for Relationships. Inspire. Support, Empower., has recently transitioned into the R.I.S.E. Inclusion Foundation, and they are now officially recognized as a tax-deductible 501(c)(3) organization. According to Pearson, the Executive Board made the decision to turn the program into a nonprofit to help R.I.S.E. grow and allow for more programs and activities to be offered to the community.
Although their original mission “to create a space for individuals with special needs and disabilities to participate in a range of activities” has remained the same, Pearson said they are now partnering with the Park Commission, Delta Art Alliance (DAA), and the Grammy Museum to create programing for their participants and have designed a new logo to reflect their mission. They do not have a facility of their own at this time.
“Although we are no longer a committee under the park commission, we will still be partnered with the park commission and City of Cleveland,” added Mallory Burchfield, a member of the board. “All this means is that you will register through the park commission for sports and we will use their facilities. Not much has changed, just the governing body.”
In order to become a nonprofit organization, they needed an executive director and a board of directors. The previous Executive Board was transitioned into the Board of Directors and Tammy Black Oakes was appointed as the Executive Director.
The R.I.S.E. Board of Directors includes: Alyssa Pearson, Mallory Burchfield, Lauren Aldridge, Megan Cunningham, Joyce Aycock, Kierre Rummer, John Cox, and Joseph Tranum.
Many plans have been made for the future of the foundation.
“We aim to grow our current programs and expand the sports offered as well as partnerships within our community,” said Pearson. “We also plan to host a PROM this spring and to help bring back The Special Olympics to the Delta.”
According to Pearson, the new partnership with the DAA has allowed R.I.S.E to offer dance classes, and the kids are loving them.
“The DAA provides us with a teacher (Lauren Shurden) and a studio,” said Pearson. “We also currently offer soccer, basketball, and baseball.”
“We average around 30 kids per program,” said Burchfield.
If anyone would like to learn more about the foundation or keep up with the activities they are offering, Pearson said you can follow them on Facebook at “R.I.S.E. League”. There is also a link to sign up for activities on the page. It is used to coordinate participants as well as the volunteers for each week.
“We post flyers and online sign-up links for each activity,” said Pearson.
Pearson described R.I.S.E. as a community. She said the program is meant to provide “opportunities for children with special needs and their families”.
“Inclusion is the practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise not be included,” said Pearson. “For R.I.S.E., this includes individuals with special needs and their families. Prior to R.I.S.E., there was not a league or dance class that made accommodations for children with special needs.”
According to Pearson, they are not only creating connections between families with special needs children, they are also educating the community through the growth of their organization.
“We are working to remove any stigma by sharing how our kids are just like you and our differences are what make each of us special,” said Pearson.
Now that R.I.S.E. is a federally recognized nonprofit organization, Burchfield said any donations you make to the foundation will be tax deductible.
“To make this dream possible, we need support from our community and donors like you,” said Pearson. “Every contribution helps us expand our programs and make a meaningful impact. Together, we can bring big opportunities to our participants and foster an inclusive environment for all.”
If you would like to donate to the R.I.S.E. Foundation you can: mail a check to R.I.S.E. Inclusion Foundation, P.O. Box 4039, Cleveland, MS 38732, send a payment through PayPal to riseclevelandms@gmail.com, or you can reach out on Facebook and connect with a board member.
“We need your support,” said Pearson. “We are always looking for volunteers who would like to donate their time or skills to our kids. If anyone has a special skill or ideas to help us grow, we would love for you to join us. Send us an email or reach out to us on Facebook. The kids also love cheerleaders in the stands!”
Parents who have watched the program progress shared their experiences with R.I.S.E..
“R.I.S.E. means acceptance and the opportunity to have experiences that would not be afforded to my child through any other avenue,” said a parent that would like to remain anonymous. “My favorite part is that my baby is allowed to be a child and accepted for who she is and how she does things. It’s one of our biggest blessings and supports! R.I.S.E. encourages her to do just that, R.I.S.E. above ALL societies stigmas and misconceptions.”
“Being a part of R.I.S.E. means so much more than just playing sports; it’s a place where my son is understood, valued, and celebrated exactly as he is,” said Fawn Usery. “We have been apart of R.I.S.E. from the beginning and he blooms more each year and become so much more engaged. Watching him engaged and light up among his peers is our favorite part. It’s the joy and connection that reminds me how powerful inclusion and support can be. Not just for him but also being surrounded by the other family members, guardians, and supporters make us as caregivers feel less alone and hopeful.”
“In today’s world, ‘inclusion’ seems nothing more than a buzz word used to make one’s self, or organization, sound good,” said Jan and Nathan Little. “True inclusivity is rare. What sets R.I.S.E. apart is its GENUINE effort to provide a sense of belonging to the kids and families in this community who are so often isolated. It is heartwarming to see so many people turn out to volunteer their own precious time to put smiles on these kids faces, and provide a sense of normalcy to their caregivers. I would challenge you to step outside of your comfort zone, volunteer, and come see what an important service R.I.S.E. is providing. You will leave with a different perspective, and a true sense of what an inclusive world it could be for these kids, if we all opened our hearts and minds. Every town needs a R.I.S.E.!”
“R.I.S.E. is a great organization that has given my daughter and friends like my daughter a voice and an opportunity to participate and enjoy in activities that accommodate them,” said a parent that would like to remain anonymous. “My favorite part of R.I.S.E. is the selfless acts and support from the community to help ensure that our children enjoy the scheduled activities and events.”
“R.I.S.E. holds such a special place in my heart,” said Taylor Murphy. “For myself, R.I.S.E. means family and love, and embodies the definition of inclusion and empowerment. This program does extraordinary things by giving these children a chance to experience different activities and provide them with a safe space to shine brightly. My favorite part of R.I.S.E. is always the big celebrations at the end of whatever activity or sport we happen to be doing. For our final baseball game, my son walked up the Grammy museum steps to receive his medal while everyone cheered him on. That day and that season made him fall in love with baseball, something that we never thought he would be able to do.”
“R.I.S.E. means to us a chance for fun and opportunities that Ezra may not otherwise have,” said a parent that would like to remain anonymous. “He gets to spend time with kids like him and enjoy activities like his siblings do. Our favorite part of R.I.S.E. is the sense of community and the support of all the wonderful volunteers. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for R.I.S.E.!”