Our Programs

Inspiring Creativity. Serving Communities. Building Purpose.

Rise with a Purpose creates meaningful opportunities for young people and underserved communities through arts education, original performances and compassionate service. Our programs encourage participants to discover their voices, develop practical skills, build confidence and make a positive difference in the world around them.

My Brilliance Shines Film + Theater Troupe

Helping Young People Discover the Power of Their Voices

My Brilliance Shines Theater Troupe gives young people the opportunity to explore acting, playwriting, filmmaking, history and live performance in a supportive creative environment.

Participants do more than memorize lines. They research important people and events, help shape original stories, develop characters, collaborate with fellow artists and bring meaningful work to the stage and screen. Through this process, students strengthen their communication, discipline, confidence, creativity and leadership.

The troupe has presented original and reimagined productions at prominent Baltimore institutions, including the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore City College, Motor House and SNF Parkway Theatre.

Productions have included The Purple Tape, Black Woman Genius, Interviewing Thurgood Marshall, Gloria Richardson & the Jet Cover, Uncle Bey’s Will and a reimagining of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost.

Every performance reminds our young artists that their ideas matter, their stories deserve to be heard and their brilliance deserves to shine.

EXPLORE OUR PERFORMANCES

Community Lunch Lines

Serving Our Neighbors with Dignity and Compassion

Community Lunch Lines provides meals, essential supplies and personal encouragement to Baltimore residents experiencing homelessness, hunger and hardship.

Working alongside volunteers, donors and community partners, Rise with a Purpose distributes food and care items while creating genuine moments of human connection. Our work has included recurring lunch-line events, Baltimore Blessing Bag pop-ups, pantry support and the distribution of essential items—including hundreds of pairs of donated socks.

Community Lunch Lines is grounded in a simple belief: service should meet immediate needs while honoring the dignity and humanity of every person.

Each meal, care package and conversation represents our commitment to showing up for our neighbors with consistency, compassion and purpose.

SUPPORT COMMUNITY LUNCH LINES

Community Garden

Growing Food, Knowledge and Community

The Rise with a Purpose Community Garden creates a welcoming space where young people and neighborhood residents can learn, work and grow together.

Through hands-on gardening, participants learn how food is planted, maintained and harvested while exploring healthy living, environmental responsibility, patience and teamwork. The garden also provides opportunities to strengthen neighborhood relationships and create greater access to locally grown produce.

More than a place to grow food, the garden is a place to nurture confidence, responsibility, practical knowledge and community pride.

Every seed planted represents the possibility of growth—for an individual, a family and the wider Baltimore community.

HELP OUR GARDEN GROW

Creative Projects and Cultural Exchange

Connecting Communities Through Art

Rise with a Purpose also develops special projects that bring together music, theater, film, education and cultural exchange.

Our organization has collaborated with artists, schools, museums, theaters and international partners to deliver workshops, performances and creative experiences. International initiatives have included virtual music classes and concerts with partners in Russia, along with arts programming for underserved youth, aspiring musicians and community members in Germany.

In Baltimore, our young artists have created original stage productions, short films, historical performances and community-centered storytelling projects. These experiences introduce participants to the complete creative process—from developing an idea to rehearsing, producing and sharing the finished work with an audience.

Whether presented across Baltimore or across borders, our creative projects demonstrate how art can educate, connect and inspire people from different backgrounds.

PARTNER WITH US

Get Involved

Help Us Create What Comes Next

Our programs are made possible by families, teaching artists, volunteers, community partners, donors and supporters who believe in the potential of every young person.

Your involvement can help provide instruction, meals, supplies, transportation, equipment, rehearsal space and transformative creative experiences.

DONATE  VOLUNTEER  PARTNER WITH US

Together, we can inspire the next generation of creators and help more communities rise with purpose.