Project Rise

Project RISE in Akron Public Schools is a district program that supports students experiencing homelessness or unstable housing. Project RISE stands for “Realizing Individual Strength through Education.” It is a federally funded program tied to the McKinney Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, which ensures students without stable housing can still access public education.

Project RISE Mission: To ensure that the Akron Public Schools homeless youth have equitable access to the same educational opportunities

Project RISE

330.761.2969 projectrise@apslearns.org

There are approximately 1,450 Akron Public Schools students experiencing homelessness each year.

Defining Homelessness is any student lacking a fixed, regular, adequate nighttime residence:

Students sharing the housing of another person/doubled up.
Students living in motels, hotels, RV parks, campgrounds (recreational).
Students in emergency shelter or transitional housing
Students staying outside, without basic utilities, or in condemned conditions.

Project RISE provides support for students and families including:

Immediate school enrollment (in district & transferring) and stability
Transportation if eligible
Community and early childhood education referrals

Donate/How to Help:

If you would like to make a financial donation, please complete this donate form and Project RISE will be in contact.
Project RISE is collecting donations of:
- Lotion, full or small (no hotel samples please), Vaseline, solid/stick Deodorant
- Money donations to support graduating senior dues
- Money donations to purchase gift cards or hygiene items

All items can be delivered to/donation receipts provided at:

Akron Public Schools Sylvester Small Administration Building
10 North Main Street
Akron, OH 44308

3. If you would like to donate your time or talents for student enrichment, please complete Enrichment Contribution and Project RISE will be in touch.

Resources

Our Services

Advocacy

Families experiencing homelessness don’t always know or realize they may qualify for certain rights when it comes to their children’s education, according to federal law.* Project RISE helps families understand these rights and advocates on their behalf.

*Project RISE is federally funded through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act.

Community Resources

Project RISE partners with several organizations in the community to serve our students and families. We help them identify, locate and connect with the resources they need.

Education and Enrichment

Project RISE helps students stay in school and on track. We help them raise their grades, assist at-risk youth to stay in school and empower parents to be more involved in their child’s education. Our tutoring staff is made up of certified teachers, and our academic advocates work in the schools to ensure students are getting connected to available resources.

Summer Programs

Project RISE offers several summer programs that help participants combat summer learning loss while providing educational and cultural experiences for families and students experiencing homelessness. Programs include Art and Literacy opportunities through community partnerships, as well as Field Trips to parks, museums, cultural sites, and other local destinations that give families safe, enriching experiences together.

For more information, contact Rachel Breece, Programming/Project Rise Specialist, at rbreece@apslearns.org or 330.761.2969.

How You Can Help - Staff and Teachers

How You Can Help / Donate

There are several ways you can assist Project RISE in our mission to help Akron’s students and families experiencing homelessness.

Refer

If you are a student living in the Akron area experiencing homelessness or you know a student or family who may be experiencing homelessness, please contact us as soon as possible or have them contact Jennifer Montisano, Project RISE homeless education liaison, at jmontisa@apslearns.org; or 330.761.2969.

Donate

Your monetary or in-kind donation will allow us to continue to meet the basic needs of our families and provide them with services, programs and activities to help improve their lives. Monetary donations are used to meet the needs of the families that we serve that cannot be met with operating funds. In-kind donations are always needed as well. Our most-needed items include:

school supplies
hygiene products
new shoes, new socks and new underwear
gift cards for food and gasoline.

If you feel inclined to donate, you can use this link to donate. Please be sure to add a note with each donation; To: Project RISE From: Donor's Name. Thank you in advance for your support!

Volunteer

Project RISE, our partner organizations and the shelters we work with are always looking for a helping hand. There are opportunities for both individuals and groups. We are always looking for individuals who may be interested in helping with our tutoring program and other events.

If you would like to donate your time or talents for student enrichment, please complete Enrichment Contribution and Project Rise will be in touch.

Groups have lots of opportunities to take on a service project for Project RISE. This includes:

group collections of most-needed items (see above).
helping with grocery deliveries alongside our partners at https://www.dlmakron.org/.

If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information, please contact Rachel Breece at rbreece@apslearns.org or 330.761.2969.