We Rise Foundation founders, Junior and Kendall Temotio, are local entrepreneurs, parents, experts in swimming development, and passionate advocates for diversity and inclusion in sports. As former athletes and engaging swim coaches and leaders, they have always had a desire to make an impact on youth athletes and develop lifelong swimmers.
Coach Junior began his life in Brazil, and was fortunate to find a love of swimming, which put him on a path of personal growth and success, and continued to be an integral part of his life when he moved to the United States at 15 years old and continuing a successful swimming career as a Division 1 record holder. Now as a coach, his ongoing involvement in USA Swimming – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has continued to inspire his dream of bringing more diversity to swimming and harnessing the power of sports to change lives.
Kendall, shares Juniors passion for the power of sport with a specific focus on creating inclusive opportunities for inclusion in swimming for neurodiverse and special abilities children and athletes.
This mission for the broader community was first inspired by their first-born daughter, Alexia, who when born displayed development delays and a unique medical history that ultimately led to a diagnosis of Koolen de Vries Syndrome. Through this experience, they found purpose for their passion for inclusive sports. Through the We Rise Foundation, their hope is to not only develop programs that meet the needs of todays young athletes with differences, but also to positively influence the heart and mind of their teammates, and inspire other athletic programs to create inclusive programs.
The mission of the We Rise Foundation is to provide inclusive swimming programs that create opportunity in sport, foster independence, and develop lifelong skills for underserved children and athletes.
Through the Foundation, we aspire to impact individuals with unique abilities, offering accommodations to create equitable inclusion for swimmers of varying abilities. Programming will emphasize diversity in swimming through water safety education for vulnerable communities.
Coach junior leads swimrise aquatics as head coach and owner. Junior was a national level swimmer and is passionate about developing swimmers to be life-long athletes. His philosophy is centered around developing the whole athlete through proper nutrition, community programs, and overall wellness. That begins with our youngest swimmers in the academy programs. His coaching philosophy is embodied in the methodology of the academy lesson program, ensuring instructors create an engaging and fun experience while developing proper technique.
Kendall is a former division 1 athlete who leads swimrise academy through program supervision. She ensures that the overall vision of the program is developed and maintained. Kendall’s passion is in growing the adaptive/special abilities programs for swimmers with special needs and creating opportunities for inclusion and neuro-diverse athletes through we rise foundation. As a locally owned learn to swim school, kendall and junior reside nearby with their 3 young children.
Karen joins We Rise with a lifelong passion for competitive swimming and a dedication to expanding opportunities for underserved communities. As Director of Development for a local healthcare organization, she is recognized for securing transformative funding that advances innovation, cancer research, and community health programs—including a $12.5 million gift to establish a Brain Wellness Program. Karen holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of North Florida and an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix. A Central Florida native now based in Jacksonville, she brings a strategic and mission-driven perspective to her work. Outside of her professional and volunteer roles, Karen enjoys traveling, photography, and spending time with her husband and two daughters.
Thiago Cavalcanti is a supply chain specialist in the chemical distribution industry, with expertise in Responsible Distribution compliance, 3PL partnerships, and inventory governance. He translates standards into practical SOPs that strengthen safety and reliability. A former Division I swimmer at East Carolina University, Thiago, was named the program’s Most Outstanding Swimmer all four seasons. The discipline, teamwork, and respect for safety he learned in the pool now fuel his commitment to the We Rise Foundation’s mission of inclusion in and out of the water. Thiago holds a B.A. in Economics from ECU and an MBA from Averett University. Outside of work, he enjoys time with his wife and two kids, mentoring young athletes, and supporting community programs that help every swimmer find a lane to thrive.
Taylor is a former Division I athlete with an undergraduate degree in sociology and community development from Siena College and a master’s in higher education and student affairs from New York University. She spent five years as a college coach before moving into alumni relations and advancement at the University of Rochester, NY. Taylor is passionate about the power of sport and its impact on community development, self-authorship, community engagement, and personal development.
Coach Abby has been involved with swimming for 10+ years both as an instructor, coach and athlete. She grew up in Tallahassee, Florida and spends her free time playing beach volleyball, at the gym, traveling or hiking with her husband, a St. Johns County Firefighter. With a calm and collected presence in and out of the water, Coach Abby ensures our youngest swimmers have the foundational skills built in both water safety and confidence with stroke development. Coach Abby spent the last several years as a learn-to-swim instructor for all ages which has given her a strong base for both the SwimRise Academy through swim instruction and progressing swimmers through to the competitive team.
Neveah's is an instructor in training who is passionate about encouraging young athletes to pursue swimming as she has for many years. She is also a certified Level 2 Adaptive Instructor with Swim Angelfish. As an adaptive instructor, she looks forward to impacting the community through swimming.
Silvia Schich is a specialist in Paralympic Swimming with over 15 years of professional experience and proven knowledge of human behavior and performance, instructional technique and lesson planning. She is a record holder and South American Swimming champion, 20x national champion, Paralympic Head Coach, and Post-Graduate in Sports Science and Physical Education for people with disabilities.
Caleb Prewitt is an experienced runner and triathlete. With over 130 races under his belt, he looks forward to every new opportunity and challenge. Caleb holds 2 Guinness World Records, and has previously qualified for World Triathlon through USAT. He is 18 and attends the Eagle Academy transition program at the North Florida School of Special Education, where he is learning new skills and new job sites. He is thrilled to be joining the WeRise board and looks forward to helping inclusion become a standard practice here in Jacksonville.
Karen Prewitt (aka “Caleb’s mom), is a lifelong runner and recent triathlete. Since Caleb’s birth, she’s served on numerous committees and boards related to disability issues. Karen is passionate about health, fitness and community inclusion and is helping Caleb develop his own advocacy in these areas. She is a wife, mother and grandmother and future goals include more ultramarathons and maybe one day an Ironman!
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Get connected to our inclusive swim programs at our SwimRise family partners.