Meet the ARISE Trainers

SUSAN BENSON

Susan Benson is a founder of ARISE (co-founded with her husband, Edmund Benson). She manages the life-skills program for at-risk youth, writes and administers grants, and does training.  Susan has   earned a master’s degree in special education from Hunter College, and worked with exceptional students in the New York, Boston and Miami-Dade school systems for nearly 27 years before devoting her skills full-time to the success of the ARISE Life Skills Programs.

JUDY LYONS

Judy Lyons is the ARISE program specialist and life-skills trainer in the Washington, D.C. area. Judy holds a master’s degree in school supervision and administration from the University of District of Columbia. She began her career at the DC Department of Corrections as an English teacher, then advanced to school principal, and eventually became the deputy warden.  She retired in 2004 and began training ARISE life-skills instructors and group facilitators just two months later!

JOLIETT VEGA-KLUCEVSEK

Joliett Vega-Klucevsek is the training manager at ARISE Foundation. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Florida International University. With four years of training experience, she has trained over 400 people working in many different fields including juvenile justice, law enforcement, government, school departments and non-profit organizations. She has conducted a range of trainings from group facilitation skills to emotional intelligence workshops. Joliett is dedicated to helping those who want to grow and learn in their personal and professional lives.