In 2017, a vision for Arise and Shine, Inc. was born. As enduring advocates of education of children, youth and

their families in underserved communities and as proponents of the Arts in Education, especially where literacy

is concerned, the plans for a non-profit, educational and social services support institution was born. It was our

desire for this agency to be a “super supporter” of holistic life support for the communities we are called to serve.

Chris and Connie Taylor forged ahead with vision to establish Arise and Shine, Inc., an umbrella non-profit

corporation for the compilation of their last 30 years of helping children, youth and their families from rural and

inner-city communities in Mississippi to villages and urban slums in Africa!

Joined by founding member, Christina Fletcher, over the next two years, one by one, they began working with

children, youth and their families based in Hinds and Copiah Counties. In February 2019, Arise and Shine, Inc.

was duly incorporated as a non-profit corporation in the state of Mississippi and as a 501c3 on the Federal

Level. Beginning with ACT Workshops on the weekend, and an after-school tutoring program with pick-up

services at area elementary and middle schools, the birth took place.

During the first quarter of 2020, the world was hit with the onset of the COVID-19, Coronavirus Pandemic, and

faced a specific dilemma among the complications of the pandemic in a broad context.