RISE 12: A Night of Stories, Laughter, and Music
Friday, September 12, 2025 | 5:00 PM β 9:00 PM
Gibson Community Music Hall β Appleton, WI | Ages 21+
Join us for RISE 12, an unforgettable evening of storytelling, comedy, spoken word, and live music β celebrating Rise Togetherβs golden 12-year anniversary. This special night honors over a decade of impact, community, and resilience.
Together, weβll reflect on the journeys weβve taken, the hope weβve shared, and the young people weβve empowered across Wisconsin and beyond.
Event Schedule
5:00 PM β Doors Open
Mocktails, food, raffles, and a lively social hour to connect before the show.
5:30 PM β Welcome + First Public Reading by Nadine Machkovech
Founder and Executive Director of Rise Together
Nadine opens with reflections on twelve years of purpose-driven work, followed by a first-ever public reading from her upcoming book β a deeply personal look at healing, leadership, and turning pain into purpose. nadinespeaks.com
6:00 PM β βNo Sleep to Madnessβ
Anthony Alvarado Γ Alex Schotten
A soul-stirring spoken-word and music collaboration about rising from the dark, blending poetry and sound to tell an unfiltered story of recovery, pain, and hope.
Lifted Poets Society & anthonyalvarado.com
6:30 PM β Comedian Kody Green
Mental health advocate and stand-up comic Kody Green breaks stigma through laughter. With over a million followers and features in Newsweek and Menβs Health, Kodyβs story of rising from incarceration and living with schizophrenia is inspiring.
kodygreen.com | kodygreencomedy.com
7:15 PM β RISE Reflections
A moment to pause and celebrate 12 years of impact and growth together.
7:45 PM β Headliner: Femdot
Chicagoβs Femdot (Femi Adigun) closes the night with a high-energy set of truth, lyrical brilliance, and community roots. More than a hip-hop artist, heβs a mentor, nonprofit founder, and bold voice in conscious rap.
Emcee for the Night: Tamra Oman
Advocate and community leader Tamra Oman guides the flow of the evening.
Ticket Details
VIP Seating: $40 (premium seating + early entry)
Advance General Admission: $25
General Admission at the Door: $30
Donations welcome β 100% support Rise Togetherβs youth-led school programming. A small processing fee applies.
Learn more at weallrisetogether.org
#RISE12 #RISETogether #GoldenAnniversary #YouthVoicesMatter #BreakTheSilence #AppletonEvents
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