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About Us

Built by Community.
Led with Heart.

Real, lasting change happens when a community supports its own. We build the environments — physical, emotional, and spiritual — where that can happen.

Our Mission

To empower families in need by providing holistic support that goes beyond financial assistance. Through guidance, mental health resources, financial education, and trauma recovery programs, we inspire individuals to believe in themselves and take actionable steps toward a brighter future. By collaborating with local schools, churches, and government agencies, we aim to identify and uplift families who need encouragement and a pathway to thrive.

Our Vision

To create a community where every family has the tools, support, and confidence to overcome past challenges, embrace their potential, and build a sustainable and fulfilling future. Through partnerships and impactful programs, we envision a world where action and compassion drive meaningful transformation.

What We Stand For

Our Core Values

Compassion

Meeting families exactly where they are. No judgment. Practical, immediate help first.

Recovery

Intentional environments designed to help families stabilize, breathe, and plan forward.

Integrity

Transparent leadership built from people who have lived the experience firsthand.

Education

Real tools, not temporary relief — financial literacy, leadership, parenting support.

The People Behind It

Led by Lived Experience.

Portrait of Darlene Smarra, Co-Founder & President

Darlene Smarra

Co-Founder & President

Drawing from her experience as a teen mother, Darlene builds resilience in young families. Her background in wellness anchors the organization's approach to trauma and recovery.

I am a woman shaped by resilience, faith, and deep love for family. I became a mother as a teenager, carrying forward a legacy of strength from two generations of teen moms before me. Despite the odds, I've been blessed to raise four beautiful children, and I now hold the joyful title of grandmother to two. I married young—and I'm still happily married today. Through every challenge and every chapter, I've learned that young families don't just need support—they need spaces where they can feel seen, safe, and equipped to thrive.

Professionally, I've worked in the travel and wellness space, helping people move from one destination to another—physically and emotionally. But Rising Together is more than a program. It's a promise: that no matter where you come from or what's in your past, you are worthy of healing, community, and a future filled with possibility.

Portrait of Dontai Blount, Vice President

Dontai Blount

Vice President

A faith-driven entrepreneur focused on the strategic development of the Rising Together Village. Dontai champions Christ-centered transformation and board culture.

Dontai Blount is a faith-driven leader, entrepreneur, and servant of God who is passionate about helping individuals and families experience true transformation through Christ-centered guidance and community. As Vice President of Rising Together Inc., he partners closely with the President and board to steward the organization's mission, ensuring that every initiative reflects both practical impact and spiritual purpose.

Rooted in his calling to ministry and leadership, Dontai brings a vision-oriented mindset to the organization's future—most notably the development of the “Rising Together Village,” a 5-acre transitional housing community in Lake Alfred designed to restore lives, strengthen families, and provide a pathway toward stability and purpose.

Dontai is deeply committed to pouring into the next generation, with a heart for youth and families navigating life's challenges. He helps guide program development and community events that not only meet practical needs but also create opportunities for healing, growth, and Christ-centered transformation.

He is also passionate about building people, not just programs—playing a key role in developing a unified, purpose-driven board culture where each leader understands their role in advancing God's vision for the organization.

As a dedicated ambassador throughout Polk County, Dontai actively builds relationships with community leaders, businesses, and supporters to expand the reach and impact of Rising Together Inc. His leadership is grounded in faith, obedience, and a deep belief that lasting change happens when people encounter both truth and love.

Portrait of Vanessa Alvarado, Co-Founder & Secretary

Vanessa Alvarado

Co-Founder & Secretary

As a doula and owner of Life & Legacy Provisions, Vanessa brings organizational strategy and safety nets for families navigating complex life transitions.

I am a woman shaped by experience, guided by faith, and driven by the unshakable belief that all things are possible through Christ. My journey began in the quiet strength of single motherhood—navigating divorce, heartbreak, and the challenge of financially supporting two children while rebuilding our lives from the ground up. Through every storm, it was my faith that pulled me through. And with each step forward, I began to see how deeply families—especially young and struggling ones—need more than just resources. They need strategy, safety, and structure. They need spaces to heal, to grow, and to feel seen.

Professionally, I've poured my heart into service-based work that empowers others: as a doula, notary, and event planner. Today, those callings live under Life & Legacy Provisions—a business born from passion, purpose, and the desire to help others thrive through life's transitions. Rising Together was created from a place of empathy and vision. I know what it means to start over, to feel alone, and to need a hand you can trust. This isn't just a program. It's a promise—to every family who walks through our doors—that they are worthy of healing, community, and a future filled with hope. I'm a problem solver by nature and a mother by grace. And I'm here to make sure families don't just survive—but truly rise.

Ready to help build this?

Every dollar goes directly to programs and the 2027 Village.

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Our Sponsors & Partners

Publix
Haven Worship Center
Bojangles
Blount Tech
Legible Studio
Steve's Customize and Engrave
Heart4WH
Phoenix Rejuvenation Spa
Publix
Haven Worship Center
Bojangles
Blount Tech
Legible Studio
Steve's Customize and Engrave
Heart4WH
Phoenix Rejuvenation Spa
Publix
Haven Worship Center
Bojangles
Blount Tech
Legible Studio
Steve's Customize and Engrave
Heart4WH
Phoenix Rejuvenation Spa