From the team of Rise Together: “We’re excited to invite you to Rise Together’s 12th Anniversary Benefit — a night to celebrate everything we’ve built together over the past 12 years!”

This year’s celebration will raise funds to support Rise Together’s peer-led youth programs, school-based storytelling workshops, and community training initiatives across Wisconsin and beyond.

5:00pm – 9:00pm

$25 General Admission (+2.50)
$40 VIP Seating and Perks (+4.00)

Event Schedule
5:00 PM – Doors Open
Mocktails, food, raffles, and a vibrant social hour to connect with the community before the show.

5:30 PM – Welcome + First Public Reading by Nadine Machkovech
Founder and Executive Director of Rise Together
Nadine opens the night with reflections on twelve years of purpose-driven work, followed by a first-ever public reading from her upcoming book — a deeply personal look at healing, leadership, and turning pain into purpose. nadinespeaks.com

6:00 PM – “No Sleep to Madness”
Anthony Alvarado × Alex Schotten
A soul-stirring, spoken-word-meets-music experience about what it means to rise from the dark. This brand-new collaboration blends poetry and sound to tell the unfiltered story of recovery, pain, and hope.
Lifted Poets Society & anthonyalvarado.com

6:30 PM – Comedian Kody Green
Mental health advocate and stand-up comedian Kody Green is breaking stigma through laughter. With over a million followers online and features in Newsweek and Men’s Health, Kody’s story of rising from incarceration and living with schizophrenia is nothing short of inspiring.
kodygreen.com | kodygreencomedy.com

7:15 PM – RISE Reflections
We pause to reflect on 12 years of impact — and how far we’ve come together.

7:45 PM – Headliner: Femdot
Chicago’s own Femdot (Femi Adigun) closes out the night with a high-energy set filled with truth, lyrical brilliance, and deep community roots. He’s not just a hip-hop artist — he’s a mentor, nonprofit founder, and one of the boldest voices in conscious rap today.