Y o u  A r e  I n v i t e d!

Hello Teen,

I'm Denise, and I serve as chief executive of Rising Urban Leaders Enterprise (RULE).

Scroll down anytime to fill out the application...

For your information, in December 2018 when my son was a sophomore in high school, I imagined ways of leading high schoolers to a platform that would support their current and future passions and dreams.

Let me begin by quoting a true saying from biblical Scripture, "A dream deferred makes the heart sad."

I can relate to that saying because my heart was somewhat sad during my high school years.  Back then, I failed one-third of my exams.  Moreover, I struggled to complete complex homework assignments on time.  What I needed was help, but no one in my inner circle of family and friends seemed able to teach basic study skills or pass on learning techniques such as understanding content or decoding and memorizing material.

This was indeed a dark time in my history.  By the end of my senior year, I had accumulated such poor grades and a low GPA that I suppressed my desire to go on to college.

It wasn't until several years post graduation that I applied to Howard University.  Amazingly, I was accepted to study Journalism in the School of Communications.  What a celebration that acceptance was for me, and my family!  But when I arrived on campus, I was unprepared for the intensity of studying on a university level, thus my academic performance went from bad to worse.  So, I withdrew from college.

The good news is I returned to Howard decades later.  This time, I decided to follow a customized leadership plan of action.  And I was committed to the growth steps.

Then, SUCCESS!

My study habits improved!  And getting A's became achievable!

As I reflect on my adversity in school, I feel grateful for the process I entrusted to lead me to a better path in life.

For this reason, I have designed this leadership program to encourage you to establish and implement an intentional strategy for achieving your goals so that you can be excellent at whatever you do, and stand out from the rest.  I am confident that your participation in our program will empower you to believe YOU CAN achieve your measurable goals as you journey through school and career.

RULE is a not-for-profit organization in New Jersey.  What this means is that helping you reach your goals is our mission.  We hope to help you get ahead through leadership training, mentorship guidance, and volunteer projects.

Do you want to become outstanding at sharing in a group?

Every member of RULE belongs to a small group of six or so teens.  This group serves as a support team.  When you're facing options, it makes sense to have someone in your corner to remind you of your vision.  Consequently, being in a support group is rewarding to your individual success in this program.  Keep in mind, this group is a partnership between you and other students to help everyone keep on track with their plans.

What you do with your time away from the group is your decision.  However, consider volunteering an hour or more for community development projects to improve your organizational skills and fulfill time-specific services to aid others who are in need.  This is also a way of giving back!

As you master setting goals and achieving results, RULE’s executive team will coordinate social events in which influential leaders and guest speakers will show up to recognize you as you showcase your skills and gain respect.

Moreover, we hope incentives, such as recognition, leadership roles, and opportunities to win gift cards, will impress you and inspire you to complete the core programs which are: Orientation, Leadership Style, Support Team, Community Service, and Leadership Forum.

Now, this is my idea of a student leadership organization.  But it is your participation and success that will cause you to grow.

So, ON YOUR MARK...

You are one step away from joining your support team at Rising Urban Leaders Enterprise.  Please complete the online application and send it to us promptly.  I really believe it's your time to shine!

To your success,

Denise