Our Story

The Past 

ARYSE began in 2013 as a grassroots effort led by local refugee leaders and University of Pittsburgh undergraduate students who realized that the refugee youth they were tutoring were experiencing unique challenges in an educational system that was not designed for them. Additionally, they wanted to create a space where their students could experience joy, express themselves creatively, and feel a strong sense of belonging.  

In response, the group organized PRYSE Academy, the only summer program in the region specifically tailored to the needs of immigrant and refugee youth, centering literacy development, community building, and storytelling through the arts. In 2017, ARYSE began expanding its program offerings to provide youth with more comprehensive, holistic support throughout the entire year. Since then, ARYSE has grown from serving 25 youth in 2013 to reaching 150-200 youth each year.

The Present 

ARYSE is now recognized throughout the region as the premiere out-of-school-time resource for immigrant and refugee youth. ARYSE programs currently serve youth in grades 6-12 who reside in Allegheny County, representing over 15 different countries of origin and speak 30+ different languages. In addition to PRYSE Academy, current program offerings include an arts-focused Girls Art and Maker Group, academic and career readiness programs, After School Club and Future Planning Workshops, an advocacy and affinity group, LGBTQ+ Initiative and Queer Youth Space, and a uniquely tailored program to help recently resettled youth from Afghanistan, Empowered Afghan Youth.

Embedded in ARYSE programming is a leadership pathway where students enter as youth participants and advance to become counselors, mentors and/or Youth Steering Committee members. The Youth Steering Committee is key to the organizational structure: a leadership team of 15 program alumni who are community leaders and/or eager to inform the trajectory of ARYSE. Similar to staff, members are compensated for their time in meetings, presenting in public forums, working as camp counselors, and any activities related to their contribution to ARYSE. The vision is for youth to set goals of advancement both within the organizational structure and in the outside professional community.

The Future 

In many ways, ARYSE is still transitioning from what was a largely volunteer-run organization to one that is fully staffed, resourced, and able to imagine growth both within and beyond the Pittsburgh region. In the coming years, ARYSE envisions expansion of its existing programs to serve the growing number of youth with refugee and immigrant backgrounds, deepening its focus on and commitment to the arts, broadening its university partnerships, and continuing to engage in collaborative, coalition-based work to address structural racism and oppression. As the need for its work continues to grow, ARYSE is committed to centering students’ feedback, perspectives, and aspirations every step of the way.