Welcome to Refugee and Immigrant Self Empowerment
RISE, originally established as the Somali Bantu Community Association (SBCA), was founded in 2004 by Somali Bantu refugees to support the transition of newly resettled members of their community in Onondaga County. Recognizing education as a crucial path to opportunity and upward mobility, the organization began with a small, informal homework group held in the home of one of its founding members.
As the need for academic support grew, SBCA relocated its homework help program to Dr. King Elementary School, providing a more structured and accessible environment for students. Soon after, the organization moved into a shared office space at the Central Village Youth Center. This move marked a turning point, allowing SBCA to broaden its services significantly.
From this new location, SBCA launched additional programs to meet the evolving needs of the community, including English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, case management, interpretation and translation services, and job placement assistance. These offerings laid the foundation for what would eventually become a comprehensive support network for refugees and immigrants in the region.
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Learn More About RISE
Our Mission
The mission of Refugee and Immigrant Self- Empowerment (RISE) is to advocate and promote self-sufficiency through employment, education, social support and economic independence for members of the refugee and immigrant communities in Onondaga County, NY.
Our Vision
All refugees and immigrants are empowered to become economically independent and productive members of society who enrich their new community while maintaining their cultural identity.
Our History
Formerly known as the Somali Bantu Community Association (SBCA), RISE was founded by Somali Bantu refugees in 2004 to ease the transition of other members of the resettled Somali Bantu community living in Onondaga County. RISE was established at the beginning of 2016.