OUR LETTER

Dear friends:

As a teacher for over two decades, I have come to understand that all of us have greatness within, and the right education can serve to maximize our incredible potential.

I am currently teaching service learning in the Haight-Ashbury area of San Francisco. I have had the privilege of working for small and big schools, public and private, urban and suburban, nationally and internationally.

In 2017, I bought a camera, some mics and headed to South Africa. I wanted to understand the specific obstacles schools are facing there while also highlighting individuals who are swimming upstream against systemic structures of oppression to make impacts, both big and small.

Then, I was extremely fortunate to meet filmmaker, Bradley Rayford. He is an artist and a natural storyteller who learned his technical skill from his father while growing up near St. Louis, Missouri. He became highly active in social justice projects during the Ferguson protests of 2014. Since then he has worked on various projects, most notably For Ahkeem 2017 and, recently, Gumbo Coalition, 2022.

So, we combined visions and skill sets to both support educational impact programs and collect and share stories that inspire.

We have collaborated with many talented people thus far, including Shari Mwanika, Johnahan and Katie Robbins, Walter, Danielle Mockey, Tyler Small, Paul Byun, Shavanne Harker (KC), and Connor Gorman. We are also extremely fortunate to have teaching mentor, Jackie Carnow, spearheading our impact programs.

Today, the Rising Tides team is excited to continue this work. Come on this journey with us. We will explore how communities and their young people are becoming the changemakers the world needs, while we collectively support key impact programs in Cape Flats schools.

Jeremiah Rosenfels
Founder

A special thank you to:

The Rosenfels Family, Dr. Mike Hainstock, The Carlson Family: Thank you for your support of this project and all that your belief in its importance. 

Lydia Abel: You made the South African project possible. We are all indebted to you opening the right doors and offering us guidance. 

World Affairs Council of Charlotte: Thank you for believing in and helping sponsor this project. 

Jackie Carnow: For taking the lead in the implementation of key Impact Programs

Providence Day School Community: For encouraging and supporting the project

Education without Borders: Collaborating with you has already made differences in our collective projects