LIFT

LIFT currently has hub offices throughout Chicago and Evanston, with plans to scale up in the coming years to serve additional Chicago area neighborhoods that might benefit from LIFT’s services.

LIFT-Chicago engages regularly with locally based social service organizations to create reciprocal partnerships in order to capitalize on the strength of existing community resources. LIFT highly values collaboration, not competition, within the sector and believes it is essential for nonprofits to work together along with for-profit industries to both move people out of poverty and permanently change the circumstances which produce poverty.   LIFT-Chicago is also a partner with the City of Chicago, Mayor’s Office. At Mayor Daley’s request, LIFT began partnering with Community Schools, working to combat intergenerational poverty by meeting the needs of Chicago Public Schools’ parents and caregivers.

LIFT’s offices in the Chicago region actively host and co-sponsor events on-campus and in the community to bring community members together, to bring together expert opinions and dialogue about community issues, and to raise awareness about the issues facing low-income families in Chicago and the resources available to help them.  These events have included hosting a panel for Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week at NU, and hosting a regional summit for 100 of LIFT’s local volunteers to convene to share best practices and further connect with the larger anti-poverty movement.  LIFT often leverages its strong relationships with community partners to serve as guest speakers at these events.