Arise Collective

05/29/2026

We’re expanding our team at Arise Collective. Two senior leadership positions are now open: Senior Director of Reentry and Senior Director of Resource Development.

Job descriptions and application links are available at https://arise-collective.org/jobs.

Please share these opportunities with anyone who may be a strong fit.

05/15/2026

We believe each woman owns her unique journey and has the right to be free to live a whole and healthy life; given access to the tools and support she needs, we believe that she has the power within to succeed.

To read all of our guiding principles, visit arise-collective.org/guiding-principles

05/12/2026

Very grateful to Wheels4Hope for our partnership!

04/25/2026

"Whether people realize it or not, incarceration affects all of us." -Violet

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Thank you to everyone for coming to celebrate the unveiling of Stitching Stories Reimagined at Dix Park. Learn more about Stitching Stories and Stitching Stories Reimagined at stitching-stories.org.

(more photos and videos will be shared soon)

04/08/2026

What is Stitching Stories Reimagined?

It is a retelling of Stitching Stories: A Prison Awareness Quilt, a 25‑foot crocheted quilt created during the COVID‑19 pandemic by the H.A.T.S. (Handcrafted and Totally Special) group at the minimum‑security Canary Unit of the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women. Completed just before Mother’s Day 2021, the quilt wove together the stories of 62 women. On the day it was finished, those women were invited to tie the ribbons and bows on one another’s squares, a small but powerful act of connection and care.

In 2023, Arise Collective received support from the Z. Smith Reynolds and Mellon Foundations to bring this quilt to life as a 30‑foot‑long inclusive public art installation. Designed for travel and for permanent display, the piece reimagines the quilt’s stories through a mosaic wall, an opposing mirror wall, and a vinyl wrap. Each mosaic square represents one year of time served, with ribbons marking the struggles many women have carried: addiction, domestic violence, sexual assault, mental health challenges, COVID‑19, children left behind, and the loss of loved ones.

Four local artists were commissioned to create the installation.

After its unveiling at Benevolence Farm in October 2025, the exhibit continued its journey across North Carolina, visiting The Caraway Foundation in Anson County that December, the High Point Public Library in January 2026, and the Ministry of Hope in Black Mountain in February. Now, the art will find its home at Dix Park, where you are invited to experience the stories it holds.

Visit stitching-stories.org to learn more.

When:
Saturday, April 25, 2026

12:00 noon until 2:00 PM
(mix + mingle begins at 11:30 AM)

Where:
The Chapel @ Dix Park
Greg Poole, Jr., All Faiths Chapel
1030 Richardson Drive, Raleigh

>>All are welcome

04/07/2026

Seeds for Life: A Collaborative Poem for MATCH Children

Planting seeds of love for the vines of life
Hope rising above struggles and strife

(opening stanza from Seeds for Life)

Mothers in the Mothers and Their Children (MATCH) program recently came together to create a “passing poem” titled Seeds for Life. Each woman added a single line, weaving a shared vision for their children’s futures.

They later brought the poem to life by painting it onto canvas with care and creativity. Each canvas became a personal gift, carrying their love, imagination, and the dreams they hold close.

“We were invited to draw inspiration from Dr. King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech,” one participant shared. “We used writing as a way to speak hope over our children.”

The project became a gentle blend of creativity, reflection, and connection, a reminder of how words and art can help families stay close even when they are apart.

MATCH, located at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women in Raleigh, supports the specific needs of incarcerated mothers and their children.

After graduating from the 8-week parenting course, MATCH mothers qualify for extended monthly visitation with their children. Over 45 mothers and 80 children are currently in the MATCH program.

In 2025, MATCH joined Arise Collective, and the benefits are now being extended to women after release through our reentry programs.

Learn more about MATCH by visiting arise-collective.org/match

04/03/2026

Women Rebuild Their Confidence, One Recipe at a Time

This spring, five participants from Arise Collective's residential reentry program stepped into our Recipe for Change kitchen, a space where nourishment, confidence, and community come together. Led by Tanisha Carter (Chef T), whose own reentry journey shapes every lesson she teaches, the program blends hands-on culinary training with practical life skills that support a strong return home.

Each year, dozens of women move through this experience and discover something powerful: rebuilding a life after incarceration often begins with the small, steady rhythms of daily care. In the kitchen, they learn far more than how to prepare a balanced meal. They learn how to nourish themselves, their families, and their futures.

“Every time the participants master a new skill, I can see it. I can see their confidence rise,” said Chef T. “That’s the real recipe for change.” Her guidance turns each lesson into a moment of possibility, reminding participants that growth is built one step at a time.

Recipe for Change remains one of the most practical and transformative tools we offer. With every skill mastered — from knife safety to meal planning to budgeting to nutrition — participants build stability and confidence that carries well beyond graduation. It is a reminder that healing and growth can begin with something as simple and profound as preparing a meal together.

04/02/2026

03/31/2026

Earlier this month, our community gathered at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Raleigh to celebrate nine women from the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women as they graduated from the 40th cohort of JobStart: Pathways to Power. Their achievement marked the end of an intensive eight‑week journey and the beginning of new possibilities filled with confidence and hope.

JobStart exists to ensure women have real opportunities to rebuild their lives. Through a partnership between the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, Wake Technical Community College, First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh, and Arise Collective, participants gain the skills and support needed to navigate reentry and pursue meaningful employment.

“Because of the incredible partnerships, as well as the support of volunteers and mentors,” said Dr. Doris Bullock, “we have attempted to create an empowering environment where justice‑involved women can build skills, strengthen their confidence, and prepare for the next steps in their lives.” During JobStart 40, Dr. Bullock, Arise Collective's Chief Outreach and Education Officer, served in a dual role as Adjunct Instructor for the class through Wake Technical College.

Family members, mentors, and supporters filled the room as each graduate walked to the stage, carrying her own story of resilience. The ceremony honored their hard work and the relationships that sustained them, with reflections from graduates, encouragement from community leaders, and a shared meal that extended the celebration.

The core of JobStart is to be a community where women are seen, supported, and equipped to move forward with dignity.