Meet the Team
Rhonda Price, Founder/CEO
Ms. Price was born and raised in Providence, (West End) RI, where she attended public school.
She is a graduate of Central High School and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from
the University of Rhode Island in 1984. She has thirty (31) years of executive, professional, and
case management experience in various capacities with the State and Federal Courts, including,
11 years as the HR Manager at the Federal Court in Providence, where she also served as a
member of the National Human Resources Advisory Group on strategic planning at the
at the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, Washington, DC. Ms. Price is also a former
small business owner (florist shop/nursery). On June 25, 2012 (while simultaneously starting up
Man Up, Inc.) Ms. Price was appointed as the interim Executive Director of the
Woodlawn Community Development Corporation in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, to assist the
organization with executive and fiscal management until a permanent director could be found. She began recruitment of Man Up participants from that location.
Case Managers
The hallmark of Man Up, Inc. is our comprehensive and holistic social support that we provide for men of color who are experiencing barriers to employment and wage-earning ability. Case Managers develop individualized plans of action for each participant and serve as role models.
Thomas Upchurch
Mr. Upchurch was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. He joined the Man Up team in March 2014, as a volunteer Case Manager. He has faced numerous challenges in his life, including incarceration. He currently serves the organization as a Case Manager. He achieved his Associate's Degree in Human Resources from College Unbound, Oak State College in 2015 and is a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor. He is also well versed in Spanish
Antonio "Tony" Robertson
Mr. Robertson, was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and raised in Providence, Rhode Island where he graduated from St. Andrew's School. He accepted an athletic (basketball) scholarship to the University of Connecticut (Go Huskies) where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2013. Mr. Robertson has enjoyed a successful career as a professional basketball player, playing in countries such as England, Spain, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. He joined the Man Up team in October of 2017.
Keith Mills
Mr Mills was born in the islands of Trinidad & Tobago. He was raised in Brooklyn, NY and graduated from George J. West High School. He joined the Armed Forces in 1998 and served 2 tours in Iraq. He has an associate's degree in Law Enforcement from CCRI and was a small business owner. He joined the Man Up team in August 2023.
Administrative Staff
Eduardo Rodriguez
Mr. Rodriguez was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island where he attended private school. He is a graduate of the TIMES2 STEM Academy Charter School in Providence and a graduate of Rhode Island College, BS, Accounting. He joined the Man Up team in December of 2015 as an Intern. He is currently employed with the organization as a Contract Bookkeeper and is currently employed at the United Way of RI as the Financial Administrator.
Clinical Consultant
Phillip Lowry
Mr. Lowry joined the Man Up team of professionals in the summer of 2014. He obtained his Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Mental Health Counseling from Rhode Island College in 2008, and his Master’s degree in Counseling from Rhode Island College in 1997. He acquired his license with the State of Rhode Island as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in 2000. He has worked as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor at NRI Community Services in Woonsocket and at the Interfaith Counseling Center in Providence prior to going into private practice. Phillip has related past work experience as a Social Caseworker for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), and as a Rehabilitation Counselor at the Disability Determination Services unit for Social Security Disability (SSI/SSDI).Phillip is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT200) with a 200 hour certification in Prana Flow Yoga. He underwent his teacher training with Coral Brown at All That Matters in Wakefield, RI. Phillip is a First Degree Reiki Practitioner receiving his