Rise Up, Inc.

A note from the founder:

The past 2 years have been the busiest of my life. I've juggled teaching, parenting, and building a home addition that is the size of an entire house. This past year has been particularly hard on my mental health. I'll not go into all those details, but the weight of everything and no down time was difficult. Things are finally slowing down, and I'm excited about the next 3 months of summer vacation so I can finish up the house and get back to work on the things that make me happy, helping others through the NGO I founded, Rise Up, Inc.

Rise Up, Inc. has been a major part of my life for the past 10 years. It grew out of my desire to do something bigger than myself, something that would make a difference in the lives of children in the developing world. That desire started as a spark I received from 3 tiny little Ethiopian and Congolese children who made me a father. For nearly 10 years now, everyone involved in the organization has worked hard to make the dream of Rise Up a reality. We've always worked hard to be an organization that works arm in arm with the communities in need. Who knows better what the needs of each individual community or village is than the villagers themselves. When we started Rise Up, we didn’t have a real understanding of what a struggle it was for some children to attend school in certain parts of the world. It became apparent early on that these students need more than just new classrooms. There are many factors that keep children in the developing world from attending school. It's always been our goal to remove those obstacles that keep children out of school in these areas. Up to now, we've worked in Ethiopia, Ghana and DR Congo and it's our goal to continue working in these areas.

In the coming weeks, we will be breaking ground on a new school project in a new village in Southern Ethiopia. This school will mirror our previous school projects. We also have a project in Ghana in the works and one in DR Congo we will be fundraising for in the near future. So stay tuned and thanks for continuing to support Rise Up. We continue to quietly dole out good works but plan on showing our faces more.

Thanks again,
Scotty Batie

Happy

“As a tribute to the legions of women who navigated the path of fighting for justice before us, we ought to imprint in the supreme law of the land, firm principles upholding the rights of women.”
-Desmond Tutu

Come and join us this evening @ https://www.facebook.com/events/730185555591724/. We will have music by Franke Lee, Jamaican Jerk Chicken sandwiches, and all kinds of amazing Ghanaian elephant grass items for sale. All proceeds from Reggae for a Reason will go towards our newest school projects.

You have until noon to come and see us at the Tahlequah Farmer’s Market! We only have a few baskets left! Come out and support our school projects!

Don’t forget to come and see us tomorrow! We will set up at 8am and will be accepting cash, checks, and PayPal payments. Please help to support our mission to spread access to education across the globe.

Come and see us October 7th at Tahlequah Farmer’s Market! Then stick around for OksWagon Festival 2023. We will have a very limited number of our elephant grass baskets for sale! All proceeds will go toward our current projects in Ethiopia.

We are thankful for everyone who had a hand in the completion of our school
project. Every donor, every supporter, every board member and cheerleader who came together to make this collaboration a success. This is a major accomplishment that will have a lasting impact on the lives of children for many years.

Please join all of us at Rise Up in congratulating our Ethiopia Director and his wife on the birth of their daughter Frehiwot. Congratulations Chuchu, she’s beautiful.

Happy Birthday to Rise Up, Inc.'s Ethiopia Country Director Chuchu Yohannes. We appreciate your hard work and passion. Chuchu is truly one of the good guys. We are lucky to have you on our team!

Konso, Ethiopia has always been close to my heart, so Valentine’s Day seems like a perfect time to share an update on our progress. I feel bad that this is the first time in what seems like forever that I’ve shared an update on our work there. Last May I started a long overdue home addition that has consumed almost all of my time and energy. Between these projects, my full time teaching job and my parenting duties, I’ve been spread so thin I could barely think.

Anyway, on the exact day I started our home addition here in the US, Rise Up started building and early childhood center in Southern Ethiopia. I’m always amazed by the work there in Ethiopia. I’ve written many times about the quality of work done by the amazing folks in Konso, Ethiopia. They are true artisans who take pride in their work and they are the hardest working people I’ve ever met.

Last week the early childhood center was finished and will soon be full of young children ready to learn. My home project is almost finished so I will soon be back to devoting myself to our work in Ethiopia. Rise Up has a lot of big plans for the future. We are excited about the work we are about to start. Below are photos of the Early childhood center from start to finish. It has been a dream of ours to get the smallest children in a safe place where they can learn. Thanks to you all for your continued support and please continue following us. Good work is never really done.

"Thank you mum!"

An Ethiopian student carried firewood at his graduation ceremony to pay tribute to his mother - signifying the work she did for years to be able to get him to school. Ephrem Belete then handed her his cap and gown. 🎓

https://bbc.in/3OnkWx4

This Saturday only! Rise Up will be selling our handmade Ghanaian Elephant Grass baskets at Tahlequah Farmers Market! Come and see us May 28th from 8am-noon.

We are so grateful to Robbie Frank for allowing us to have Be the Change 2022 at Riverbend by the Bridge. The new venue is simply perfect. The ambience, the sound, the vibe…It’s like they say, location, location, location. Rafting and tubing is happening all summer. Stop by and check out this new Tahlequah treasure.

Music is getting started. Food is up. Still plenty of baskets!

Jamaican jerk chicken is happening now! Join us and the chef, Coach Greg Hall for a bit of culinary magic Saturday, May 14th at Be the Change 2022. Meet us at Riverbend By The Bridge at 5pm sharp.

We can’t wait for Saturday night! We just got to do an event walk through at Riverbend By The Bridge. This brand new venue is the perfect place for a riverside evening of live music. It is conveniently located right at the edge of town. We hope to see you and yours there Saturday night. Be the Change 2022 begins at 5pm.

Sometimes we at Rise Up are struck by an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the people of our little home town. Tahlequah has been almost like a sister community with our school village of Konso, Ethiopia. Most of our donors and supporters are just regular working class Tahlequah people who understand the power of generosity. Almost our entire project has been funded by locals who believe in what we are doing and who take the time to donate what they can. It means the world to us. And it quite literally has changed the world for the people of Konso. And we would be remiss to not recognize the Konso people. They take the funds we send and perform incredible feats of construction. They understand the value of the gifts they receive and work in good faith to provide for the children of Konso. So we just want to take a moment today to thank our donors and the village volunteers. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay.”

Baskets are in! Come and shop with us at Be the Change 2022.

We are only one week away from our annual Spring Fundraiser, Be the Change 2022! We are so ready to get together for a night of incredible food, music, fun and more. The night will begin with a Jamaican meal cooked by the incredible Greg Hall. We will have Heather Ezell as our sommelier and beer donated from Ivory Bill Brewing Co. We will be selling our famous Ghanaian Elephant Grass Baskets, shirts, and more. We have live music with no less than 3 bands; The 510ers, Carter Sampson, and Smokey & The Mirror all playing on a brand new stage at Riverbend By The Bridge. All proceeds benefit our Kindergarten building project in Konso, Ethiopia. Find out more about our mission at https://riseuped.org/ The evening kicks off at 5pm on Saturday, May 14th. Tickets are $30 at the door. We can’t wait to see you there.

Be the Change 2022 will have elephant grass baskets for sale just in time for market season! Please like and share our event to be entered for a chance to win one for yourself. The drawing will take place on the stage at Riverbend at the Bridge before the headlining act Smokey and the Mirror play. Come and join us for a night of fun in support of our school projects.

We are thrilled to announce that Ivory Bill Brewing Co. will be our beer sponsor for Be the Change 2022. Ivory Bill Brewing Co is the work of Dorothy and Casey Letellier. Together they founded the popular Siloam Springs spot in 2017 and have been brewing and serving original and delicious beers ever since. We hope that you can join us and taste the magic for yourself. Be the Change will take place on Saturday, May 14 at Riverbend By The Bridge.

Please remember to save the date and join us on Saturday, May 14th for our annual Spring fundraiser, Be the Change 2022. We have an incredible line up of music, food, and fun for all ages. This promises to be an amazing night on the Illinois River. Stay tuned for more details! We will be highlighting our sponsors and artists all week.

When the villagers of Konso volunteer to lend a hand with our school project, it has to be taken quite literally. Without electricity, power tools or heavy equipment this project had a number of unique challenges. Volunteers leveled the ground by hand, the footings were dug by hand, the stone was shaped by hand, and the mortar was mixed by hand. This is the way of life for the people we work with in Konso, Ethiopia. Hard work is part of their culture, it’s something they take great pride in, and we take great pride in working with them. This will be an early childhood education center in a few short months and we couldn’t be happier with the progress.

We hope you are planning on joining us Saturday May, 14th for Be the Change. We have an amazing evening planned.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tahlequah, Ok. (March 29, 2022)-Rise Up, Inc. is pleased to announce the 2022 installment of Be the Change, an annual fundraiser in support of our global education initiative at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at Riverbend By The Bridge.

Rise Up, Inc. is a Tahlequah based non-profit. Founded by Scott Batie, a local teacher, our organization’s mission is to remove the obstacles that keep children from having access to education. We hope you will join us as we celebrate at Be the Change, an event that will allow us to update the community on our progress, share plans for the future of our school project in Konso, Ethiopia, and simply come together with our donors and friends to enjoy an incredible night of food and fun. In the past years, we have quietly continued our work during the pandemic. We are currently fundraising in support of our new kindergarten construction. We hope you will join us for an evening of fun in support of continuing this important mission. Be The Change 2022 will feature incredible musical performances by Smokey and the Mirror, Carter Sampson, and The 510ers.
Bernice and Bryan Hembree, the husband and wife duo of Smokey & the Mirror and co-founders of Fayetteville Roots Festival, will perform. Smokey & the Mirror are easily one of the best folk duets touring today. Her unique voice and his world weary one combine beautifully to create songs that catch and hold any lover of American Roots Music. Carter Sampson, known as The Queen of Oklahoma, is an award-winning singer/songwriter who has spent years developing a following both here and abroad. She is also the founder and director of The Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls OKC, a nonprofit that empowers girls through music education. She is a long-time supporter of Rise Up and along with her rock and roll camp donated a portion of the building costs for the school bathroom facilities for the Konso school. We are honored to have her gracing the stage of Be The Change once more. Hailing from northern Cherokee County, multi-instrumentalists Dylan Phillips and Joe Mack pull from a deep well of original and inspired musical delights derived from blues, soul and roots music. Bassist Annie Paine is the rhythmic charger that drives them through the catalog. Collectively, they are filling rooms around the mid-South as The 510ers.

Our menu will feature authentic Jamaican and Caribbean food and a cash bar with beer by Ivory Bill Brewery. We will also be selling our highly sought-after Elephant Grass Baskets, which are perfect for the Farmer’s Market shopping season. We are thrilled to be hosting this event at Riverbend By The Bridge. This popular tourist attraction and float business owned and operated by Robbie Frank is the perfect spot for a an evening of food and music. The covered venue protects musicians and guests from weather, while still giving access to scenic river. There is seating for dining and plenty of room to drink and dance the night away.

There is no better way to spend a Spring evening than by heading out to the river for an enjoyable night out filled with unforgettable food, beverages, and fabulous music, all for a truly worthy cause.
Tickets will be available online and at the door for $30.

We are excited to reach out and update our donors and followers on our project. Although you may not have heard from us lately, our work has been quietly and quickly progressing. A few weeks ago we broke ground on an early childhood center that will give the young children of the village the educational foundation that so many children there miss. As always, we are so thankful for the hard work of the community there who understands the importance of education. Without their hard work and our amazing partner organization Konso Development Association/KDA, our work would be nearly impossible.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tahlequah, Ok. (March 29, 2022)-Rise Up, Inc. is pleased to announce the 2022 installment of Be the Change, an annual fundraiser in support of our global education initiative at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at Riverbend By The Bridge.

Rise Up, Inc. is a Tahlequah based non-profit. Founded by Scott Batie, a local teacher, our organization’s mission is to remove the obstacles that keep children from having access to education. We hope you will join us as we celebrate at Be the Change, an event that will allow us to update the community on our progress, share plans for the future of our school project in Konso, Ethiopia, and simply come together with our donors and friends to enjoy an incredible night of food and fun. In the past years, we have quietly continued our work during the pandemic. We are currently fundraising in support of our new kindergarten construction. We hope you will join us for an evening of fun in support of continuing this important mission. Be The Change 2022 will feature incredible musical performances by Smokey and the Mirror, Carter Sampson, and The 510ers.
Bernice and Bryan Hembree, the husband and wife duo of Smokey & the Mirror and co-founders of Fayetteville Roots Festival, will perform. Smokey & the Mirror are easily one of the best folk duets touring today. Her unique voice and his world weary one combine beautifully to create songs that catch and hold any lover of American Roots Music. Carter Sampson, known as The Queen of Oklahoma, is an award-winning singer/songwriter who has spent years developing a following both here and abroad. She is also the founder and director of The Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls OKC, a nonprofit that empowers girls through music education. She is a long-time supporter of Rise Up and along with her rock and roll camp donated a portion of the building costs for the school bathroom facilities for the Konso school. We are honored to have her gracing the stage of Be The Change once more. Hailing from northern Cherokee County, multi-instrumentalists Dylan Phillips and Joe Mack pull from a deep well of original and inspired musical delights derived from blues, soul and roots music. Bassist Annie Paine is the rhythmic charger that drives them through the catalog. Collectively, they are filling rooms around the mid-South as The 510ers.

Our menu will feature authentic Jamaican and Caribbean food and a cash bar with beer by Ivory Bill Brewery. We will also be selling our highly sought-after Elephant Grass Baskets, which are perfect for the Farmer’s Market shopping season. We are thrilled to be hosting this event at Riverbend By The Bridge. This popular tourist attraction and float business owned and operated by Robbie Frank is the perfect spot for a an evening of food and music. The covered venue protects musicians and guests from weather, while still giving access to scenic river. There is seating for dining and plenty of room to drink and dance the night away.

There is no better way to spend a Spring evening than by heading out to the river for an enjoyable night out filled with unforgettable food, beverages, and fabulous music, all for a truly worthy cause.
Tickets will be available online and at the door for $30.

Thanks to all the women who make our work possible.