Rise Up Leadership Academy
RULA
A Place to Belong
Rise Up Leadership Academy (RULA) is a year-round program that offers a fun, safe, and supportive space where youth can grow, lead, and belong. Launched in August 2024 in partnership with the City Heights community, RULA began with an inaugural cohort of twenty-four fifth-grade students.
Our mission is to support at-risk youth by providing integrated academic, social, and emotional support that builds belonging and resilience and leads to high school graduation with a plan.
12
In San Diego, most youth who join a gang do so by age 12.[1] RULA works with students early—before they reach this age—to prevent them from getting involved in gangs.
Our Program
Our structured program offers daily enrichment, including sports, recreation, tutoring and academic support, life skills workshops, STEM projects, special guest speakers, field trips, and social-emotional learning (SEL) activities. Our dedicated team also connects students and their families to local resources and community events.
We provide in-house mental health services through a collaborative care approach to students and caretakers.
Students have opportunities to give back to their community, develop leadership skills, and enjoy a safe, welcoming space where they can relax, eat, and feel a strong sense of belonging alongside friends and caring adults.
We operate Monday through Friday during after-school hours, with occasional Saturday opportunities. In addition, we offer programming during school breaks and throughout the summer.
Meet the Team
We are a team of passionate, enthusiastic people from diverse backgrounds, many of whom come directly from the neighborhood we serve. Together, we create a community built on shared experience, leadership, and genuine care.
At RULA, we maintain a low staff-to-student ratio to ensure individualized attention, high-quality programming, and creating a safe space for students to belong.
Our Director of Gang Prevention and Alumni Mike Lucero brings deep personal commitment and lived experience that closely mirrors the journeys of our students. This shared understanding creates trust, empathy, and meaningful connection at the heart of our program.
- Criminal Justice Clearinghouse, “Gang Association Among San Diego Arrestees,” December 2019.
