LIFT

Frantz Pierre had been a client at LIFT-Evanston for several years, seeking LIFT’s assistance when he was searching for a better job or needed information.  With a strong résumé and history working in the medical field, Frantz could normally work with LIFT-Evanston and bounce back quickly from a job loss.  LIFT-Evanston had helped him land two positions previously, including a temporary assignment at a local hospital, which turned into a full-time job within three weeks.  But after he was laid off from his position at a cancer treatment facility in 2008, getting back into the workforce proved unusually difficult for him.

Bert Brockway had a long history as respiratory therapist but after losing his job, he was forced to take on shifts as a cab driver, working upwards of 10 hours a day, seven days a week. Bert says, “I was underemployed and overworked,” and his frustration continued to mount as he made little progress obtaining another job in respiratory therapy.  Bert was exhausted, both physically and emotionally, when he was introduced to LIFT-Chicago’s Uptown office.

Carlton Berry had recently been laid off from his job and was visiting the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) for unemployment benefits when he found LIFT-Evanston.  In need of guidance with his unemployment claim and interested in LIFT’s other services, Carlton scheduled an appointment and met with volunteers.

Myron Frost had been working for the same company for 37 years, and at age 60, he was looking forward to working a few more years and settling into retirement.  That dream changed in March 2009 when he was suddenly laid off and had to file for unemployment for the first time in his life.  His unemployment checks amounted to $2000 less per month than his previous salary and with money becoming increasingly tight, Myron was anxious to find health insurance to pay for his diabetes medication.  He was dissatisfied with unemployment agencies, so Myron contacted LIFT-Chicago for help and volunteers began working with him to identify affordable health insurance options and job opportunities.

LIFT-Evanston volunteer Akhila Kolisetty recently blogged about her transformative experience working with Evanston community members and the positive impact she has made for her clients, her city, and herself.  Read on to hear her eloquent personal account of her work with LIFT.

Northwestern University student Niki Morrison joined LIFT-Evanston after hearing that many of her friends had finally found a serious, long-term volunteer opportunity working with the office.  As a volunteer with a legal assistance foundation and a tutor with several immigrant and refugee ESL programs, Niki was a seasoned public servant, but she says, "At best I could find intermittent weekend volunteer opportunities in random areas of community service.  I wanted something where I could really dig deep and make a tangible, long-term impact."

When Nicole Davis stepped into her first activity fair as a freshman at Loyola University Chicago, she was struck by a LIFT-Chicago poster that asked the question: “Are you a student leader?” Nicole immediately walked over to the table and wrote her name on the sign-up sheet to find out more. Two years into her volunteer service with LIFT-Chicago, Nicole has proven that she is, indeed, a true leader, both on-campus and in the community.