Sistas on the Rise evolved from a collective called “Sistas en la Lucha” that was focused on social justice issues such as the US Navy’s occupation of Vieques, Puerto Rico and violence against women of color. From that space, a collective member (who was formerly a teen mother) realized that to build an effective social justice movement we needed to create not only a space for women of color to engage in the work but also a process for young mothers and their children to lead, participate and shape social justice strategies. Sistas on the Rise is a space for young mothers and women of color to organize together around issues relevant to them.  Our young women (whom are all low-income) are involved in the design, development and implementation of our program.

 Sistas on the Rise organizes low-income mothers of color ages 13-21 to raise consciousness and change conditions within our community. We believe that our collective power and creativity as young mothers & women of color can challenge racism, classism, machismo, heterosexism and other beliefs and practices we face that lead to inequality and oppression. We utilize popular education, community organizing, spiritual grounding, cultural values and traditions to provide a youth-led program that cultivates a safe space for healing, nurturing self-growth, social and economic justice. Sistas on the Rise works with sisters living in poverty and within the control of the welfare system to create alternatives that will allow us to sustain economically instead of revolving in the cycle of poverty.  We want to make sure that we own our lives, cultivate healthy futures and realize our dreams.

Sistas on the Rise’s accomplishments demonstrate our experience in providing support to low-income women.  Our education organizing campaign encourages young women’s leadership and celebrates their strength, voice and tenacity to advocate on their own behalf. 

How we are different from other organizations

1. We organize across issue.  SOTR’s organizing campaign works to widen the definition of Reproductive Justice, while our organizing campaign focuses on improving educational opportunities for young women, we see education for teen mothers as part of a reproductive justice agenda. Education for young mothers is a reproductive right; young mothers (who society may deem as not worthy of motherhood) should have the right to a quality education that will facilitate economic self-sufficiency. Through our unique perspective as youth, as women of color, as mothers, we have strived to shape a Reproductive Justice Movement that is much more comprehensive and accessible to low-income, women of color, who have historically been marginalized within the movement.

2. Honoring Youth Leadership: SOTR has sustained for 6 years, as a collective for teen mothers by teen mothers. This is a very important accomplishment. SOTR is currently one of the few(501c3) organizations in the United States that is youth-led, a collective, and organizing low-income young women of color. SOTR honors youth as leaders in the community. Our young women are outstanding leaders! It’s easy to recognize the integrity of our work by simply hearing our youth present at conferences or by participating in workshops they facilitate.

3. Our Collective Model: Our founder established her transition when she founded the organization. This was a new approach to the work. She worked with Leslie Grant, one of our youth leaders to develop her leadership skills and eventually take on the position. Leslie came to the organization at 15 and is now 21 years old.  Retention is important to the sustainability of an organization. SOTR believes that not-for-profit organizations belong to the people not individuals. This doesn’t mean we dispose of adult women, it

simply means that we understand that social justice work is much larger than any one organization or person