After working with one regular client, Bishara soon realized that her leadership in their meetings was providing her client with hope and strength. “What was rewarding was being able to provide her with listening and support. She had been completely isolated by her family, and I think that our meetings provided her with some stability.” Bishara called day-in and day-out to ensure her client secured a stable living environment with the House of Ruth, a housing and supportive services provider for women and children and victims of domestic violence. Bishara also fought hard to present a strong housing application to move her client up on the waitlist for another housing site.
Confident in her client service skills, Bishara decided to test her leadership skills as a Student Director in 2009. As a Student Director, Bishara compiled materials and managed logistics for ongoing volunteer trainings. She coordinated a series of résumé assistance weekends for working clients who were unable to visit the office during the week, and organized LIFT-DC’s summit, bringing together volunteers, clients, and community partners to celebrate LIFT-DC’s accomplishments and strategize for the future. Bishara also ramped up efforts for LIFT’s advocacy committee so that volunteers and clients could become actively engaged in local and national issues in Washington, DC.
Of her experience with LIFT, she says, “It has helped me become a stronger person and has also helped me to identify qualities that I didn’t even know I possessed. I have discovered that I enjoy training, managing and office and public speaking. Also, I think that I have developed into a more assertive person, and have become less afraid to give my opinion or take the lead on different initiatives that interest me.”
With so much of her time heavily invested in LIFT-DC, Bishara’s focus at GWU has shifted; the Political Science major is looking less at a role in traditional politics and more at a role in how the government shapes public benefits programs and resources for formerly incarcerated individuals or people with mental health issues. In her remaining time at LIFT, she says, “I hope that I can develop some sustainable infrastructures, such as developing partnerships for our Advocacy committee, so that LIFT-DC can continue to be a progressive organization that can grow and expand.” After she graduates from GWU this year, Bishara hopes to become a Site Coordinator with LIFT so that she can see those goals realized.
