As a therapist, I work with many families who feel overwhelmed navigating the school system. It…read moreoften shows up as anxiety, frustration, and even self-doubt, parents wondering if they're missing something or not advocating "correctly." Most just aren't given clear guidance on what to ask for or what their child is actually entitled to. What stands out to me about Rise is how parents are supported in really understanding what's happening and how to advocate in a way that feels realistic and manageable. Having a clear plan and next steps takes a process that can feel chaotic and makes it more actionable. Another strength working with Rise is that April has firsthand experience working within the school system, meaning she understands how things actually function behind the scenes and can guide families in a way that's well-informed and practical. If you're feeling stuck or unsure where to begin with the IEP and 504 process, Rise provides the kind of support that can help you feel more confident and less alone in navigating it.

We came to Rise Educational Advocacy after a difficult IEP process and weren't sure where to turn…read morenext. April's file review was thorough and genuinely eye-opening, she helped us understand exactly where the IEP fell short and what questions we should be asking. She was warm, knowledgeable, and never made us feel rushed or judged for not knowing the system. Her insights gave us the clarity and confidence to take the next step in advocating for our family. We'd recommend Rise to any family navigating special education and feeling overwhelmed.

During 2020 it became clear that both of my grandchildren would need help as we would homeschool…read morethem during the first year of the pandemic. Neither child knew how to read at the time. They were 8 and 6, and really needed help. With her knowledge and patience, Lynne Merrill began to work with them, and within the year they were both reading, above grade level! The programs that Lynne uses WORK, and along with her kind approach, the children had great success. Nicole Dudley also worked with them years ago, and has been tutoring both of them in math this year, making such a difference in their confidence and skills. She is also so kind and inspiring, and just a fantastic teacher! When I was a child, I wished for a tutor, especially for math, but we couldn't afford . Today I am so happy to give the gift of Lynne and Nicole to my grandchildren, and watch them flourish! I highly recommend Merrill Education Center, and I am beyond grateful for the help they continue to give to all of their students! Laura

Lynn Merrill is what all teachers should strive to be. She is a seasoned professional who loves…read morechildren and enjoys the process of improving needed skills while building confidence, and joy for learning. She has made a huge difference in my son's life. My son is 14 years old and was not happy about going to see Lynn Merrill 4 days/week over the summer. After the first session, he didn't complain about going again. He enjoyed the books she introduced and was looking forward to find out what happened next. Nicole Dudley, the math tutor handles all of the scheduling and payment. She is extremely efficient, timely, and very nice. When we need a math tutor, we will call her.

Ms. Kimberly is the best educational therapist anyone could hope to find. She is smart, patient,…read moreand engaging. She can pinpoint a student's specific needs in no time. Then, she always knows the best approach to use to teach the child. She expects the best from every student, and she gets it. With Ms. Kimberly, your child will realize tremendous progress so quickly, you'll be amazed. I have known her for many years, and I have never found an educational therapist better than her.

My 1st grader has been attending the tutoring center for a few months now and the level he is…read morestudying here is surprising. I reviewed the materials he is solving, and it's definitely ahead of what I thought he was capable of. He was writing letters in mirrors images pretty recently, but the stuff in the workbook here that he was reading and writing reminded me of PSAT (for those old enough to remember those) . Of course, to do these, he needs attention and guidance from a teacher at a much lower ratio than what we can get from school, and here, it's kept at about 2 students per teacher. Being a fidgety flighty 6 yr old boy (hopefully normal?) I don't know how much he learns in his school class of 26 kids and I don't have the skills to teach him myself so I started sending him here for professional help twice a week to make sure he doesn't fall behind. Looks like mission is being accomplished so far! And most importantly, he enjoys learning here, which made it part of our weekly routine now. They offer a free assessment, where the student takes a test and they come back with analysis on the student's level and recommendations. It's a nice computer printout that Mr. Chow goes over with you. And then you can decide to enroll or not, and how often to attend and what times you'd like. It was a nice way to get started, as well as probably the first time I got my child assessed on anything. Thankfully he tested slightly above his grade level, but upon examining the questions, I did notice it would've resulted differently had we not done a few reading sessions on our own just the week prior to the assessment, as the vocab tests were specific. So it's not perfect, but still a really useful experience for the child and the parent!

Both of our daughters have gained so much confidence since attending this tutoring center, and…read morewe've also seen clear academic improvement. The tutors are patient, supportive, and really take the time to help each student understand the material. Our kids feel encouraged and capable, which has made a big difference. We're very happy with our experience and would definitely recommend this center.

Volunteering at 9 Dots was the most rewarding experience I've ever had thanks to the great staff,…read morehardworking students, and fun curriculum. One thing that makes 9 Dots stand out from other service/tutoring programs is its focus on STEM learning. Helping the students learn to code, build robots, make stop-motion animation videos (and so much more) and watching them apply their creativity to technology was truly incredible. I would highly recommend 9 Dots to anyone looking for an opportunity to give back to the community and work closely with kids in a fun and supportive environment :)

9 Dots is an amazing addition to the Hollywood community. I've been volunteering there for the last…read moretwo years, and I've enjoyed every moment. The staff is kind and helpful, the facility is beautiful, and most importantly, the students that come are eager to learn and happy to be there. It's incredibly rewarding to get to know each of the kids on an individual level and watch them grow. I look forward to many more years of service at 9 Dots!

My son works with Mr. Stephen for English. Not only did he help my son raise his grade from an F to…read morea B, but he also boosted his ACT scores. I plan on signing up for more classes this Summer. It will either be classes to reinforce and build my son's reading and writing skills or SAT prep. I also heard that their Summer Boot Camp program is very effective. I was recommended this place through friends who sent their kids there, and those kids ultimately gained admission to universities.

Amazing center!! I received help for my college essays here, and was successfully able to get into…read moreevery UC I applied to (including UCLA and UC Berkeley) as well as USC. Would really recommend coming here if you're looking to receive help on your college essays, both for freshman and transfer applicants. They'll also give you some college advising as well and some tips to enhance your overall college application.

I just happened upon Pro Barber college. This was a perfect place to take Dad to get a haircut. $9…read morefor men $14 for women, they also do coloring. There were plenty of students ready to take on a client when we walked in. Dad was immediately directed to a chair and met his barber. Payment is due prior to the start of service. It took about 30-40 minutes. Dad's barber was friendly. I will definitely be bringing Dad back here when he is in need of another haircut.

Good place to get a haircut. I walked in and was immediately greeted and shown a chair / my student…read morebarber. I haven't had a real haircut at a shop in years so I was unfamiliar with the guard sizes / terminology. The teacher and student made sure to take their time to get exactly what I wanted. The teacher was supervising and answered any of the students questions. The hair cut took around 30- 45 minutes which is not a bad time at all considering I would wait 45 minutes just to see a barber at other "official" shops. The cut was $9 and I tipped the student $6 as I was very satisfied. This place is clean, has young passionate barbers, and good prices.

Great place to test at. The energy there is so professional. They take our goals seriously and I…read morelove the calm vibe they have there. Also the thing that I liked the most is that I showed up earlier for a couple of my 4 test and they took me in without hesitation. Could get extra money at my job and I got my ged. God bless everyone.

This place is amazing. The staff is so friendly and welcoming. You walk in the front door and…read moreimmediately greeted with a hello and a smile. Explain the process of getting prepared for your exam. Quiet and clearly kept looking nice. Black owned.