WASHINGTON – The NRF Foundation, the Arizona Retailers Association and the Center for the Future of Arizona announced today that the Foundation’s RISE Up training and credentialing program has been approved by the Arizona Department of Education for use in high schools and career-and-technical education centers throughout the state. More than 300 school districts currently deploy RISE Up training in classrooms across the country, and Arizona joins a growing list of states that recognize the credentials.
"RISE Up helps young adults learn crucial skills necessary for success in their first jobs and gain transferable skills that lead to a lifetime of career growth. "
“As an industry that provides first jobs to one-third of Americans, many of us look back fondly on our early tenure in retail with a deep appreciation of what those jobs really taught us,” NRF Foundation President Ellen Davis said. “RISE Up helps young adults learn crucial skills necessary for success in their first jobs and gain transferable skills that lead to a lifetime of career growth. We’re grateful for our partnership with the Arizona Retailers Association and the Center for the Future of Arizona as we expand this program to further develop and train a bigger, better pool of talent for retailers nationwide.”
As a part of the state Department of Education approval, Arizona educators can deliver RISE Up’s Retail Industry Fundamentals, Customer Service and Sales, and Business of Retail: Operations and Profit curriculum and exams. The curriculum is designed to provide a wide array of knowledge in areas such as customer service, sales, marketing, retail math and inventory management while the exams demonstrate mastery of the skills.
“Retail is the third-largest sector in our state and the newly approved NRF Foundation RISE Up training and credentials will equip more Arizonans to take advantage of a promising career with robust advancement opportunities,” Center for the Future of Arizona President and CEO Sybil Francis said. “Additionally, Arizona’s high schools can now provide students the opportunity to launch careers in retail through these credentials that establish lifelong skills and a strong foundation for success in retail and many other sectors.”
The NRF Foundation’s application to Arizona’s Department of Education was supported by the Arizona Retailers Association, the Center for the Future of Arizona and nearly a dozen retailers including Brooks Brothers, Burlington Stores, Fry’s Food Stores, The Home Depot, Macy’s Inc., Safeway, Tractor Supply Company, The Wendy’s Company, Williams-Sonoma Inc., and WinCo Foods.
“The retail industry has so many opportunities and providing an enhanced educational and training experience for job seekers and students through the RISE Up program is a terrific elevation for the industry,” Arizona Retailers Association Executive Director Michelle Ahlmer said. “We are so grateful to be working with the NRF Foundation to make its RISE Up training and credentials accessible across the state. This is a win-win for individuals interested in retail and for retail employers. Even the consumer will benefit from a more engaged and trained retail workforce.”
The NRF Foundation launched RISE Up in 2017 and is working with retail, nonprofit and public education partners nationwide to help people regardless of education, background, economic means or age acquire the skills they need to secure jobs in retail and advance into promising careers. Since its launch, more than 60,000 participants have completed RISE Up training and credentials.
RISE Up was created in collaboration with dozens of retailers, nonprofits and foundations, ensuring that the skills and training it provides meet industry needs, and that the materials created are user-friendly for nonprofits and education groups. The training can be delivered in the classroom or online to people of all backgrounds, ages and education levels. Learn more about RISE Up here.
About NRF Foundation
The NRF Foundation builds the bridge between a growing industry with hundreds of thousands of open positions and job seekers around the country. Through education, training, scholarships and experiences for job seekers of all ages and backgrounds, we help more people take their first steps toward promising careers. The NRF Foundation is the 501(c)(3) philanthropic arm of the National Retail Federation and is funded in part by generous donations from retail industry supporters. NRFFoundation.org
About Arizona Retailers Association
The Arizona Retailers Association was organized in 1963 and represents retailers of all sizes throughout the State of Arizona. ARA is the United Voice of Retailing. Visit www.azretailers.com to learn more.
About the Center for the Future of Arizona
The Center for the Future of Arizona brings Arizonans together to build a bright future for our state. For more information, visit www.arizonafuture.org. @arizonafuture