08/22/2026
WHERE DO YOU STAND?
Sometimes, an opportunity to help starts with something very simple.
When I settled into my new home in the Philippines, I was given the opportunity to volunteer my time teaching English communication skills to approximately 20–25 students each week.
I thought I was going to teach English.
I quickly discovered that I was being given an opportunity to do something much bigger.
The students I’m working with are between 18 and 35 years old and come from very different backgrounds. Some are grade-school dropouts. Some are unemployed or homeless. Some have experienced poverty and difficult family circumstances. Some have been involved in gangs, including individuals who are currently active gang members.
But here is what I have discovered:
They are not without intelligence.
They are not without talent.
They are not without potential.
What many of them have been missing is confidence, mentorship, communication skills, and an opportunity to believe in themselves.
That is why I created Rise & Speak.
Rise & Speak is an English Communication, Leadership, and Employability Academy operating as a volunteer initiative under the Tayo Legacy Foundation Philippines.
This isn't simply an English class.
We are teaching young adults how to communicate effectively, speak confidently, develop leadership skills, prepare for job interviews, present themselves professionally, think critically, and develop the skills they need to pursue employment and a better future.
And perhaps most importantly, we are teaching them that their voice matters.
In some ways, this reminds me of the movie Stand and Deliver, starring Edward James Olmos.
Not because we are trying to recreate the movie—but because the message resonates with me:
Don't define people by their circumstances. Give them the opportunity, the tools, and someone who believes they can succeed.
I don't expect one 12-week program to magically change someone's life.
But I do believe that one person believing in them can be the beginning of something extraordinary.
One conversation.
One new skill.
One job interview.
One opportunity.
One changed life.
And then another.
And another.
That is the vision behind Rise & Speak.
My hope is that this pilot program will eventually grow into something much larger—providing pathways to digital literacy, career readiness, entrepreneurship, leadership development, employment opportunities, and other workforce-development programs.
But I can't do it alone.
I would like to invite you to join us and support this journey.
You can contribute your:
• Time
• Skills
• Mentorship
• Financial support
• Professional connections
• Employment opportunities
• Or simply your belief in what these young people can become
Together, we can all make a difference.
* The question is: Where do you stand?
* Will you stand with them?
* Will you believe in them?
* Will you help give them a chance?
Together, let's help them Rise & Speak.
I would be more than happy to share the 12-week curriculum with you if you are interested. Feel free to DM me.
* Class starts this Thursday.
