About RULE

What We Do

We imagine steps to success and write the imagination lists.

We set S.M.A.R.T. goals and teach others to do the same.

We facilitate virtual and in-person events for teens to build skills.

We journey alongside each teen to ensure their plans support and propel their goals.

Who We Are

  • A New Jersey 501(c)(3) nonprofit
  • Operating in the City of Paterson
  • Organizing since December 2018
  • Equipping teens to lead

Our Vision is to unlock teens' imagination to dream big and take small steps every day to fulfill their dreams so that they may be equipped for their purpose in life.

Rising Urban Leaders Enterprise (RULE)
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Our Mission is to create a learning community where teens have access to value-driven discussions and a team of advocates to help them utilize their strengths and abilities to conquer adversity and achieve long-term and short-term goals.

Open Access

To experience personal growth, teens commit to come together with peers for 60 minutes a week for 1 year.

Our Calendar gives teens access to events, meetings, workshops, and more.  

Teens can catch up with training after submitting an application.

In This Order:

RULE's Purpose

  • To inspire high school students to participate in a support group that offers tips and techniques to improve their interpersonal communication and literacy skills,
  • To recruit advocates to facilitate our program-related activities,
  • To provide guidance and education for volunteers to successfully support teams,
  • To empower students to write goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound,
  • To assess students' personality types and leadership styles using DISC and Myers Briggs assessment surveys,
  • To organize and prepare students for community outreach activities, and
  • To coordinate resources and relationships for students to receive coaching and tutoring. 

Why We Care

There is an epidemic of loneliness and isolation in our culture. (Watch: CDC video).

Young people between ages 16-24 are reportedly the loneliest group. (See: BBC Radio 4 survey conclusion).

Loneliness is linked to depression, anxiety, heart disease, substance abuse, and domestic abuse. (Read: Harvard study).

Most recent data collection shows that 44 percent of public-school students are behind in English and Mathematics. (Read: National Center for Education Statistics findings).

Incentives for Teens

  • Awards
  • Friendships
  • Giveaways
  • Leadership Roles
  • Mentorship
  • Networking
  • Recognition
  • Scholarship Locator
  • Study Skills
  • Wish List Achieved

Our Board

Our board members are professionally diverse.  More importantly, they work strategically to ensure that activities and transactions are advancing RULE's mission.

Although nonprofit organizations in the State of New Jersey have the capacity to seat 10 members on their board, RULE has six members, three of whom are officers.

Our board members oversee the efficient use of program assets.  In addition, they assure the government and the public that the organization is functioning in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Our Board of Trustees

Rising Urban Leaders Enterprise (RULE)

Keith B. Allen, Esq.

Treasurer
Linden, NJ

Keith B. Allen, Esq.

Keith Barrington Allen, Esq. is an associate attorney at Hobson-Williams, P.C. in Jamaica Estates, New York and practices primarily in the area of Elder Law and Trust & Estates. Prior to working at Hobson-Williams, P.C., Keith worked as an anti-money laundering compliance analyst at Citibank and was a law clerk for the Hon. Margaret M. Hayden, J.S.C. in Newark, NJ.

Keith is a 2004 graduate of The College of New Jersey where he was a leader and supervisor in the school’s successful Minority Mentoring Program.

Keith has served in other leadership capacities in non-profit organizations and in his church. He is honored to serve on the Board of Directors for R.U.L.E. and to bring his leadership experience to the organization.

Currently, Keith lives in Linden, NJ with his wife Annette Allen.

About
Rising Urban Leaders Enterprise (RULE)

Linda A. Hicks, M.Ed.

President
Paterson, NJ

Linda A. Hicks, M.Ed.

Bio coming soon.

About
Rising Urban Leaders Enterprise (RULE)

 Eric R. Null, B.F.A.

Secretary
High Ridge, MO

Eric R. Null

Eric is an online marketer and web developer based in the St. Louis area. He is from Huntington, West Virginia, where he attended Marshall University. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a minor in business management. Eric spent much of his career in the Lexington, Kentucky area where he worked in the newspaper industry and served on the board of directors of the Lexington Advertising Club for two years while there.

In 2012 he moved to the St. Louis area and founded the company Digital Design of St. Louis where he currently works, manages daily activities, sales and design projects.

About
Rising Urban Leaders Enterprise (RULE)

Councilman Robert L. Artis


Prospect Park, NJ

Councilman Robert L. Artis

Bio coming soon.

About
Rising Urban Leaders Enterprise (RULE)

Dr. Stephanie D. Taylor, PhD


Annandale, NJ

Dr. Stephanie D. Taylor

Bio coming soon.

About
Rising Urban Leaders Enterprise (RULE)

Edward A. Jones Sr.


Kearny, NJ

Edward A. Jones Sr.

Edward's desire for economic awareness inspired him to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities that led to financial control and leadership positions.  Raised in Newark, New Jersey, he has developed the street-smart experience and knowledge to deal with challenges and dangers of life in urban neighborhoods.

Currently, Edward owns and operates Royalty Limousine LLC.  In addition, he is a partner at Property Solutions Real Estate in New Jersey.

He attended Centenary College where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management.

Edward's work experience include former Verizon Wireless technician for 25 years and former Project Manager in Information Technology for the last nine years.

He is the father of two sons, Edward Jr. and Jordan.  And he and his family live in Kearny, NJ.

About
Mr. Abdoulaye Sanogo

Abdoulaye Sanogo, M.E.

Executive Director 
Brooklyn, NY

Abdoulaye Sanogo, M.E.

Educational background includes Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering with concentration in Energy Systems from Columbia University, plus, Bachelor of Arts in Physics and Political Science from Amherst College in Massachusetts. 

Aspiration is to start a global engineering firm with an emphasis on the development of infrastructure in Africa.  In addition, I aspire to put myself in a position to help others that started out in life the way I did.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/abdoul-san2/ 

About
Rising Urban Leaders Enterprise (RULE)

Denise R. Blackwood

Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Paterson, NJ

Denise R. Blackwood

Denise brings two decades of parenting experience to her role as Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Rising Urban Leaders Enterprise.  Beyond parenting, her roles as flight attendant for one of the world's largest airlines, reporter for a mainstream newspaper, and president of a student leadership organization inspired her to pilot a program that gives value to young people.

As a newspaper reporter, she published articles that often spotlighted residents, including a drug addict who overcame adversity and seniors who ate poorly before getting assistance with meals.  Also, in her early days of reporting, Denise served the community as an obituary writer at the North Jersey Herald & News.  Her reporting experience sparked her desire for helping people to succeed.    

Denise has held varying roles of responsibility.  She was inducted into Howard University's Chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) in August 2015.  One year later, the council recognized her work ethic and chose her to join its student executive board.  In 2017, she was promoted to the highest student position within the organization, 4th president of Howard's NSLS Chapter.  Today, Denise is an active member of the Learning Guild which is a division of the NSLS that oversees the continued success of its curriculum and content.     

Currently, she maintains memberships in The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Airline Pilot and Owners Association (AOPA), and The National Society of Leadership and Success.

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