SouthSea Rising is an emerging youth initiative & nonprofit.
Dedicated to art, agriculture, and future pathway exploration.
SouthSea Rising is an emerging youth initiative and nonprofit founded by Nourish Botanica dedicated to art, agriculture, conservation, and entrepreneurship.
Nourish Botanica creates experiences that reconnect people with food, plants, and nature. SouthSea Rising introduces young people to those same ideas through education, creativity, and career exploration.
Our mission is to connect the youth of Atlanta, the Virgin Islands and South Florida to agriculture and blue economy professionals, artists, educators, and each other through programs that honor land and sea, nurture creativity, and build pathways for the next generation.
SouthSea Rising builds an intentional bridge between St. Thomas and Atlanta. “I want Virgin Islands youth to see not only the richness of their own land and sea, but also the possibilities that come from connecting with a larger network,” said Founder Quianah Upton.
Through initiatives like Coral Rising, one of our flagship projects on the ground in the Virgin Islands, we introduce youth to challenges and opportunities in marine science, conservation, and sustainability, showing that their impact can extend beyond the islands while staying rooted in Caribbean culture.
In Atlanta, we are currently piloting our dual flagship program, SOILtoCEO, while building toward nonprofit status. Through SOILtoCEO, youth explore the full cycle of entrepreneurship, identifying challenges, harvesting resources, creating products, branding, and sharing their work, rooted in land and community.
Why We Do This
We believe every young person deserves joyful access to healthy, fresh food and the opportunity to discover they can create where it comes from. Through hands-on experiences with plants, food, and nature, we hope to inspire healthier families, stronger communities, and brighter futures.
Donate Today
Through a fiscal sponsorship model, we are already able to accept support as we grow SouthSea Rising into an independent organization with the power to sustain land and sea, nurture artistic talent, and empower community-driven enterprise.
Founder: Quianah Upton
Board: AnnesaGayle & Khari Diop
