Each year, more than 60,000 students engage with the NRF Foundation’s RISE Up training and credentialing. RISE Up allows students to take what they learned, apply it in their lives, and continue to grow their careers, turning the places they shop into the places they work.
There are some RISE Up training partners who take this mission to heart and connect their students with retailers and businesses in their communities. The School District of Philadelphia is one of those partners, earning the title of RISE Up Partner of the Year in 2023. The students in Philadelphia are not only given the certification but are given real experience running their student store, which they can take with them into job interviews and their first real world experiences.
In 2023, we met Savannah, one of the students who took RISE Up in Philadelphia and subsequently was hired at Taco Bell. She was told she could be a manager by 20, but she told us at the time her goal was to earn the title by age 19.
We caught up with Savannah last month, and we were excited to learn she now runs the student farm stands for Fox Chase Farm Store, the same stores she worked in while taking RISE Up. Dr. Mandy Manna, proprietor of Fox Chase Farms and principal of the demonstration farm, hired Savannah due to her certification and her experience. Savannah told us, “the skills I've acquired enhanced my understanding of business operations, giving me a significant advantage.”
Savannah told us about a path she hadn’t envisioned when she first took RISE Up, “In my current role, I primarily work in the school district building where I collaborate with students to help them promote the products we sell at the store. These products come from the farm or are made by students from various schools.”
We asked Savannah what she loved about the program and the industry that keeps her engaged and returning for the students. “RISE Up is an important program for students to have access to because it provides a deeper understanding of how things function. The additional experiences enhance understanding and skills in ways that formal education alone may not provide. What I love about the retail industry is the opportunity to interact with others and connect with them, which opens a world of diverse perspectives on life.”
Working with students and the student-run stores gives Savannah the opportunity to pass on the training and opportunities given to her. “I find joy in witnessing the growth of those around me, even if they surpass my own achievements.”
I find joy in witnessing the growth of those around me, even if they surpass my own achievements.
