About Us

Training and education delivered with Respect, Integrity, Service, and Equity.

RISE Partnership staff member shaking hands with a trustee

We stand for workers.

We deliver outstanding training, education, and benefit navigation to care providers and public sector workers, with a focus on equity and worker-employer collaboration.

Our History

RISE Partnership formed in 2019, when leaders of three labor-management trusts decided to create an entity that would improve delivery of training and benefits, leveraging coordination and resources for the best worker experience.

Working together has proven to be a huge success! Today, RISE’s educational mission overlaps with those of six labor-management trusts and goes much further: Our mission is to be the leading nonprofit, adult-education organization in Oregon by delivering outstanding training and education to care providers and public sector workers, with a focus on equity and worker-employer collaboration.

RISE is committed to the principles of respect, integrity, service, and equity. We are proud to lead in creating high-quality, family-sustaining jobs in Oregon’s long-term care and public service sectors, where workers not only gain valuable skills but also the opportunity to join their union.

Board Members

  • Melissa Unger, President/Treasurer
  • Katie Coombes, Executive Director
  • Joy’e Willman, Secretary
  • Cristal DeJarnac, Director

Our Team

Our team members are passionate about supporting workers.