LIFT

LIFT-The Bronx 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.  Last year, LIFT-The Bronx received over 90 clients referred-in to LIFT from other service agencies, demonstrating the trust that local agencies have in LIFT.  Correspondingly, LIFT made more than 200 quality referrals-out to other service organizations in order to connect clients to the service they needed that LIFT does not directly provide, such as trained legal aid or medical attention.  This model of partnership ensures the non-duplication and efficiency of social service programs in the community and strengthens the social services infrastructure.

The Bronx office actively hosts and co-sponsors 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 The Bronx and New York City and the resources available to help them.  LIFT maintains strong relationships with Manhattan College's department of Campus Ministries and Social Action and the Center for Service and Justice at Fordham University to encourage student awareness and action for the problems facing low-income communities in the Bronx region, while representatives from Part of the Solution (POTS) and ACCESS NYC frequently participate in LIFT trainings and events.

Examples of community partnerships include:

• Community Partnership Days, during which student volunteers made group visits to partner organizations, including food pantries, shelters, advocacy groups, and community action agencies. The visits fostered deeper collaboration with community partners, and helped ensure that volunteers are making the most effective referrals.
• Collaborating with the Heiskell Enterprise Center for Technology to host a résumé writing workshop in response to growing unemployment numbers in the Bronx. Using the Heiskell Center's computer lab, workshop participants were able to access a personal computer and receive individual coaching on how to properly format a résumé and use the internet to perform an online job search. The office plans to continue running the workshops in the upcoming year.
• Reciprocal referrals to WorkForce 1

Career Centers. WorkForce 1 centers provide training and placement services to New York City's adult workforce, and also possess direct connections to employers.  LIFT-The Bronx receives a weekly list of job openings in the area from WorkForce 1, and in turn, LIFT sends clients who would be suitable for the positions.  Workforce 1 also gives LIFT clients and their volunteers feedback on clients' résumés and reports on the progress (e.g. interviews, hires) of those clients.

• Partnering with ACCESS NYC, a New York City public benefits screening tool that identifies over 30 city, state, and federal human service benefit programs.  ACCESS NYC provides regular public benefits training to LIFT-The Bronx volunteers, while LIFT-The Bronx serves as an ACCESS NYC site for individuals and families to visit in-person.