LIFT

By DAVID BORNSTEIN

Is it time to rethink our basic assumptions about the way we fight poverty?

Honoring 2012 Lifting Communities Award Recipient David Eisner, President and CEO, National Constitution Center

LIFT-Philadelphia engages talented volunteers to work one-on-one with underserved community members throughout Philadelphia to combat poverty and expand opportunity for all people in our community.  At LIFT, we believe that the very act of two people working together one-on-one – sharing their strengths in a trusting relationship – is the most important first step in creating transformation and achieving success.  If you know our work, we welcome you to support what we continue to achieve; if you are new to LIFT-Philadelphia, we invite you to learn more and be inspired.

This year, LIFT-Philadelphia is proud to present its inaugural Lifting Communities Award to David Eisner, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center, in recognition of his strong and longstanding commitment to civic engagement and strengthening communities.

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Written by: Rachel Starnes, Communications Intern, Boston University

The LIFT office in Roxbury held its first annual holiday client appreciation party on December 2^nd at the Vine Street Community Center. The celebration was a student-led effort in which students from Northeastern, Boston College and UMass Boston coordinated all the food, entertainment and gift give away. With over 20 clients and their families in attendance, the spirit and appreciation that LIFT clients and volunteers have for one another was truly evident.

On Wednesday November 30th, LIFT honored its partners—the City of Cambridge and Harvard University—for their “Distinguished Service” to the community at its 10th Anniversary Celebration held at the Microsoft New England Research and Development Center.

Watch video from the Opportunity Nation Summit session "Helping the Whole Family" that LIFT CEO Kirsten Lodal spoke at, where panelists discussed breaking down stereotypes about families living in poverty and ways to address a family's comprehensive needs when discussing poverty services and solutions.

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A West Philadelphia organization is working to bring computer services to low income people looking for jobs and other help. It’s called LIFT and it’s getting a lift from Drexel University students.

LIFT Philadelphia is actually based in North and West Philadelphia and the national organization has sites in Boston, Chicago, New York and Washington DC. The organization uses college students to empower those living in poverty by helping them with skills that might be out of their reach just now.

Cyndi Reed-Rickards teaches sociology and criminology at Drexel and funnels her students into the program. “They work together in everything ranging from searching for jobs, creating email, getting public housing, emergency food stamps, the plethora of services that are available for people in need.”

This year, LIFT Philadelphia found jobs for 125 people, filed 350 tax returns and worked on thousands of resumes and cover letters for community members, all free of charge.

Listen to more of Kim Glovas’ interview with Cyndi Reed-Rickards using the link below.

Reported by Kim Glovas, KYW Newsradio 1060

LIFT-Chicago is thrilled to announce that Sol Anderson will be joining our team as the Regional Program Manager.  Sol comes to LIFT-Chicago with over 10 years experience supporting underserved communities.