Indigenous Survivors Lead

Rise in Love Foundation

Indigenous Survivors Lead

Lasting Systemic Policy Change Guided by Meaningful Lived Experience , Systems Theory & Reverse Engineering

The Rise in Love Foundation headquarter team resides in the Southwest, primarily Northern New Mexico and Colorado

USA

Other, including part of a larger organization (please explain below)

RILF is fiscally sponsored by The Hack Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3).

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Rise in Love Foundation (RILF) seeks to address the epidemic of human trafficking and Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP), a crisis that is deeply felt both globally and in our own communities. New Mexico—where RILF is based—has one of the highest MMIP case rates in the U.S. Albuquerque consistently ranks among the top cities for MMIP cases, and 85% of Indigenous women in New Mexico have experienced violence in their lifetime (CSVANW, 2020). This crisis is fueled by systemic racism, poverty, intergenerational trauma, and jurisdictional failures. Across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and South America, Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people are targeted and often overlooked by law enforcement. Globally, over 50 million people are living in modern slavery, with Indigenous communities at heightened risk due to displacement, environmental exploitation, and lack of protections. Despite these alarming statistics, data remains incomplete. The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS) and other advocates continue to push for visibility, justice, and culturally relevant solutions. RILF responds through an Indigenous Survivor Leadership Model rooted in healing, safety, and culture. By uplifting survivors as leaders and restoring community-led systems of care, we are interrupting cycles of violence and reclaiming our future.

Rise in Love Foundation (RILF) has developed an Indigenous Survivor Leadership Model that is culturally rooted, survivor-led, and community-driven. Our solution blends traditional healing with modern tools to prevent human trafficking and MMIP, while restoring safety, power, and self-determination in Indigenous communities. Through immersive trainings, we engage survivors in culturally grounded wellness practices, advocacy development, self-defense, and the arts. These gatherings cultivate identity, resilience, and leadership. Our intergenerational approach strengthens connections between youth and elders, creating a sacred space where lived experience is honored as expertise. We are expanding this model by incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance cultural preservation, safety planning, and resource access. We envision an AI-powered virtual safe space offering wellness prompts, crisis support, and cultural storytelling archives—accessible 24/7, especially for rural and digitally isolated communities. AI can also support data gathering and analysis while protecting community autonomy and privacy. This solution meets survivors where they are—on the land, online, and in the heart of the community. It doesn’t just respond to harm; it transforms it. By combining Indigenous knowledge systems with cutting-edge technology, we are creating scalable, sustainable solutions led by those most impacted and most capable of leading us forward.

Rise in Love Foundation (RILF) prioritizes Indigenous survivors, families, and communities—on reservations, reserves, in rural and urban areas—who have long been underserved, criminalized, and overlooked in systems meant to protect them. We center those most impacted by human trafficking, violence, and systemic oppression, including Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and LGBTQIA+ people. While our model is rooted in Indigenous knowledge and cultural safety, it is intentionally inclusive. Survivors from all backgrounds—Native and non-Native—benefit from our holistic approach, which integrates healing, leadership, and systems transformation. Our Intersectional Professional Trainings are designed to reach service providers, advocates, and institutions seeking to expand their capacity with culturally responsive, trauma-informed, survivor-led practices. Our Indigenous Survivor Leadership Model doesn't just fill service gaps—it creates entirely new pathways for safety, sovereignty, and strength. This model has gained international recognition; UN attorneys and delegates have affirmed that this is the leadership they’ve been waiting for: Indigenous-led, practical solutions rooted in cultural knowledge and capable of addressing global challenges. Our work offers not just intervention—but transformation. By restoring leadership to those most impacted, we are building a world where survivors become protectors, culture-bearers, and architects of safer, more connected communities for all.