Morning Star Rising was originally conceived ten years ago by Tamara Sbelgio, a long time middle school teacher of American History. She saw that there is a real lack of support for adolescents in today's society. Adults often tell young people to "plan for their futures" or "set goals" but do not show them how to do so. This can lead to undeveloped potential at best, and teen pregnancy, high school dropout, drug and alcohol abuse, or juvenile justice contacts at worst.

Morning Star Rising developed around the idea that in today's complex society, now more than ever, there is a real need for adult-guided rite-of-passage programs for our young people. In partnership with her daughter Dinah Sbelgio Kinard, Tamara Sbelgio founded the Morning Star Rising program in August of 2000 at Fulmore Middle School in Austin, Texas with funding provided by private foundation grants and community sponsors.

The mother-daughter founders of Morning Star Rising believe that every person is on Earth for a reason. That each one of us has individual talents, skills and interests that make us important to the community. Morning Star Rising provides a structure to help young people discover how they can create a path for themselves that will enable them to shape their role in society as they become young adults.

Although Morning Star Rising is still a young program, it hopes to spread this seed of supporting our young people during adolescence as far as it will travel.