501(c)(3) Nonprofit

Helping Students Climb the Ladder of Opportunity

Free workshops. Real skills. Doors opened for the students who need it most.

500+
Students Helped
40+
Workshops Held
6
Community Partners
6
Cities Reached

A world where every young person, regardless of background, has access to the opportunities, skills, and support necessary to reach their full potential.

Ladder Up Vision Statement

0
Students Helped
0
Workshops
0
Community Partners
0
Cities Reached
100%
Free to Students
What We Do

Four Pillars of Opportunity

Every Ladder Up program is designed to give students the skills, voice, and vision to build the life they want.

Career Readiness

Resumes, interviews, networking, and the professional skills that set students apart before they ever enter the workforce.

AI Literacy

Responsible AI use, prompt engineering, AI ethics, and what these tools mean for the careers of tomorrow.

Leadership

Public speaking, debate, civic engagement, and the entrepreneurial mindset every student needs to lead.

Youth Policy

School board advocacy, local policy campaigns, and state-level work including support for AB 1644 and AB 2291.

Our Mission

Bridging the Opportunity Gap

Ladder Up bridges opportunity gaps by equipping underserved youth with the skills, mentorship, resources, and advocacy needed to succeed in school, careers, leadership, and life.

Zip code should never determine destiny. We believe in a level playing field — built one student at a time through free, high-quality programs that open doors and change trajectories.

Opportunity▼
Every student deserves equal access to resources, mentors, and pathways to success regardless of their zip code.
Equity▼
Equity means giving each student what they specifically need to reach the same starting line as everyone else.
Service▼
We lead by serving. Our programs exist for students first, always.
Innovation▼
We use cutting-edge tools like AI to give students skills that matter for the careers of tomorrow.
Leadership▼
Every student has the capacity to lead. We build the skills and confidence to make it real.
Community▼
Real change happens when people come together. We build movements, not just programs.
Our Vision

A world where every young person, regardless of background, has access to the opportunities, skills, and support necessary to reach their full potential.

Ladder Up Vision Statement

Student Voices

What Our Students Say

★★★★★

"I never knew how to talk to adults about my goals. After the career workshop I gave my first real presentation and everyone clapped. I felt like I could do anything."

Maria R.
6th Grade · Santa Ana
★★★★★

"I didn't know what AI was before Ladder Up. Now I use it for homework and my science fair project. My teacher says my writing has gotten so much better."

Jamal T.
7th Grade · Irvine
★★★★★

"Ladder Up made me feel like my voice matters. I went to a school board meeting and spoke. In 6th grade. I didn't think kids like me could do that."

Sofia K.
6th Grade · Garden Grove
In the Room

Students Learning, Growing, Leading

Real moments from Ladder Up workshops.

Rishaan leading a full Ladder Up session with students engaged
Career ReadinessFull workshop session in progress
Students gathered in a community lounge for a Ladder Up session
CommunityStudents at a Boys & Girls Club session
Rishaan Marwaha presenting What is Ladder Up to a group of students
LeadershipIntroducing Ladder Up to new students
Debate and argumentation workshop — Arguments in Action slide visible
Debate & ArgumentationArguments in Action — students practice live
Students seated in classroom for a Ladder Up career readiness workshop
Career ReadinessStudents working through career exercises
Large group of students attending a Ladder Up full session
AI LiteracyFull session — students learning AI fundamentals
As Seen In

Ladder Up in the News

OC Register
OC teen asks California lawmakers to ban smartphones in schools
May 2026
→
CalMatters
CA scales back plan to ban student use of cell phones
May 2026
→
Asm. Muratsuchi
Our founder testifies in the Assembly Education Committee on AB 1644
2026
→
EdSource
How should schools and teachers approach using screens in schools?
2026
→
Join the Movement

Find Your Place in Ladder Up

Students
Grades 6–12

Free online workshops in career readiness, AI, leadership, and policy. Zero cost. Real skills.

Mentors
Volunteer

Share your expertise. Lead a workshop. Mentor a student who needs exactly what you know.

Partners
Organizations

Sponsor workshops, co-host events, or connect your workforce to the next generation of talent.

Chapter Leaders
Expand the Mission

Bring Ladder Up to your school or city. Chapter applications are now open.

Our Network

Community Partners

Working alongside organizations dedicated to youth development.

B&G Club of Garden Grove
Garden Grove, CA
B&G Club of Santa Ana
Santa Ana, CA
B&G Club of Anaheim
Anaheim, CA
B&G Club of Irvine
Irvine, CA
B&G Club of Buena Park
Buena Park, CA
B&G Club of Westminster
Westminster, CA
About Us

Youth-Led. Community-Rooted. Future-Focused.

Ladder Up was founded in 2024 by a high school student who believed every young person deserves a clear path forward, regardless of zip code.

Rishaan Marwaha presenting at a Ladder Up workshop
The Story

How Ladder Up Began

In 2024, Rishaan Marwaha ran his first career readiness workshop at a local Boys & Girls Club. Twelve students showed up. Every single one asked when the next session would be. That moment became an organization.

Ladder Up is now a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving students across six cities, with school district partnerships, state-level legislative advocacy, and a growing chapter network. The mission remains the same: close the opportunity gap, one student at a time.

500+
Students Served
2024
Year Founded
2
Bills Supported
"We're not just teaching resumes. We're teaching students that they belong at the table — and that the table needs them."
2024
The Spark & 501(c)(3) Founded

First career readiness workshop at a local Boys & Girls Club. Twelve students attended — every single one asked when the next session was. Ladder Up officially becomes a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and builds its first school district partnerships.

2025
Legislative Advocacy

Ladder Up formally supports AB 1644 (youth smartphone and education policy) and AB 2291 (AI deepfake protection) at the California state level. The Ladder Up Policy division launches. 500+ students milestone reached.

2026
Going Global

Ladder Up Global launches with chapter applications open. Goal: 10,000 students by 2028.

The Team

People Behind the Mission

We're building an executive team to scale Ladder Up nationally. Six positions are open.

Rishaan Marwaha, Founder and Executive Director
Rishaan Marwaha
Founder & Executive Director

Founded Ladder Up in 2024 to close the opportunity gap for underserved youth everywhere.

View Profile →
OPEN
Director of Programs
Open Position

Design and manage Ladder Up's workshop curriculum across career readiness, AI literacy, and leadership.

OPEN
Director of Policy
Open Position

Lead Ladder Up's legislative advocacy, student policy campaigns, and government partnerships.

OPEN
Director of Partnerships
Open Position

Build relationships with school districts, nonprofits, and corporate partners to expand Ladder Up's reach.

OPEN
Director of Communications
Open Position

Shape Ladder Up's voice, media presence, and storytelling across all channels.

OPEN
Director of Technology
Open Position

Build and maintain the digital infrastructure powering Ladder Up's workshops and global expansion.

Press & Media

Ladder Up in the News

Coverage of Rishaan's advocacy work and Ladder Up's impact on California youth policy.

OC Register
OC teen asks California lawmakers to ban smartphones in schools
May 2026 · Youth Advocacy
→
CalMatters
CA scales back plan to ban student use of cell phones
May 2026 · K-12 Education
→
Assemblymember Muratsuchi
Our founder testifies in the Assembly Education Committee on AB 1644
2026 · California Legislature
→
EdSource
How should schools and teachers approach using screens in schools?
2026 · Education Policy
→
Our Programs

Three Pathways to Climb

Career readiness, policy advocacy, and global leadership — designed for students ready to rise.

Academy

Ladder Up Academy

Career readiness and workforce development for middle and high school students.

  • Resume writing & LinkedIn workshops
  • Interview skills & mock career fairs
  • Financial literacy: budgeting, banking, investing
  • AI literacy & prompt engineering
  • Career exploration & professional networking
Policy

Ladder Up Policy

Empowering students to drive real community change through advocacy and legislation.

  • Local policy campaigns & community problem-solving
  • School board & city council advocacy
  • Formal support for AB 1644 and AB 2291 at the California state level
  • Policy Incubator: draft, test, and advocate
  • Youth Action Toolkit & organizing guides
Global

Ladder Up Global

Building an international network of youth leaders and chapter ambassadors.

  • International chapter network (expanding)
  • Country Ambassador Program
  • Global Youth AI Council
  • Cross-border mentorship & collaboration
Resources

Resource Hub

Free tools, templates, and guides for students, educators, and advocates.

  • Resume & cover letter templates
  • College & financial aid guides
  • AI tool guides & prompt libraries
  • Policy memo & testimony templates
500+ Students Impacted

Every Workshop Is Free.

Ladder Up charges students nothing. Every session, every resource, every opportunity is available to any student who wants to climb.

Free Online Workshops

Register for a Session

All workshops are free and held online. Enter your email to inquire — our team will confirm dates within 2 business days.

Career Readiness

Resume & LinkedIn Masterclass

💻 Online⏱ 2 hrs🎓 Grades 6–12

Build a standout resume and LinkedIn profile that opens doors before you even walk in the room.

AI Literacy

Intro to AI & Prompt Engineering

💻 Online⏱ 90 min🎓 All Grades

Learn how AI works, how to use it ethically, and what it means for your future career.

Leadership & Policy

Youth Advocacy Bootcamp

💻 Online⏱ 3 hrs🎓 Grades 6–12

Learn to identify community problems and speak at local government meetings with confidence.

Financial Literacy

Money 101 for Students

💻 Online⏱ 90 min🎓 Grades 6–12

Budgeting, banking, credit, and why starting early matters more than most students realize.

Leadership

Public Speaking & Debate

💻 Online⏱ 2 hrs🎓 Grades 6–10

Find your voice and build the confidence to lead in any room — from classrooms to boardrooms.

Career Readiness

Interview Skills Workshop

💻 Online⏱ 2 hrs🎓 Grades 8–12

Mock interviews, real feedback, and the techniques that make students stand out in any room.

Ready to Join?

Enter your email and our team will follow up with available dates within 2 business days.

Want a Workshop for Your School?

We partner with schools and nonprofits to bring Ladder Up workshops directly to your students.

Get in Touch

Let's Build Together

Whether you're a student, mentor, school, or partner — we want to hear from you.

Email Us

We respond within 2 business days. Use the form to route your message to the right team.

Where We Operate

Online workshops available nationwide — all 50 states.

Join the Team

We're building our executive team. Six director-level positions are currently open. Apply via the form.

Start a Chapter

Chapter applications are open for students ready to bring Ladder Up to their school or city.

Join the Team

Apply for a Leadership Role

We're building the executive team that will take Ladder Up national. Tell us about yourself.

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