Parent Perspective: Lisa’s Story

Every parent wants their child to grow up surrounded by supportive, caring adults in their community, and RiseUp Red Wing strives to provide that connection to every young person we serve. 

Lisa, a Red Wing parent and RiseUp Red Wing staff member, knows firsthand the importance of having a village when it comes to raising kids. Her son participates in RiseUp Red Wing’s mentoring program, and she reflected on the impact: 

“My son, Devon, has a mentor that he meets with. This gives Devon another adult in his life who shows up for him – someone to look up to and grow a positive relationship with. He also is involved with summer activities. This gives him a safe place while interacting with other youth of all ages and with an adult to ensure it is a positive experience for all. My favorite part of RiseUp Red Wing is that they have never said a negative comment about my son. They have restructured and regrouped the program to meet as many youth as possible. They keep trying and keep trying! Devon gets excited every time I mention RiseUp Red Wing, because it is a positive experience every time for him. He enjoys the other youth and knows he can talk to the staff about anything. As he would say, he ‘feels safe,’ which is very important for him.”