RiseUP was founded in 2012 as a youth development and mentoring program aimed at helping youth develop the skills needed to be the catalysts that inspire and uplift their community. We launched RiseUP University as an after-school and weekend program that connected youth with mentors and career coaches. The program also required youth to commit to community service. In 2015, the RiseUP University youth cohort decided to paint a large-mural in Hartford as part of their major service project. After that first mural, the Hartford Murals program was born. RiseUP has branded itself as RiseUP for Arts and has grown to be the State of Connecticut's only state-wide public art nonprofit. In addition to public art, RiseUP for Arts is still focused on youth development in each community mural project. RiseUP also partners and organizes creative placemaking experiences across Connecticut
