LIFT-Chicago Summit: Perspective

Confession. I went to the LIFT-Chicago Regional Summit having had far too little sleep and having far too many other things on my mind. I was stressed about my impending week and could already anticipate the additional sleep-deprivation in my future. On a rational level, I could recognize the importance of the Summit, but I wasn’t thinking entirely rationally, and I’m ashamed to admit that a part of me resented having to dedicate my Sunday to the event.

My group arrived at Summit late and we didn’t have time to complete some of the activities that the other LIFTers had done throughout breakfast. Personally, I was relieved. I had avoided having to characterize LIFT in one word upon a strip of sunshine yellow colored paper and get my picture taken with that description. Choosing a one-word declaration seemed consequential. It would reflect upon me as much as it would portray LIFT. Better to abstain from the whole exercise than choose a word that was trite or insincere (or worse, spelled wrong!). 

But at lunch, I was cornered. I stared at a rectangle of yellow paper whose brightness and blankness seemed all-consuming. One of my fellow LIFTers suggested “upLIFTing,” but puns were never my thing. Ultimately, I finally decided on my word: perspective. At the time, it didn’t particularly speak to me, but I’m not sure if any single word would adequately sum up my LIFT experience (and like, I said, I was being a bit of a grump).

Lunch finished, and I again ran out of time to get my picture taken. Suddenly, I was stuck with my word. I was literally stuck with perspective. And I had to carry perspective with me to each of the various tables during the Open Space Unconference. As I engaged in different conversations about the ramifications of describing a “culture of poverty,” rights education, and what the Occupy Movement revealed about the problem of poverty, I was confronted with my own handwriting and large letters forming “perspective.” At some point in the process, staring at that strip of paper actually changed my perspective and I (finally!) embraced the sentiment as my own. The truth is, one of the things I do value most about my LIFT experience is the perspective it gives me.

On a simple level, LIFT regularly puts my own worries and concerns into perspective. Sometimes my priorities do get all out of sorts and working with clients reminds me of that. 

I believe, though, that LIFT offers an even more important perspective. LIFT emphasizes a relationship between student advocate and client through which both individuals become empowered to fight poverty.  Clients direct change in their own lives, and many learn skills that will be valuable to them long after their connection to LIFT, such as resume or cover letter writing skills. LIFT advocates regularly encounter all the governmental and community resources available to combat poverty, but they also experience with frustration instances when individuals cannot be served by these organizations. LIFT advocates are forced to face the unfortunate reality of systemic problems in America’s attempt to confront poverty, but they are also bestowed with a certain sort of “insider” knowledge of the complexities and intricacies of those systems. I think this is the idea keynote speaker Molly Day articulated when she spoke of the importance of the “LIFT worldview.” Clients and student advocates demonstrate a desire for change simply by walking in the door. They know society can do better, and they think that we deserve to do better. And once at LIFT, clients and student advocates sort through problems together and learn from one another. LIFTers offer a much needed perspective as we continue to seek better solutions for combating poverty and expanding opportunity.

So despite my initial qualms, by the end Summit, I was pretty proud to pose for the camera in my LIFT t-shirt holding renewed “perspective” between my hands.

- Dana Behnke (LIFT-Chicago Student Advocate/Northwestern University ‘12)

LIFT-Chicago Summit: Building Community

On Sunday February 26^th, the Chicago region gathered at the Second Annual LIFT-Chicago Regional Summit for a day filled with positive energy and excitement about the anti-poverty movement, coming together to support and learn from one another as we continue our work with community members throughout Chicago area. During the day LIFTers were able to hear from community partners about what is happening around our city to combat poverty, as well as from one another. This day was an important opportunity to connect personal experiences with a larger network of encouragement and support, helping student advocates to link the work that we do in our own offices to something greater. 

One of the most inspiring portions of the day for me was the open space conference, which was an opportunity for LIFT student advocates to create our own topics of discussion.  According to Peter Marshall, “A different world cannot be built by indifferent people.” This time during the day was a prime example of the fact that LIFT is an organization made up of people who are anything but indifferent. Passion flowed throughout the room as LIFTers were engaged in conversations about everything from how we talk about poverty to what systems are in place that are hindering opportunity for those most in need. In our work, we often discuss specific examples and personal stories, so this was a significant time to dig deeper into areas of interest and reflection with people who understand and are engaged in the work that we do and can add to and open up our thoughts.

Summit was an important time of reflection and community building as we engage in work that can sometimes be fast paced and slightly overwhelming. As a student advocate, I find that it can be easy to get lost in the details. We work one on one with community members whose stories, desires, and needs are complex and deserving of an expert problem solver. Summit made it possible to take the problem solving skills that we as LIFTers develop in client meetings to take on larger, systemic issues. In doing so, we were also able to build community within our larger network and be reminded of the fact that we are part of the LIFT family and are supported in every step of our work. Summit was a great reminder of why I lift and empowered me and others to go out into our communities and challenge the norms by working to combat poverty and expand opportunity. 

- Lydia G (LIFT-Chicago Student Advocate/Loyola University Chicago ‘12) 

LIFT-Chicago Summit: Digging Deeper

I want to ask you a question I have never quite had an answer to: Why is it that in our society, discussing political issues or societal problems is more socially taboo than in many places where oppositional speech is not protected? Do we really take this right of ours as Americans so for granted that we cannot even bring ourselves to speak publicly or socially of those issues that truly drive us, which inspire us, that motivate us to effect change?

Summit provided me with my first experience in quite a long period, where I could brainstorm about problems in our society and get feedback on the solutions I proposed. In the Open Space Un-Conference, we discussed ideas about universal health insurance and later had a lengthy discourse around immigration reform. We shared perspectives, discussed complications, and investigated potential solutions. When it comes to social policy, however, those of us involved in LIFT tend to fall on the same end of the political spectrum. We have something of a problem of self-selection in that because we all work actively toward the same goal of eliminating poverty and expanding opportunity. Our predisposition to a certain extent to view other issues similarly, centers the debate on assumptions which may not hold true for the larger American public.

Summit was a powerful experience for me. The opportunity for probing dialogue with individuals whom I’d never met before captivated me from the start. I hope we can perpetuate the power of Summit by continuing the discourse we found so enlightening and expanding the perspectives we include in that dialogue.

We need, in my opinion, the input of those others who see our solutions as flawed or insufficient. We need discourse to help us see the misconceptions in our own perspectives and to find the viable compromises that will help solve these problems. It’s truly unfortunate that LIFT’s Open Space conference was one of the only opportunities for us to have these essential conversations. I sometimes wonder if political dialogue were less taboo—would our nation’s public know more about the barriers that prevent inner city students from succeeding? Would they know more about how lowering taxes or expanding social programs affect their own individual lives? Would they better understand the effect of immigrant workers on the economy? I hope so.

As I understand the students of LIFT, we want to talk about these issues. We want our points of view to be thoughtfully considered and critiqued intellectually by those who disagree. We want to find solutions to problems like institutionalized poverty and inequality of opportunity (for education, financial security, or health care) in this country. I hope that those who share these values and who believe that America is and should be a land of opportunity will help us accomplish that goal.

- Rebecca T. (LIFT-Chicago Student Advocate/Northwestern University)

LIFT-Chicago Summit: Starting a Dialogue

A fire was lit under me last Sunday at the LIFT-Chicago 2012 Regional Summit. The sheer dynamic created by the various volunteers, coming together from the Uptown, Pilsen, and Evanston offices, united under the common goal to combat poverty and expand opportunity, was both overwhelming and inspiring. The incredible energy, coupled with the knowledgeable guest speakers, facilitated an environment where thoughtful, insightful, and progressive conversation about our nation’s most pressing issues could take shape. For me personally, it was an incredible opportunity to delve deeper into multifaceted issues like education, the “American Dream”, and healthcare for the disadvantaged where I found particularly thought-provoking conversations being had. In keeping with the theme of “Problem Solving through Systems”, the various break-out groups I participated in examined the systematic bias against those, who quite frankly have little to no control over the world they are born into, and those who have made mistakes in the past, propagated by our current “system”. What we need is a reevaluation of the programs, methodologies, and perceptions we hold and use to address the complex, yet combatable issue of poverty. To be honest, what I saw Sunday was the kind of conversation that needs to be undertaken on a national level.

            Given the current circumstances, both fiscal and social, I believe the climate of our nation is ripe, no begs, for change. Those who have been facing poverty are being hit harder and those who have recently begun to experience poverty’s adversity are thrust into a tortuous, difficult to navigate, maze of public benefits, insufficient housing, and fleeting healthcare where even organizations like LIFT are struggling to help.

            As it stands, America is grappling with its individualistic identity and” pull yourself up by your own bootstraps” mantra against the well-defined need for a more collectivist, group-oriented approach. The healthy discussions at the LIFT-Chicago Regional Summit addressed this issue and offered solutions in the form of redesigning our approach to dealing with poverty; both, as I’d like to add, the economic and social variety, in such a way as to incorporate our American identity, but without being blind to the growing need for group-directed programs and goals. What dawned on us, as we discussed the conflict more and more, was the disconnect between our conceptions of poverty, the “American Dream”, and steps we take as a nation to fight poverty.

            Overall, I walked away from the Regional Summit with a renewed passion and a sense of hope, inspired by the intelligent, critical, and conscientious volunteers and guests. From now on, I will be approaching everything I do at LIFT, whether it be meeting with a client or updating the resource guide, as a learning opportunity, not just for me, but for the movement to combat poverty and expand opportunity as a whole. From the discussions had, and the perspectives shared last Sunday, I now feel confident, more than ever, that our generation has the tools to combat poverty on an unprecedented scale, and, as long we are thinking, examining, and fighting, our voices will be heard and our actions will plant seeds of change.    

- Taha Z (LIFT-Chicago Student Advocate/Loyola University Chicago ‘15)

LIFT-Chicago Summit: Finding Solutions

            This past Sunday, the entire Chicago Region gathered together for the Second Annual LIFT-Chicago Regional Summit. The theme of the day was Problem Solving Across Systems, and through the various breakout sessions and small group discussions, LIFT student advocates and community partners were able to share information and insights with one another. Being able to connect with so many other students from across the city of Chicago was an incredibly uniting experience that truly gave me a sense of solidarity within the LIFT community. In addition, having so many of our community partners passionately engaging us in discussions about poverty and opportunity was a true highlight of the day for me.

            As college students, out time spent in the LIFT office can only be described as powerful. As a student advocate, I have been opened up to so many new experiences and ways of understanding the world thanks to the amazing students in the  office and our clients that we work with on a daily basis. It is easy to become so fixated on the day-to-day challenges that my clients face, that I sometimes tend to forget about the support that all LIFT student advocates have throughout the community. Through both the breakout groups and the Open Space discussion, I was able to connect with these passionate and caring community partners, learn from their immense knowledge, and share ideas of how to further combat poverty and expand opportunity within our community.

            One of the most empowering moments of my day was during the Open Space Conference. Students from all three offices gathered together, and we began discussing the importance of immigration reform, as well as the struggles with safety, security, and poverty that many immigrants face. While that conversation was passionate and interesting, when we turned the discussion to brainstorming possible solutions to address the United State’s immigration policy, and treatment of immigrants once they are living within our borders, the possible solutions ranged from idealistic desires to manageable, bipartisan compromises. We discussed the possible reformations that we as future service workers, policy makers, and society members can implement to provide an equal opportunity to all people in the United States. This discussion was both thought provoking and passionate, and it forced me to think about such a complex and pervasive issue in a way that could yield results. For me, this was truly an experience of LIFT advocates working to expand opportunity.

            Summit was such a powerful experience for me because of the connections that I made with other student advocates and community partners. LIFT has always connected me to incredible resources and people, and by attending Summit, I was able to discuss poverty on local, national, and global levels with likeminded individuals. More than just discussing poverty, we brainstormed manners to expand opportunity to all people for both the immediate and long-term future and this left me truly inspired in my work at LIFT. 

- Hannah G (LIFT-Chicago Student Advocate/Loyola University Chicago ‘13) 

Images of Summit

The LIFT-Chicago Region is coming off of a great day long summit experience where Student Advocates and community members engaged in dialogue around creating an opportunity society. Our volunteers will be sharing their summit experience via this blog over the next few weeks, but in the meantime we wanted to quickly provide you with some visual images of the discussions happening during the open space portion of our day.

More information and thoughts from the day were captured on Facebook and Twitter. 

Pre-Summit Reflection

After our first Chicago Regional Summit last year, I cannot contain my excitement for this year’s experience.  I think Summit is an essential time to not only better prepare student advocates to best serve our clients, but to instill within them a sense of solidarity in combating poverty and expanding opportunity in our community as well.  It is a major opportunity for volunteers from the three offices to interact, connect and recognize how their personal experiences fit into the larger national movement.  Despite having to address a subject as heavy as poverty, it is approached from a variety of angles that help to alleviate such heaviness and allow the student advocates to enjoy themselves rather than feel discouraged.  

Summit provides volunteers with a level of comfort beyond simply knowing that there are other students involved in an experience that parallels one’s own; it allows individual volunteers to actually meet and discuss with these students, leading to a better, more personal understanding of LIFT’s work and mission.  This—in addition to getting them out of their respective campuses for a day—ultimately challenges student advocates to build upon and progress their time at LIFT in such a way that complements the common human experience.

Katie

LIFT-Chicago Student Advocate/Loyola University Chicago ‘12

LIFT-Chicago Regional Summit

Welcome! 

The LIFT-Chicago region is excited to see our Second Annual Regional Summit take place in just under 24 hours. After months of planning, we look forward for the opportunity to bring together our entire region and several community partners to engage in discussion around Problem Solving Across Systems and Creating an Opportunity Society. 

Our student advocates will be blogging about their summit experience, their reflections from the day, and what it means to join with those from across the region to discuss their work and collaborate with those across the Chicago community. We hope you will continue to check back here over the coming weeks, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and engage in discussion as our student advocates react to their summit experience. 

On behalf of all LIFT-Chicago Site Coordinators, we look forward to sharing this summit experience with you, 

Alli Rosen and Matt Forrest 

 Site Coordinator/AmeriCorps*National Direct

This weekend wraps Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week. Are U doing anything? Tweet ur plans/pics #poverty #hhaw http://t.co/Yw58Dmpq

Gorgeous pics from @LIFTDC Benefit last night! http://t.co/Jv3pz7Zb So many new supporters combating DC #poverty. Thx to all who came out!

RT @LIFTDC: LIFT-DC #AutumnBenefit http://t.co/FjtsHzem via @gofgDC

RT @CGCareers: Lots of NPOs say diversity is impt 2 them but do they walk the walk? @LIFTCommunities does! Check it out http://t.co/EGnvDTtC

According to the Census’s new broader poverty measure, nearly 50 million Americans were living in poverty in 2010, http://t.co/ORsoFTNR

Does YOUR nonprofit walk the walk? LIFT is finding out how we measure up to our #diversity goals w/ a cultural audit http://t.co/YZZkNhMl