We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rise Powell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rise below.
Rise, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
The biggest risk I’ve ever taken was on myself. As young adult sitting on her bed in Riverside, CA wondering … what next? What else could go wrong? Financial aid has fallen through after working your butt off to get into your dream school, your first car as an adult totaled after your “Ex” boyfriend tried to kill you and end your journey before it even began. Little did I know in one split second, a risk would change the entire trajectory of my life! What some may say was young and dumb, I say it was Holy Spirit-led, A thought to go to NYC with $100 and a dream. A dream bigger than most people around me could comprehend, that an underprivileged, abused, looked past, bullied little girl would Rise from the ashes into a phoenix all because she took a risk on herself.
I trusted that feeling you get when you have no idea what’s next but, you KNOW you cannot stay where you are, that feeling that scares you but you KNOW you have to act on. In hinge sight it was terrifying, but in the moment it was my only option and I embraced every second of it. I moved to New York City at 18 years old with $100, a suitcase, and a dream that is now my reality. A dream to become a Model, Actress, and Creative Entrepreneur, and with that I found my purpose. I am now all of those things plus the proud owner of Rise N’ Bake a home bakery, and A speaker who gets the opportunity to share her testimony and inspire others to take a risk on themselves and see the true wonders life has to show them. I don’t know what my life would’ve been like if I stayed, but I’m grateful I got to find out what was on the other side of that risk. If you need a sign to take a Risk on yourself, just remember life without risk is no life at all.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Rise like SunRise is normally what I’d say if we were speaking face to face. I am a vessel of the lords light that shines bright in every room I walk through. I’ve been told my smile and joy are contagious, and I do my best to bring my light, skill set, and joy into everything I do. I come from a big family with a total of 9 siblings, so yes there is 10 of us. Growing up in a big family and being the oldest sister in the house gave me the opportunity to become resilient. I had to find my light, my voice and so on as an old after dimming my light for the sake of others. Im currently based out of NYC , but I’m definitely on a plane traveling somewhere every opportunity that may arise.
What do I do exactly? Some may say I do it all, a Speaker, a Baker, an Actress, a Model and so much more. As a young woman who has dealt with the trials and tribulations of life from domestic voilence, grief, heartbreak and so on. I’ve been equipped with the opportunity to teach others how to overcome trauma, pain, depression, and anxiety and Rise to their full potential through healing your inner child, acts of service, journaling and other tools. I have been an advocate for mental health for many years, as a actress and creator I’ve used my platform to share my journey of sobriety, heartbreak, abuse etc. and inspire others to heal on theirs. I’ve had the oppurtunity to host for Seventeen Magazine, Speak on panels, host NYFW shows, My own mini talk show series on Ibble called “The Rise”. All this to say I’d love to connect in way, may it be you are wanting to make a change in your life and need some motivation, you are trying to srat a small business and have no idea where to even begin, you need some extra joy from christ in your life, or you need a speaker for an event feel free to follow me on all platforms @risepowell or email me at [email protected] and reach out.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
One story in particular that illustrates my resilience is the story of my two brothers and my greatest heartbreak. My oldest brother was sentenced to life in prison for a crime he did not commit and my brother below him passed away in a tragic car accident within the same year. This broke me and the lord rebuilt me. I was alone in a city and I knew no one. I suffered from grief as one of my best friends was gone without even a goodbye. I sent every penny I had back home to pay for hotels for my family to stay in, due to my mom losing her housing because of the situation at hand. My little sisters, brother and mother had become homeless and I felt helpless. While pursuing my dreams and healing from the greatest heartbreak of my life I picked up a bar job, a bottle service job and acting jobs and sent every penny home. I lived as if I had nothing so they could have everything, no one around me could tell. I started drinking a lot to cope with the pain, i still wanted to share my life by & before I knew it I had convinced myself alcohol was my light. I believed in my heart I would be able to bring my brother home, I spent years of my life making connections, paying for attorneys, praying just to have door after door closed in my face. While he’s still in prison, I did not let it break me or my family, I held It together to hold them together when life hit us harder than we could take. While my brothers daughter may never have the opportunity to see the father he could’ve been, I show up for her, I throw he birthday parties, I show her that love. While my brother may have not got to chase his dreams I chase mine and make him proud, and while my family may still be struggling they know we will always have each other and we continue to hold our heads high. I’ve devoted myself to the lord and letting him lead my life into the purpose he has for me. I can proudly say with that I’ve been given the strength to leave old habits behind and I am now 1 year sober and feeling more resilient then ever. Resilience is more than strength its what’s in your heart that keeps you going. I didn’t give up, I am still standing and I still believe my brother will come home. Until then I’ll keep fighting, I’ll keep healing and I’ll keep sharing just how resilient I am.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I’ve had to pivot many times in my life, one particular moment was in 2020 when I had to pivot in my career due to the pandemic. My resources were exhausted, I could not receive unemployment due to being a freelancer, I lived in an apt with 8 people at the time. I was pretty depressed and felt down on myself so I started Rising & Baking Daily. What started out as baking for fun and sharing it with friends, turned into many people raving over how good it was and proposed I sold it. I instantly got an LLC and trademark it for Rise N’ Bake, being that was exactly what I was doing rising and baking and of course it helped that my name is “Rise”. From one moment to the next my little business was booming, not only did it help me stay afloat but it inspired others to find happiness within. Rise N’ Bake is bigger then the dough on the counter, our motto is “The Sweets That Keep You Whole” because we wanted to bring joy and peace into everyone’s life with each bite. I thank God for his guidance and provision on this journey. All glory to him, because I know I didn’t get this far on my own.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/risepowell
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.co/in/risepowell
- Other: https://tiktok.com/risepowell
Image Credits
First image: @willtakespics Second set: @pellumphotpgraphy @portraitblake