Formerly known as the Somali Bantu Community Association (SBCA), RISE was founded by Somali Bantu refugees in 2004 to ease the transition of other members of the resettled Somali Bantu community living in Onondaga County. RISE was established at the beginning of 2016. RISE’s mission is to advocate and promote self-sufficiency through employment, education, social support and economic independence for members of the refugee and immigrant communities in Onondaga County.