Empowering Futures: How Kenwood Academy’s Rise Up Program Transforms Opportunities for Young Black Men

CHICAGO (WLS) — As the country gets ready to bid farewell to Rev. Jesse Jackson, a mentorship initiative at Kenwood Academy is carrying forward his legacy.

The program is creating new avenues for young Black men to succeed.

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Rise Up is a mentorship initiative that focuses on developing pathways to higher education, career preparedness, and leadership skills for young Black men. This program draws its inspiration from Jackson’s ideals.

“I envision them as community leaders and impactful members of society, embodying everything Jesse Jackson sought to achieve,” remarked Oliver Speller, co-founder of the Rise Up program.

Speller, a teacher at Kenwood Academy, established Rise Up to empower young Black men to take on leadership roles.

Jackson used to live next-door to him.

“He wants the human race to be exceptional. And he has the bravery to implement things, to try to make that happen. So, if you’re around Jesse Jackson, you can’t help but kind of take that in,” Speller said.

Growing up around Rainbow PUSH helped shape the program.

Inside Rise Up, 35 young men run it like a company, taking on roles like president, CEO, CFO and marketing director.

“We run events at the school here. We do Rise Up 33 basketball tournament; we just incorporated a gaming tournament,” Rise Up President Yannick Assignon said.

They’re also producing podcasts and media projects and spending weekends volunteering at the Greater Food Depository and Rainbow PUSH.

But this is more than a résumé builder.

“I’ve always wanted to replicate in my life is that sense of family and brotherhood,” Assignon said.

It’s a place they’re finding their voice.

“If it were a year ago, I would be too scared to even say anything,” Rise Up marketing officer Lester Barrett said. “I’ve definitely learned what it means to communicate and how much power words really have.”

“What it does is it gives all of our young men a sense of purpose. It gives them a sense of drive,” Speller said.

It’s a drive to lift up the next young man coming up behind them.

“Which is called rising up, which is going to be a mentorship program for like underclassmen and those who aren’t in Rise Up yet,” RISE Up chief technology officer Lester Barrett said.

It’s so more doors can open, especially the ones that lead to college.

“My top two options are Hampton University and Ohio State University because I got into the honors,” Assignon said.

It’s the kind of moment that would make the late reverend proud.

“I’ll keep his hope alive, and that hope is important to the progression of today’s society and whatever else is coming after us,” Barrett said.

Rainbow PUSH is helping to sponsor college tours for the Rise Up students.

They’re hoping to take those this summer.