About Us — YOU ARE

Our Story

Because of an instinctual urge to go to Africa, and a random conversation, I (Jess) took a trip to Uganda and saw first-hand the differences of available opportunities…especially for women.

One night I traveled to a local village to speak with a group of 20 women involved in sex work. Acknowledging my privilege into which I was born, I had no idea what to share with them. I’ve never been in their shoes..

And that’s when I shared all I knew in that moment:
how incredibly worthy, valuable and capable they are.

In 2019, YOU ARE became an official corporation where it began building self-efficacy through a physical education curriculum, sport equipment donations, and scholarships.

While this was very important work, there was still an instinctual unknown feeling we were meant to empower women.

And that’s when our proven process, Rise Up, was created. A six-week program designed to provide women a safe space to self-discover through holistic coaching and rise to their potential was created.

We developed and implemented three full cohorts in Lexington, Kentucky with women transforming their lives into sober living.

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Knowing the effects of extreme poverty and lack of opportunities for women and girls in developing countries like Uganda, I knew in my heart we had to do something.

I felt and believed women could transform their communities with self-efficacy. This is where YOU come in.

When you support YOU ARE, you are serving as the bridge for women and girls rising to their potential. . . believing in their purpose of making a difference while you are actualizing your own.