the rising tide STORY

Our Story

Don't Talk About It

Be About It

The lack of opportunities for young people in our community has persisted for a long time. It has become especially pronounced in recent years. Instead of pointing fingers and complaining, we took action to be part of the solution. 

In late 2020, we acquired a vacant school that no one else wanted. We publicly shared our bold vision to transform it into a vibrant Youth & Community Center. With the support of a few believers, we rallied together and got to work.

Over the course of the past three years, we have diligently built our own independent sources of revenue to ensure that we are fully self-funded. This has allowed us to remain untainted by local agendas or politics that could compromise the integrity of the project and its purpose.

It was with this same mindset that we carefully crafted a board of directors  deeply rooted to the community, and unwavering in their fierce stewardship of this community resource that we have created.

OUR BUILDING & Renovation

Roosevelt Junior High School

Built in the early 1920's, Roosevelt Junior High School served in this original purpose until 1983, when it was turned into a "do-it-all" building for the Beloit School District. Over the years this included administrative offices, an alternative school, early childhood learning (Head Start), school board meetings, and even a food pantry.

After neighborhood opposition derailed efforts by the school district to sell the building to apartment developers, it was auctioned off to the public in late 2020.

With a background in construction, we immediately recognized the potential of this building upon walking through. Its bones were in better shape than had been portrayed, and it was located in a dense residential neighborhood lacking in opportunities for local youth. We didn't know how we'd fund it, but we knew it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. As long as we worked within the existing zoning, occupancy, and layout of the building; we believed we could figure it out.

Through grit and entrepreneurship, we created the needed revenue streams by 2021. Our small team started tackling the decades of deferred maintenance that had accrued. For scope, we completed the sports complex out back in four months. We've been grinding away on repairs inside for eighteen months. This has included adding long overdue life and safety systems such as proper fire alarm and sprinkler systems.

Beloit is one of a kind and we felt our building needed to be the same. We hired local teens to cover the interior of the building with murals. None of whom had any prior mural experience. They started on the 3rd floor and have slowly worked their way down to cover the entire building. These kids have positioned themselves to travel the country doing what they love for the rest of their lives, getting paid very handsomely in the process. When you walk through the building and see their portfolio, you'll understand why.

Our youth have endless potential. All they need is someone to believe in them and give them an opportunity. These young muralists are a perfect example. Now with renovation almost complete, we'll be able to do exactly that with hundreds of kids each and every day.