Our Story
Raising A Village Foundation began as the vision of Jaleesa Hall, who started the college initiative Driven Student Organization on the campus of Clark Atlanta University. Driven launched in 2010 as a campus-chartered organization that is committed to providing college students with high standard scholastic achievement opportunities, community engagement, and leadership skills. Serving an audience of 10,000+ college students, Driven made tremendous strides in the community by implementing monthly topical symposiums, the Truth or Dare AIDS and HIV Awareness Campaign, and the Driven 2 Succeed program at the Atlanta Children’s Shelter. Due to the success of Driven, in 2017, Jaleesa Hall expanded the student organization and its initiatives by founding the Raising A Village Foundation in Washington, D.C.
Since its incorporation, Raising A Village Foundation has made tremendous strides across the DC metropolitan area, serving over 2,000 students in Wards 1, 6, 7, and 8 as well as Takoma Park, Maryland. Through its Driven 2 Succeed educational initiative, RAV has seen 80% of students show positive grade increases, 85% of students have perfect attendance, and 92% complete all homework and classwork assignments on time. These statistics illustrate the program’s power to increase academic achievement, decrease disconnection and put students on the pathway to productive citizenship.
Raising A Village has also created corporate and government partnerships in the DMV area with organizations like Communities in Schools Nation’s Capital, D.C. Public Schools, CityTutor DC, Monumental Sports & the Washington Mystics, CityBridge Education, Enterprise Community Development, Fair Chance Incorporated, MENTOR Maryland | DC, The American Experience Foundation, and the Dept of Education’s Federal Work Study Program. In 2022, RAV was recognized as a National Partner for Student Success Champion by the United States Department of Education for its role in helping to close the learning gap caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We take pride in serving as a bridge between higher education institutions and K-12 schools, which provides local college students with the opportunity to serve as near-peer tutors, changemakers, and mentors. Raising A Village is committed to providing high-quality intervention programs and community resources to children, youth, and families in the areas of education, health and wellness, and the arts.”
Jaleesa Hall, Founder/CEO
RAV functions as a direct response to the issues that prevail in low-income areas. Raising A Village leads several key initiatives designed to create positive change for children and families in underserved communities. Each program offers support and educational opportunities that promote personal growth and civic engagement. These initiatives include: Driven 2 Succeed, At the Table, and We the Village.
Our three signature pillars: Education, Health and Wellness, and the Arts; are indistinguishably linked together. Raising A Village Foundation begins with the recognition of education, but understands that health and wellness along with the arts can help an underserved community and its residents realize their full potential. Under the direction of the three pillars, RAV has established distinct programs to reach this goal. Each program offers support and educational opportunities that promote personal growth and civic engagement.
Our Vision
To see a world where all communities flourish with long-term sustainable solutions.
Our Motto
Reach. Teach. Inspire.
Our Pillars
Education. Health and Wellness. Arts.
Our Goals
To create pathways of opportunity for the region’s most vulnerable areas, in an effort to improve community conditions and effectively help families and children reach their full potential.
To become a primary resource for developing partnerships, services, and opportunities for underserved children and families in the DC metropolitan area and the United States.