Programs

The Rising Leaders Academy

The flagship for personal and professional transformation. Most workforce programs stop where the real work begins — ours is built for the whole journey.

How It Works

The Continuum of Care: Pre-Release to Post-Release

A “continuum of care” means no gaps and no cliff edges. Participants are supported across three connected phases, each one preparing the ground for the next.

1

Pre-Release Bridge

Transformation begins inside. Before release, participants work on “Day One” planning and identity restoration — so they leave with direction, documents, and a plan instead of uncertainty.

2

Educational Pipeline

A direct pathway from prison to postsecondary education. We provide enrollment support, high-demand vocational training, and the academic footing to turn ambition into credentials.

3

Reentry Navigation

The first months home are the critical window. Our navigators provide expert guidance through reintegration — employment, benefits, transportation, and the daily hurdles that derail progress.

What Surrounds Every Participant

Our Ecosystem of Wholeness

A job is the start, not the finish line. Around every phase of the academy, we build a support ecosystem that treats the whole person.

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Restorative Mentorship

One-to-one guidance from mentors who understand the journey — many of whom have walked it themselves.

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Tactical Training & Leadership

Intensive leadership development and practical, high-demand skills training that employers actually hire for.

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Stability & Housing Navigation

Support finding and keeping stable housing — because no one builds a career without a safe place to sleep.

Why We're Different

The 30-Year Difference

Our programs are led by a 30-year standard of excellence in workforce development and reentry — combining the strategic rigor of state-level policy experience with the empathy of lived community experience.

At the Rising Leaders Academy, we don't just fill roles; we rebuild lives.

“Most teams specialize in either policy or people. We specialize in both.”— The Heritage Ascent Group Team

Interested in the Academy — for yourself, a loved one, or your organization?