About
Rise Up
The Rise Up! Story
Rise Up! is a youth-driven program that connects young people aged 15–30 across British Columbia with hands-on opportunities made possible through dedicated partnerships with local businesses and organizations to support food systems and environmental stewardship in their communities.
Through meaningful service placements, land-based learning, and community engagement, youth are rising up to become leaders in creating a more just, sustainable, and resilient future.
Why
Rise Up?
Together, we’re cultivating a resilient ecosystem —one that centers youth voices, uplifts communities, and strengthens food systems and environmental stewardship for a thriving, just future!
Rise Up! began as a pilot project in 2023—a seed planted in service, community, and connection to land. Today, that seed has grown into a thriving, multi-year initiative cultivating youth leadership in food systems and environmental stewardship across British Columbia.
Over the next two years, from 2025-2027, Rise Up! will support:
- 145 youth volunteers in meaningful, flexible service placements with community food organizations across BC.
- Roughly 70 youth per year will take part in placements that match their interests and passions, with a focus on engaging equity-deserving and under-served communities, including Indigenous, newcomer, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, and youth living with disabilities or in rural and remote areas.
- Youth will gain hands-on experience—like growing food in local gardens, running community workshops, or helping with school meal programs, to name just a few!
- Participants will build connections with mentors and like-minded peers working in local food systems and environmental stewardship.
Through a mix of online learning, in-person mentorship, and place-based service, youth aged 15–30 will deepen their understanding of topics within food systems and environmental stewardship that resonate with them.
We continue to partner with incredible organizations and a growing network of local non-profits and businesses to offer real-world learning that connects youth to the land, to each other, and to the future.
Together, we’re cultivating a resilient ecosystem —one that centers youth voices, uplifts communities, and strengthens food systems and environmental stewardship for a thriving, just future!
How It All Started
In Fall 2023, the Public Health Association of BC (PHABC) launched Rise Up! as a 6-month pilot project with generous support from Canada Service Corps. Our goal: to connect youth aged 15–30 with meaningful service opportunities in their local food systems —rooted in learning, relationships, and community action.
Drawing on PHABC’s networks with Farm to School BC, the BC Chapter of the Coalition for Healthy School Food and Community Garden Roots (Formerly Can You Dig It), as well as 13 partner organizations across the province, we matched 33 youth volunteers with service placements in opportunities like community gardens, cooking programs, student-led food justice initiatives, and community kitchens. None of this would have been possible without the vision, support, and on-the-ground leadership of our host organizations. Their commitment to mentorship, intergenerational learning, and welcoming youth into their teams is the foundation of Rise Up!’s impact.
Youth also joined a custom online learning program co-designed with CityHive, and came together for regional gatherings and a 3-day retreat to deepen their learning and relationships on the lands of the Snaw-Naw-As and the Qualicum First Nations in Parksville, BC. A key innovation from the pilot was our partnership with Meaningful Work, who supported the development of the Rise Up digital platform —an online tool that now connects youth with host organizations across BC. This platform ensures youth can find placements that align with their values, skills, and passions, while making it easier for organizations to engage volunteers in meaningful, community-based work.
What We Learned
The pilot taught us that youth are eager, capable, and deeply committed to making a difference and that when supported by community organizations as mentors, collaborators, and co-leaders, their impact is even greater!
Youth told us they’re looking for:
- Mentorship from experienced changemakers
- Connection with others in their communities and across the province
- Opportunities to shape the future of food and environmental systems
“It deepened my knowledge that was already there. I was surprised by the different initiatives that existed within my own community.”
– Rise Up! Participant
The Impact:
Pilot Highlights
- 33 youth engaged across 5 regions
- 93% of participants reported increased awareness of local food initiatives
- 97% felt a stronger personal connection to their local food system
- 77% were mentored by experienced leaders
- Countless hours of service, collaboration, and relationship-building
“It was such a wonderful experience… I learned so much from those outside of my age group and got to collaborate on a book swap at the university with a student-led club.”
– Rise Up! Participant
Download the full pilot project report here for more information about lessons learned and stories from the field!
Rise Up!
Video Library
Check out some of the footage from the pilot project to learn about what youth and staff had to say about the Rise Up! program!
Lauren Bernardi
Lauren Bernardi, the Rise Up! Provincial Manager, welcomes you to learn more about the program and its benefits for youth, host organizations, and the community.
“Food is always the common denominator. And it’s also the piece that brings everyone together.”
2024 Youth Retreat
Youth are interviewed during the Rise Up! 2024 Youth Retreat. Youth are actively engaged in food systems work at Earth Craft Farm as they share their Rise Up! journeys.
“This is the type of farm I’d like to operate in my future.”
-Elias (Rise Up! youth volunteer)
Richard Han
Richard Han, previously the Director of Community Engagement and Food Systems, and now the Senior Director of Public and Planetary Health at PHABC, details the food systems stresses in the province and beyond, and how youth involvement can strengthen the future.
“Food is really at the centre of a lot of the ways that we connect to each other.”
Taylor Sacré
Taylor Sacré, the Project Coordinator for Rise Up! in 2023/ 2024, enthusiastically shares her experience working with youth and host organizations as PHABC builds the brand of Rise Up!
“We get to create and provide really meaningful opportunities.”
Marcus Lobb
Marcus Lobb, the Provincial Manager of Farm to School BC, emphasizes on the important role youth have to play in building the food systems future.
“[Youth] should believe in themselves, that they can become leaders in their communities.”
2024 Retreat Conclusion
This video summarizes all youth and staff interviews taken at the 2024 Rise Up! retreat.
“All of these young people who have joined this program…
Are the face of future food systems.”
-Taylor Sacré (Project Coordintaor, PHABC)
Gallery
Below are photos taken at the 2024 Rise Up! youth retreat.
Leafing so soon? Never miss a beet!
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