By - Chiara Wegener, Communications and Urban Studies Major, 2010
Just minutes away from Fordham University, lies LIFT-The Bronx. LIFT is a community organization working to expand opportunity and combat poverty throughout the Bronx. With various locations throughout the east coast, LIFT is putting students to work alongside community members.
This is my second semester volunteering for LIFT. Working there has given me the wonderful opportunity to be a part of the Bronx community. By working with Bronx community members, I am sharing in their experiences, and using my knowledge of research and public resources to help clients meet their needs.
LIFT clients and volunteers work together to find housing, apply for jobs, make ends meet through public benefits, and find other resources such as healthcare and daycare. Working at LIFT has strengthened my communication skills and made me comfortable in aiding others in complex areas such as obtaining healthcare or public housing. It has raised my awareness of the boundaries that so many New Yorkers face, especially now with levels of high unemployment. My experiences at LIFT have greatly influenced my desire to pursue a career working in the nonprofit industry, and fostered my love of working directly with others. LIFT is a unique organization, as it allows students to work one-on-one and directly with other members of their community to mobilize change.
