About Rise. Walk. Renew.

A community wellness model shaped by the people it serves.

Rise. Walk. Renew. helps communities become places where people can age with dignity, purpose, health, and belonging.

Read Where It BeganExplore the Model
Sherma Apparicio-D’Afflitto, NBC-HWC, founder of Rise. Walk. Renew.

Our purpose

Community is the environment where faithful steps become lasting change.

We believe healthier communities grow when people are welcomed, encouraged, equipped, and connected.

Walking is one expression of that mission. Accessible movement, practical education, caregiver support, conversation, and useful resources are others.

Rise. Walk. Renew. is a community wellness initiative of Resize America LLC.

Where it began

It did not begin with a business plan. It began with two invitations.

Every meaningful journey has an origin story. Ours began when two church communities opened their doors—and then taught us what people truly needed.

Members of the Friday walking community gathered outdoors with canes and a rollator
The Friday invitation

Learning how to build safe community walking.

After a community health fair, Sherma was invited to help begin a wellness program for the guests of a Brooklyn food pantry. The original hope was to train a local volunteer to continue the work. When that was no longer possible, Sherma kept returning—week after week, beginning in October 2025.

That community became the place where the foundations of safe walking were formed: preparing for the walk, moving at different paces, and encouraging one another one step at a time.

The Tuesday community wellness group seated in a circle sharing conversation and laughter
The Tuesday invitation

Learning that wellness had to grow beyond walking.

Another invitation came after a chance meeting with a pastor at the library. Sherma happened to have an early wellness logbook with her. The pastor asked what she was doing the next day and invited her to meet the women gathering at his church.

Many participants could not comfortably join longer neighborhood walks. They needed seated movement, balance work, mobility, brain health, conversation, encouragement, and purpose. Their needs widened the vision.

The Friday group taught Sherma how to build a walking program.

The Tuesday group taught her how to build a community wellness program.

Together, they shaped the Five Pillars: Move. Think. Connect. Learn. Renew.

Rise. Walk. Renew. was never created alone. It was shaped by the people it was created to serve.
The Tuesday community wellness group posing together outside its meeting place
Tuesday communityShowing up for movement, connection, learning, and encouragement.
Adults and children gathered together after a community wellness walk
Community across generationsBelonging grows when families and neighbors can take part together.
Sherma Apparicio-D’Afflitto shares community wellness resources at a health fair

Meet our founder

Sherma Apparicio-D’Afflitto, NBC-HWC

Sherma is a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, community program designer, and experienced group facilitator.

She founded Rise. Walk. Renew. after two church communities showed her that lasting wellness is not built around perfect bodies or perfect plans. It grows when people are welcomed, encouraged, and given a place to belong.

Her work connects accessible movement, practical learning, caregiver support, faithful stewardship, and community relationships.

Invite Sherma or PartnerExplore Resources