Organization Action Research Paper LIFT is a nation-wide, non-profit organization seeking to combat poverty.

It recognizes itself as a single center within a neighborhood where families [can] receive assistance from trained volunteers across a spectrum of social services (LIFTs Approach). In Chicago, LIFT provides the Uptown community with a supportive staff dedicated to helping every client overcome poverty. Regardless of background, LIFT effectively provides members of the uptown community with necessary resources to combat poverty. In the fall of 1998, Kristen Lodal and Brian Kreiter, two undergraduate students at Yale University, recognized a stark absence of available services for many poor individuals and families. They envisioned a welcoming and safe environment that would provide necessary resources as a dire necessity in New Haven, Connecticut. The founding of LIFT came out of a simple conversation between Lodal and Kreiter. New Haven, Connecticut became the first official home of LIFT after Lodal and Kreiter spent a great amount of time and energy researching, networking, learning, and meeting with community members (Our History). Soon, LIFT began operating as a successful resourceful center for many. With time, Lodal and Kreiter consistently met peers and other collegeaged students interested in LIFT who similarly felt unique passions towards the less fortunate. Through the realization that they were not alone in their beliefs concerning povertys seriousness, Lodal and Kreiter began to mold LIFT into a student-led organization dedicated to the elimination of poverty in the United States (LIFTs Approach). With time, LIFT expanded to multiple cities around the country, including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Chicago. Corresponding missions and core values of human potential, relationships, collaboration, sense of possibility, and service connect these offices to one another. Incorporating these important values into all facets of the organization helps LIFT fulfill its mission of combat[ing] poverty and expand[ing] opportunity for all people in the United States (LIFTs Approach). In the recognition of individual uniqueness, value, and potential, LIFT makes it possible to empower those seeking support, while simultaneously building meaningful,

personalized relationships with each and every person that walks into the office. Furthermore, taking advantage of the surrounding neighborhoods and communities allows LIFT to engage in intentional collaboration on behalf of clients, which ultimately provides a network of reliable and affordable resources and services to all clients (Reddy, 2011). Embedding all service with these principal values helps LIFT achieve its vision, which is to move towards a day when all people in our country will have the opportunity to achieve economic security and pursue their aspirations (LIFTs Approach). To accomplish its goals, LIFT seeks volunteers that participate in vigorous trainings to learn the most successful approaches to serve clients. Alongside LIFT volunteers, site coordinators, executive directors, researchers, and managers work collectively to focus the overall development and growth of LIFTs operations (Ben Reuler). For each of the five LIFT offices in the United States, one executive director oversees a handful of site coordinators, who direct and support the sites volunteers. The organizational structure of LIFT is intended to initiate cooperation and teamwork so as to provide the appropriate service to each and every client in need. According to one of LIFT-Chicagos site coordinators, All direct service happens within one-on-one meetings between LIFT clients and LIFT volunteers; basically, volunteers run the show (Reddy, 2011). Clients may come in with one problem or twenty and it is the goal of the volunteer to provide as much service as possible during the standard 50-minute session. Several examples of issues brought up by clients include the attainment of safe housing, employment and job security, how to obtain public benefits, and where to find reliable child-care (Reddy, 2011). Clearly, LIFT volunteers are bound to encounter a large variety of issues when working with LIFT clients. Similar to the variability in client dilemmas, there is an extreme range of clients that LIFT serves. In the entirety of LIFTs existence, it has been the source of over 40,000 individuals and families help to conquer poverty. Nationally, LIFT serves roughly 6,000 clients each year with a long-term goal of helping over 100,000 individuals and families at large (Our Impact). Specific to LIFT-Chicago, 906 clients have been served in 2011 thus far. Most clients come from very diverse

backgrounds in terms of age, gender, race, class, socioeconomic status, and current issues. For example, Reddy states, Sometimes middle-aged, put together, recently unemployed males come into the office in search of resume help. These clients often have comfortable living situations and are economically responsible and stable. Other times, clients may come to LIFT who are disheveled, depressed, and looking for help securing housing after having been homeless for multiple years with several children (Reddy, 2011). Taken from demographic information for the current year, about half of the 906 total LIFTChicago clients are African-American and the other half identify as Asian and Pacific Islander, Caucasian, Hispanic, or multiple races. The gender ratio falls very close to half-and-half, with 47 percent of the clients being female and the other 53 percent being male (Reddy, 2011). One of the largest areas of client variability comes with age; clients range from as young as age 18 through age 76. Resume building, searching for employment, and job training are popular items on many clients to-do lists as 79 percent of all LIFT clients come into the office unemployed (Reddy, 2011). It is apparent that there is a great amount of diversity among LIFT clients and LIFT is dedicated to embracing this diversity to help individuals from all walks of life overcome poverty. In order to help alleviate clients unique concerns surrounding poverty, volunteers are trained to link clients to crucial services and benefits they need to stabilize themselves and their families (LIFT-Chicago Region). The connection between LIFT and the greater Chicago community proves undoubtedly helpful when clients have unique needs and issues that need to be addressed. Volunteers utilize LIFTs relationships with nearby organizations and programs to appropriately determine the best way for clients to gain the services and benefits they need (Reddy, 2011). By collaborating with various community partners, LIFT taps into the assets of neighboring organizations; likewise, community organizations utilize LIFTs program, which ultimately creates a cycle of success. The ABCD-Model helps LIFT expand on its assets, rather than focus narrowly on what it lacks. According to the ABCD Institute, the ABCD-Model refers to the belief that

neighborhoods and communities are built by focusing on the strengths and capacities of the citizens and associations that call the community home (Duncan, D.). While all communities are in need of a variety of things, whether it be financial support, environmental aid, or affordable housing, the ABCD-Model encourages organizations and community members to focus on the already existing advantages (Duncan, D.). This approach is similar to the popular practice of viewing a glass of water as half full, rather than half empty. When performing community-based research, there are different ways to perceive the community in which one is working: identifying needs and identifying assets. There are several clear reasons as to why solely focusing on needs is detrimental to a community and those who are fighting for its growth and survival. For example, the ABCD Institute implies consequences of the power of the Needs Map including the internalization of deficiencies,destruction of social capital, direction of funds towards professional helpers and not residents, focus on leaders who magnify deficiencies, and [loss of hope] (Duncan, D.). Focusing on the needs of a community implies the use of negativity and pessimism, which may potentially distract community workers from shared goals to better their community. Community-based research utilizes asset mapping, which positively results in shift[s] in power, [feelings of] inclusiveness, relationship building, people build[ing] power in a community, an orientation of cooperation (Duncan, D.). Ultimately, using the ABCD-Model in community-based research helps achieve community success through optimism and collaboration between members of the community. Through asset mapping, LIFT is able to connect clients with a vast number of resources on a regular basis. LIFT has several resource guides that incorporate services designated to helping people with general emergency assistance, basic necessities, disability resources, employment and education opportunities, job training, healthcare, housing and legal aid (LIFT-Chicago Regions Comprehensive Social Service Guide, 2008). In terms of these services, Reddy states, LIFT is a resource organization. LIFT does not capitalize on the resources it has in the office. Instead, LIFT connects clients with other services in the community via its resource guides (Reddy, 2011). Thus,

volunteers and staff members remain very familiar with the resource guides and keep them up to date, allowing them to guide clients to appropriate resources in the community. Thinking about the enormous number of partnerships LIFT has created provides the opportunity to view the community in terms of assets, rather than needs, which is encouraged by the ABCD-Model (Duncan, D.). In terms of a Strategic Plan, LIFT is pursuing a go deep strategy. According to Reddy, this means that, Instead of adding new offices, LIFT is seeking to go deeper in the neighborhoods it is already involved with (Reddy, 2011). Branching off the strategic plan, LIFT has created a theory of change that involves two paths ultimately assisting individuals with their fights against poverty. LIFT believes that although poverty is complicated, getting help should not have to be. Chart 1 visually demonstrates LIFTs theory of change, which offers realistic ways in which clients can receive the help they need (LIFTs Approach). One route emphasizes engaging LIFT clients with LIFT volunteers in a shared effort to obtain the basic necessities for families to survive and thrive (LIFTs Approach). The other distinct route shown in Chart 1 is client-focused through volunteers immersions into the deeper, systemic, poverty-related issues that are at the heart of clients needs. This path invokes a strong element of learning through experience, which allows for transformation in volunteers on behalf of the clients (LIFTs Approach). In other words, LIFT volunteers are able to indirectly learn about and confront a myriad of issues that many clients they serve have faced and are currently facing, which thus educates and enlightens them to, hopefully, fight long-term for social justice concerning issues of poverty. While LIFT volunteers and staff members have shaped the organization to expand and recognize its potential for growth, the organization as a whole does not currently have direct influence on public policy. However, Reddy explains, LIFT is attempting to work towards having an influence on public policy through several routes, including research, partnerships, and networking (Reddy, 2011). Those who work for and support LIFT are aware that the country must move from a traditional to a progressive approach of eradicating poverty if change is going to

happen and be maintained. Further, LIFT is extremely dedicated to invest[ing] in innovative approachesto reverse the trend of growing suffering in our country (LIFTs Approach). While it does not, according to Reddy, influence public policy, LIFT is taking the necessary steps towards developing and implementing progressive approaches to remake America as a nation of opportunity (LIFTs Approach). Still, LIFT recognizes that it is only one non-profit organization and that significant social change must be something that a great number of individuals and organizations are whole-heartedly committed to. Additionally, LIFT believes that forming meaningful partnerships with other social service agencies and leaders will ultimately lead to positive political changes (Reddy, 2011). At its foundation, LIFT works to holistically address its [clients] immediate and long-term needs while making concrete steps towards[achieving their] greater dreams and aspirations (LIFTs Approach). That being said, the future ideas and plans for change incorporate a holistic outlook, allowing clients to develop an internal toolkit for progress and resiliency that enables them to move forward independently and bounce back from challenges and setbacks (LIFTs Approach). LIFT volunteers seek to work with clients, rather than work for clients (Reddy, 2011). This has more to do with justice and empowerment than it has to do with merely helping; working with clients allows LIFT volunteers to supportively empower clients to learn to support themselves. Through tangible gains, such as obtaining public benefits, gaining employment, becoming financially stable, accessing education and training, receiving necessary health care, and acquiring housing, LIFT clients are able to feel supported and heard as they grow into the wellrounded individuals they aspire to be (LIFTs Approach). The whole-person transformation of LIFT clients starts from one-on-one meetings with LIFT volunteers. Through these meetings, clients gain more than simply overcoming what were originally highly complex set of interrelated needs. Furthermore, and arguably more important, clients are supported by the LIFT community as they strengthen their goal-setting abilities, problem-solving skills, knowledge of key community resources, self-confidence, and ability to

advocate for themselves and their families (LIFTs Approach). In addition to resources, LIFT has passionate volunteers and staff members who are dedicated to living out LIFTs mission in order to achieve its ultimate long-term vision (Reddy, 2011). While LIFT is similar to other organizations that provide direct service in the way they encourage whole-person transformation, LIFT differs in that it does not tangibly offer services to clients (Reddy, 2011). LIFT guides clients in the right direction to find and utilize the resources available in the surrounding community. This unique aspect of LIFT proves helpful in that the common knowledge of resources and services can help different clients with different issues. Simply put, throughout the Chicago region, individuals and families in need are looking for support; LIFT-Chicago is there to provide it (LIFT-Chicago Region). LIFT offers the listening ear that many clients are in need of when seeking out help and support. The willingness of LIFT volunteers to really listen to the needs and desires of clients allows for partnerships of trust and accountability to form and be maintained (Reddy, 2011). For example, according to a LIFT-Chicago client, LIFTs services are top notchVolunteers have helped me organize my life and helped me work towards my goalsThey have given me directions and helped with me personal decision making (LIFT-Chicago Region). Ultimately, everyones experience with LIFT whether as a client, volunteer, supporter, or site coordinator pushes people to grapple with Chicagos most challenging issues related to poverty, race, inequality, and policy (LIFTChicago Region). This ultimately provides all pieces of the puzzle with the necessary tools and skills to combat poverty and create social change.

References Ben Reuler | LIFT. (n.d.). LIFT: Combating Poverty and Expanding Opportunity | LIFT. Retrieved September 30, 2011, from http://www.liftcommunities.org/about/team/item/21-ben-reuler Duncan, D. (n.d.). The ABCD Model How to Unlock Gifts in a Community and Organization. ABCD Institute. Retrieved September 28, 2011, from www.coady.stfx.ca/tinroom/assets/file/ABCD_ConferenceMaterials/Dan%20Duncan%20 The%20ABCD%20Model%20How%20to%20Unlock%20Gifts%20in%20a%20Community %20and%20Organization.pdf Impact Report. [Brochure]. Chicago, Illinois:LIFT. LIFT's Approach to Combat Poverty in the US | LIFT. (n.d.). LIFT: Combating Poverty and Expanding Opportunity | LIFT. Retrieved September 26, 2011, from http://www.liftcommunities.org/about/approach LIFT-Chicago Region. [Brochure]. Chicago, Illinois:LIFT. LIFT-Chicago Region's Comprehensive Social Service Guide. (2008, July 16). Wetpaint. Retrieved September 30, 2011, from nspedia.wetpaint.com/ Our History | LIFT. (n.d.). LIFT: Combating Poverty and Expanding Opportunity | LIFT. Retrieved September 27, 2011, from http://www.liftcommunities.org/about/history Our Impact on Families, Individuals, Volunteers, and Communities | LIFT. (n.d.). LIFT: Combating Poverty and Expanding Opportunity | LIFT. Retrieved September 26, 2011, from http://www.liftcommunities.org/about/impact Reddy, Rukmini. Personal interview. 27 Sept. 2011.

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