About Us
Empire Rises Inc. was founded in the Fall of 2020 to serve the Brooklyn community. The organization is dedicated to aiding Brooklynites become better leaders and neighbors by focusing on scholarship, wellness, financial stewardship and community service. Since the organization’s advent the founders have expanded their community work beyond the Brooklyn community to the greater New York area.
This heart-felt recreational organization is designed to maximize the community members’ potential. Moreover, Empire Rises Inc. alleviates community-based hardships and provides resources to assist those in the borough to become upright citizens. The organizations staple programs are: the Cougar Classic Tournament for middle school children, Yoga In The Park and the Skills and Thrills Camp.
Wellness, Scholarship & Love for All Mankind
Vision Statement
To empower youth in the greater New York Area to maximize their potential by equipping them with life skills to achieve success academically, vocationally and financially to further strengthen their community.
Mission Statement
Empire Rises exists to empower academic excellence, develop leaders and transform communities through advocacy and service.
Our Chairmen
Stephaun Ward
Stephaun was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. His heritage stems from Guyana and Jamaica. He graduated with a B.S in Mechanical Engineering from the University Rochester in 2019 and received his M.S. in Industrial Engineering at Morgan State University in Baltimore in 2021. While traveling the world, playing basketball and taking Capoeira classes he also finds time to be a Supply Chain Analyst at Lam Research Corporation. With the help of his mentors he envisions Empire Rises to be a nonprofit that focuses on black excellence. His future aspirations are to open an Afro-Caribbean multi-purpose grocery store with his family. His tutoring company is WILLSWAY LLC where he tutors kindergarten through college level mathematics. He would like to expand his LLC to provide a mobile tutoring service that may revolutionize how we learn what we learn. He wants to teach high school and coach basketball on the side if time permits as well as continue his training in Capoeira and West African Dancing.
Bryan Mariner
Bryan is a retired New York City Department of Education teacher. In addition to his over 33-years of experience teaching math and physical education, he also served as a school Programmer and Dean. Born and raised in Queens, New York he did his undergraduate studies at Medgar Evers College and completed his Masters at Mercy College. Bryan also had an extensive career coaching baseball, softball, and basketball at every level ranging from elementary school through the professional ranks. It was through coaching that he founded the Empire Cougar Basketball Classic 20 plus years ago. Today this program has morphed into a 30 school boys and girls city-wide basketball and mentoring program. In terms of our youth, Bryan believes that the key to molding them is to emancipate the youth from those things holding them.
Kevin Gerald
Kevin Gerald is a Brooklyn born and raised retired (32 yrs.)N.Y.P.D/S.S.D. Level-3 ( Sargent). Kevin was EDT in the New York City Public School System ( N.U.H.S. 1975 Grad.) .He is a father of three and grandfather of three. He believes in teamwork and personal development that can be applied to everyday life. He has given thousands of hours of community service through coaching and mentoring . His continuous support of his community is a testament to an old adage he believes in, Iron sharpens Iron.
