Our History
In 1992, Michael Marion, founder of Rise Up, was volunteering as a basketball coach for a group of under-resourced boys at Stratton Elementary School in Johnson City. Over the course of six weeks the boys began to show significant improvement in academics and behavior. Stratton leadership staff asked Coach Marion to continue to engage with the boys in an after school, small group setting. The desire to love and encourage these young boys to become relationally healthy and successful young men was the driving force behind the establishment of Boys to Men, the former name of Rise Up For Kids.
Boys to Men groups met twice weekly at Unaka Avenue Baptist Church with 14 attendees. Due to the overwhelming success of these small groups and the coaching of four under-resourced boys’ basketball teams, Boys to Men applied for and received a federally noticed not-for-profit 501c3 designation in 1996. Shortly thereafter, Boys to Men was awarded its first state grant.
Over the next ten years, Central Baptist Church in Johnson City partnered with Boys to Men to start another unique experience called Nick at Night. Nick at Night met every Sunday evening with both boys and girls, at the church, which included a nutritious meal, and youth activities that helped teach the youth to be relationally healthy. The program was incredibly successful because the under-resourced girls who attended Nick at Night requested a small group time. Thus, Girlfriends was established as a young lady in training small groups.
In 1998, Boys to Men received a grant to begin a 5-day/week afterschool program at Fairmont Elementary School. A third grant was soon awarded to provide mentoring at Northside Elementary School. From 2000 through 2006, over 100 youth were involved in Boys to Men/Girlfriends while meeting in area schools and churches.
The Refuge (Location):
In 2006, Boys to Men purchased the original segregated school of Johnson City, also formally known as the Dawn of Hope building located in Central Johnson City, the heart of the vulnerable community Boys to Men serves. This space is fondly referred to as, The Refuge, situated on 2.5-acre lot, which now includes 20,000 square feet within 2 buildings that houses office space, 2 commercial kitchens, cafeteria, 7 classrooms, literacy room, library, art room, conference room, full outdoor play area, basketball court and gymnasium.
With the acquisition of The Refuge, programming was able to expand exponentially across the city from kindergarten through high school. The board of directors and founder, Michael Marion, concluded that a more inclusive name was needed. Through a rebranding process in 2010, Boys to Men became Rise Up. The Refuge has undergone many capital enhancements since the purchase of the property. In 2021, following a competitive grant process, Rise Up! was awarded the Jeff Byrd Grant from Speedway Children’s Charities for the construction of our Jeff Byrd Movement Park. This outdoor area is designed for youth to have a fun and creative space for physical activity. The Refuge, as its name implies, is a place for kids to come to play, be at peace, pursue their passions, and find purpose.