Our History
Our founder, Tanya was born in Nebraska and raised in the farmland of Missouri

In the Beginning
Our founder's interest in refugee resettlement grew

2021
Original Rise Together team, Rodrigo, Tanya, and Tramaine bonded over their interest in helping the community thrive through workforce development
The team searched for a "home" for Rise Together and Ohio becomes part of the narrative


Spring 2021
2021
Our founder Tanya returns to the Midwest and Rise Together is launched in Northeast Ohio
Rise Together turns one and works to create a welcoming workforce for international newcomers through the development of policies, coalitions and workshops

2022

2023 - Present
Our History
Our founder, Tanya was born in Nebraska and raised in the farmland of Missouri

In the Beginning
Our founder's interest in refugee resettlement grew

2020
Original Rise Together team, Rodrigo, Tanya, and Tramaine bonded over their interest in helping the community thrive through workforce development
The team searched for a "home" for Rise Together and Ohio becomes part of the narrative

Spring 2021

2021
Our founder Tanya returns to the Midwest and Rise Together is launched in Northeast Ohio

2022
Rise Together turns one and works to create a welcoming workforce for international newcomers through the development of policies, coalitions and workshops

2023 - Present
Meet Our Team

Founder & Managing Principal
Tanya Budler
A people-centric problem solver, Tanya started her career in the private sector by building global youth programs, orchestrating international events, and leading workshops across eight countries.
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Her career has since expanded into government, serving as an Economic and Social Recovery Fellow in the Office of the Governor of Connecticut.
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Inspired by the immense potential at the intersection of public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Tanya made a bold move to Northeast Ohio to establish Rise Together. Armed with a B.A. from Dartmouth College and an Ed.M. from Harvard Graduate School of Education, she strives to drive change by creating thriving excosystems that harness the power of international newcomers.

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Kiern
​Originally from Singapore, Kiern is a driven and globally-minded individual with a passion for fostering cross-cultural understanding and addressing pressing global challenges. Driven by the belief that meaningful change arises from connecting diverse perspectives, she actively seeks to forge strong relationships and expand her network, so do reach out to connect!

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Juan Peña
Juan Peña believes his journey is a testament to the power of determination and dreams. Hailing from Puerto Rico, he embodies the resilience instilled by his immigrant parents. Juan worked in government as a congressional intern before pivoting to finance and economic development at KeyBank and TeamNEO.
As a musician, Juan stands at the intersection of business and creativity, driven by a purposeful vision. Juan envisions a world where borders hold no boundaries, where every dreamer finds their chance to thrive

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Ellie
​Ellie hails from Dayton, Ohio, and recently moved to Cleveland to pursue her Master of Social Work degree from Case Western Reserve University. She spent the past two years in Columbus serving with City Year, an AmeriCorps nonprofit organization focused on educational equity and increased graduation rates in public schools. She is excited to integrate social work practices into welcoming newcomers to the Cleveland area with Rise Together.