Our story.

The concept of I Rise began in 2014 when Kristen, the founder, began running psychoeducation groups on trauma and abuse with prostituted and trafficked women in a court-ordered diversion program. Topics of this group included forms of abuse (including financial abuse), trauma, and discussions on the topics of change, coping, overcoming barriers, and more. Kristen noticed a theme over the years in her work with women who had experienced profound violence and exploitation, many from a very early age. Women continued to express that financial insecurity and dependence was a critical barrier to successfully exiting the violent and exploitative situation they were currently in. 

Abusers and exploiters had created a sense of financial dependence, through withholding money, controlling how it was spent and who had access, and through other means of financial, emotional, spiritual, sexual and physical abuse. Women in these groups shared about how they had been influenced over time by these figures in their lives to feel a loss of control or a sense of insecurity when it came to managing finances. Women shared how they had previously exited a trafficking situation, gone on to get a job that they enjoyed and were financially successful at, only to be forced to give that job up by an abuser/exploiter. 

Kristen began to notice that the legal system served as a critical barrier for women to successfully exit an abusive or exploitative situation, as having a criminal record greatly limits the job opportunities available. Abusers and exploiters often force their victims to engage in criminal behavior, a concept known as forced criminality, which has long lasting ramifications for the victim. Lack of a job that pays a livable wage prevents a woman from finding safe and stable housing, which may prevent a woman from keeping her family together. Kristen began to see how the experience of violence and exploitation in a woman’s life creates a cycle of economic injustice that many she worked with found almost impossible to overcome. It was then that the concept of I Rise began to take shape.

Social services targeted to survivors of violence and exploitation have been growing in the past 20 years, but few address the issue of economic injustice and work to help survivors not only exit a violent/exploitative situation, but heal and thrive. Thriving means moving forward in all aspects of a survivor’s life: emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially. I Rise was created with the belief that women should not be held back by the violence and exploitation they experienced. They should be equipped with all of the resources and supports necessary to move forward, find a career they find meaningful and fulfilling, and build wealth for themselves and their families. To do this, survivors have to overcome incredible barriers, some of which may include: lack of education, criminal record, access to safe and stable housing, employment that makes a livable wage, access to childcare, and more. I Rise was created to overcome those barriers and provide an open path to success for survivors.