In 2023, Khristopher had no car, no home, and no income—just a backpack, a borrowed laptop, and a calling that wouldn’t let him quit. With nothing but raw conviction and the belief that forgotten kids deserved to be seen, he started showing up—on foot, by bus, or however he could get there. No office, no titles, no safety net. Just purpose.
He personally created the website, designed every flyer, filmed and edited recap videos, wrote the press releases, built the donor database, and drafted award nominations. He mobilized volunteers, organized events, pitched partnerships to national brands, managed social media campaigns, and led community meetings. He wrote and submitted grant applications, recruited and trained volunteers, maintained nonprofit compliance, and even handled bookkeeping and donor tracking—every operational task it normally takes an entire team to do, he did on his own.
But behind the polished graphics and public recognition was a season few ever saw.
Khristopher built Wise Up to Rise Up during one of the hardest seasons of his life. He was battling with his mental health, living without stable housing, and trying to pour into others from a place that didn’t always feel full. There were nights he didn’t eat. Days he couldn’t focus. Moments when it felt like no one believed in the vision but him. He was applying for grants using borrowed Wi-Fi, editing promotional videos on a cracked screen, and pushing through speaking engagements while quietly managing panic attacks. Fundraising was its own mountain—not just because of a lack of money, but because he didn’t come from a culture where people knew how to give or where to start. He had no generational wealth, no influential board—just a story, and a lot of faith.
And even as momentum grew, so did the pressure. Kids began looking up to him. Elected officials started calling. People depended on him. And still—he was learning how to lead while still learning how to heal.
But he didn’t quit.
Every setback, every “no,” every silent season gave him something no textbook ever could: humility, empathy, and fight. He doesn’t lead because he’s perfect. He leads because he survived.
And eventually, the seed he watered with sacrifice began to bear visible fruit.
This academic year—2025—Khristopher led a bold, city-shaping campaign that resulted in 330 official Federal, State, City, and County recognitions across public Title I schools—a coordinated and intentional movement to shine a spotlight on students and educators who are often overlooked, despite their extraordinary efforts. What started with one flyer and one bus ride became a citywide movement powered by trust, persistence, and proof of impact.
At the center of this initiative was a historic collaboration with four out of five At-Large Houston City Council Members, who came together—for the first time ever—to issue 100 Award Certificates to students across the city. These recognitions weren’t based on test scores or GPA—they were designed to affirm the worth and resilience of students who often go unnoticed: those who show up, push through personal challenges, and keep going even when their names aren’t called on honor roll lists. Khristopher personally spearheaded and unified this effort, bringing together every office to honor students in a way that was unheard of, unconventional, and deeply powerful.
In addition to spearheading the At-Large collaboration, Khristopher also personally led several District Council Offices into extending recognition to outstanding educators within their communities. Through his direct advocacy and coordination, Council Member Tiffany D. Thomas (District F) and Council Member Mario Castillo (District H) formally honored exceptional educators in their districts—further advancing the campaign’s mission to elevate excellence wherever it rises and ensuring that leadership in education was celebrated at every level.
Khristopher also facilitated 160 Presidential Education Awards across two campuses—a powerful milestone that brought national-level recognition to students who not only overcame hardship, but managed to maintain strong academic focus through it all. These prestigious honors, issued by the U.S. Department of Education and the Executive Office of the President of the United States, celebrated not just academic excellence, but the kind of determination and discipline it takes to stay committed to learning while navigating complex personal realities. In partnership with Councilwoman Evans-Shabazz, he also coordinated 60 Presidential Distinction Recognitions from the City of Houston Council, reinforcing that excellence in Title I schools is not only real—it’s worthy of public celebration.
To further elevate entire campuses, Khristopher worked directly with Congressman Wesley Hunt, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, and Texas State Representative Ron Reynolds to honor three schools with formal recognitions for their exceptional commitment to youth and community advancement. He also partnered with Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher and Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia to recognize educators whose leadership and dedication continue to shape generations.
These recognitions were carried out across student award ceremonies, graduation celebrations, and Teacher Appreciation Week presentations, ensuring that each moment of impact was personal, timely, and meaningful. This was the work Khristopher focused on—and successfully delivered—from January to June of this academic year.
These recognitions weren’t routine or symbolic—they were the result of strategic advocacy, deep community partnerships, and Khristopher’s bold refusal to let underserved schools be ignored. This campaign wasn’t just about giving awards. It was about changing the narrative, affirming worth, and creating new pathways of visibility for those who are rising—against the odds, and on their own terms.
Khristopher framed recognition not as charity, not as sympathy, but as justice—an act of restoration. In communities where dignity is often deferred, he reminded the world that visibility is power. Awards, in his view, are more than paper—they’re mirrors. And he made sure every student could see themselves reflected in something honorable.
Khristopher didn’t dilute the meaning of recognition—he restored it. In communities where excellence is often overlooked, he used every platform available to ensure that hard work, leadership, and resilience were publicly honored. To him, awards aren’t about preserving exclusivity—they’re about affirming excellence wherever it rises.
He believes recognition is a form of justice. Every certificate he helped facilitate was a public act of restoration—a statement that excellence belongs to every zip code, not just a privileged few. He didn’t just hand out awards; he handed back dignity, visibility, and hope.
Now, over 330 at-risk youth from all walks of life—many with incarcerated parents, experiences of domestic violence, unstable housing, or life in the foster care system—have risen as award-winning leaders because of Khristopher’s advocacy. Some were honored for pushing through hardship just to keep showing up—students who may not be academic stars, but whose perseverance and personal growth deserved to be seen. Others were recognized for achieving national academic honors while carrying unimaginable burdens—students who didn’t just survive, but excelled. Every one of them has earned a major honor from the White House, U.S. Congress, U.S. Department of Education, or the City of Houston.
Together, these recognitions reshaped the culture of what success looks like in underserved schools—not as a narrow academic metric, but as a broader celebration of resilience, growth, and the refusal to give up.
His nonprofit’s reach spans 752 square miles across Texas, uniting passionate community leaders to bridge achievement gaps and empower underserved youth with the knowledge, skills, and support they need to overcome negative influences and reach their full potential.
In just 18 months, Khristopher has mobilized over $30,000 in tangible support without a paid fundraising team or major grant backing. He secured in-kind donations from Google, Microsoft, Topgolf, Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane’s, Panda Express, and more, while also receiving direct financial contributions from Walmart, BJ’s Brewhouse, Red Robin, and everyday community members. His ability to transform vision into real-world impact is rooted in relentless commitment and authentic community trust.
As that support grew, so did his capacity to give back. In 2025, through the very foundation he built from nothing, Khristopher became a sponsor of the Houston Lawyer’s Association Gala—an event that honors Black legal excellence and funds scholarships for aspiring attorneys. For him, it wasn’t about status or visibility. It was a turning point. After years of building without a safety net, he was now in a position to invest—through his own organization—in institutions that reflect his deepest values. It wasn’t about the amount. It was about what it signified: that the boy who once had nothing was now building bridges for others to cross.
He has dedicated over 5,500 hours to voluntary leadership—but it is the depth, consistency, and measurable impact of his work, not just the time invested, that have earned him nearly 30 decorations from the highest levels of government: federal, state, city, and county. These include the United States Presidential Gold Medal and the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, seven Congressional recognitions, and an appointment as an admiral in the Texas Navy by the Governor of Texas. In 2025, he was also named the Tiffany D. Thomas Community Impact Award recipient by the Houston Area Urban League Young Professionals.But for Kris, the real measure of success isn't in awards—it's in the impact he's had on the next generation.
He didn’t wait for funding or permission. He moved with purpose.
Over 300 youth—many of whom had been overlooked or written off—have received prestigious honors solely because of the spaces Khristopher created and the advocacy he led. Without his leadership, those moments of recognition simply would not have existed.
Through his partnership with Raising Cane’s, over 600 students have received Achievement Awards specifically for academic success—many for the first time in their lives. In communities where celebration is rare, he made it standard. What once felt out of reach is now real, visible, and personal.
Khristopher didn’t just build a table for the next generation—he built it so they could learn to build their own. He isn’t handing out recognition. He’s redefining what it means to be recognized in communities long unseen.