RISE 12: A Night of Stories, Laughter, and Music
Friday, September 12, 2025 | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Gibson Community Music Hall – Appleton, WI | Ages 21+
Join us for RISE 12, an unforgettable evening of storytelling, comedy, spoken word, and live music — celebrating Rise Together’s golden 12-year anniversary. This special night honors over a decade of impact, community, and resilience.
Together, we’ll reflect on the journeys we’ve taken, the hope we’ve shared, and the young people we’ve empowered across Wisconsin and beyond.
Event Schedule
5:00 PM – Doors Open
Mocktails, food, raffles, and a lively social hour to connect before the show.
5:30 PM – 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 — a deeply personal look at healing, leadership, and turning pain into purpose. nadinespeaks.com
6:00 PM – “No Sleep to Madness”
Anthony Alvarado × 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 – 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 Men’s Health, Kody’s story of rising from incarceration and living with schizophrenia is inspiring.
kodygreen.com | kodygreencomedy.com
7:15 PM – RISE Reflections
A moment to pause and celebrate 12 years of impact and growth together.
7:45 PM – Headliner: Femdot
Chicago’s Femdot (Femi Adigun) closes the night with a high-energy set of truth, lyrical brilliance, and community roots. More than a hip-hop artist, he’s 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 — 100% support Rise Together’s youth-led school programming. A small processing fee applies.
Learn more at weallrisetogether.org
#RISE12 #RISETogether #GoldenAnniversary #YouthVoicesMatter #BreakTheSilence #AppletonEvents
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