Chicago

Loyola University Students and LIFT-Chicago

A Transformative Experience
 A Transformative Experience | 3

This collection of letters was presented to the

administration of Loyola University Chicago on
behalf of Loyola students who have participated
as LIFT-Chicago volunteers.
The letters explain how their experiences as
LIFT volunteers have changed their personal
outlooks on life, not only as students, but as
individuals.
4 | Loyola University Students and LIFT-Chicago

To Father Garanzini and the Loyola Administration,

I would like to share with you a very well-kept secret. For quite some time there has been
this organization that has changed the lives of many for the better. This organization works to
combat poverty and expand opportunity for all by having college students work one-on-one
with members of the community. It was through my volunteer work at this organization that I
was able to discover who I truly am.

I grew up in a very different background than most people at this university. I did have the
economic privilege to attend this university, but growing up, my family life was far from
stable. I came to Loyola completely confused, and just thankful to be able to move away from
those issues. I became a new person once I attended college, but I still felt like I was missing
something. So I began looking for ways that I could find myself and help those who also come
from difficult backgrounds.

I was encouraged to get involved in the community as part of the first Living-Learning
Community, and while I was at an organization fair, I found LIFT. I can honestly say that my
entire student experience and view of life has changed since I joined this organization. It was
through my volunteer experiences at LIFT that I have grown to be the person I am today.

I started as a volunteer to help people find affordable housing, find employment, apply for
public benefits, and more, but then I realized how amazing this organization was at changing
the lives of so many. It changed my life, the lives of members of the community, and the
lives of many students. Now I am working as the Student Director of Outreach, Community
Partnerships, and Advocacy.

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 A Transformative Experience | 5

One story that I constantly tell people about is something that I will not forget. There was a
woman who came to our office in a time of despair in her life. She had three children and one
was really sick. She lost her job from going to the hospital to visit her son, and her husband
stopped paying child support. She was six months behind on rent because of financial issues,
and she was about to be evicted in the middle of winter. Her landlord started harassing her
and her children (throwing their stuff out and trashing their apartment while they were gone)
because she owed him so much, yet the apartment had been in an atrocious condition from the
time she signed the lease. She then found out she was pregnant. I worked with her for months
to find her free legal aid, housing options, and have her apply for public benefits like TANF. She
won her housing case in court and the landlord had to reimburse her for her troubles. She was
able to get Section 8 housing and use the money from her court case to pay for rent while she
looked for jobs. The landlord was forced to close the apartments because they were deemed
inhabitable, and this mom and her three kids never had to experience homelessness. Through
working with this woman I was able to help her and her children, but I also helped myself. It
has been through this organization that I have been able to find myself and discover that I am
a person for others.

I would be happy to sit down and discuss more stories like this if you have time.

Regards,
Michael Schiro
Class of 2012
Director of Client Outreach, Community Partnerships, and Advocacy
Damen Awards Planning Committee
6 | Loyola University Students and LIFT-Chicago

Dear Father Garanzini and the Loyola Administration,

My name is Nadia Shamsi and I would like to talk to you about LIFT, an organization which has
been closely tied with Loyola University Chicago for the past 7 years. I grew up in the relatively
sheltered neighborhood of Park Ridge during most of my life, where I attended Maine South
High School. My family was very focused on social issues growing up, and I spent a lot of
my time volunteering at soup kitchens, schools, and attending Key Club meetings and doing
community work.

When I came to Loyola University Chicago as an undergraduate in 2004, I wanted to continue

my service work, and I felt that my passion for social justice lined up with the Jesuit ideals that
Loyola stood for. However, I didnt feel that I was able to do much beyond the campus. I joined
Amnesty International, Volunteer Action Program, and other groups that allowed me to go to
on monthly trips to a local soup kitchen and talk to people. However, I still felt that I wasnt
doing enough. I almost felt like I was maintaining the situation rather than working to improve
my community.

I discovered LIFT in 2007 when a staff member spoke to my class about being a leader for
social change. I began volunteering during my senior year at Loyola, and immediately noticed
a difference between this organization and so many others I had worked with. Working at LIFT
allowed me to directly change peoples lives in the community. I used the skills and education
that I gained from Loyola to work one-on-one with people who didnt have access to those
same resources. I was able to update community members rsums, search for housing,
contact an attorney with little to no cost, and connect families with child care. I was able to
put Loyolas core ideals into practice, working to expand knowledge in the service of humanity,
through learning, justice, and faith.

My particular strength grew from my interest and knowledge in the criminal justice sector, and
I was able to get a better understanding of the course material by seeing it firsthand at LIFT. As
a Criminal Justice major, I studied its system and its policies in class, and was able to directly
implement this education at LIFT. I often worked one-on-one with formerly incarcerated
individuals at LIFT, and I recall a particular day in class when we studied expungement and
sealing. I had a much deeper understanding of this curriculum as I had just worked with a client
who just came out of prison, and we both looked into the expungement process.

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 A Transformative Experience | 7

After my graduation in May 2008, I applied for and was accepted into the position of
AmeriCorps*National Direct Site Coordinator at LIFT-Chicago, where I have been to this day. I
now work at LIFT-Chicago full-time, where I continue to provide direct client service, while also
talking to other Loyola students about my experience at LIFT and recruiting other volunteers
for our organization. While my two-year term with LIFT ends in July, I hope to continue my
interest in serving the community by going into civil rights law. Both the work experience
at LIFT and the service-learning education I have received at Loyola University Chicago has
inspired me to continue service and equipped me with the necessary skills and knowledge to
be an active leader that works for social change.

Sincerely,
Nadia Shamsi
Loyola University Chicago, 2008
Site Coordinator/AmeriCorps*National Direct, LIFT-Chicago
8 | Loyola University Students and LIFT-Chicago

To Father Garanzini and Loyola Administration,

After volunteering with various different organizations during my first two years at Loyola, I
think Ive finally settled in at LIFT. A friend at Loyola who volunteers there told me about
the mission, namely to combat poverty and expand opportunity for all people in the United
States, and I became curious. This past summer, I spent a week volunteering with another
organization that espouses the same ideal. Overall that experience was disappointing. But
now that Im at LIFT, I understand its strengths all the more clearly. It is well organized but not
overly bureaucratic. It is realistic about the resources that our clients possess, and it focuses
on working with our clients strengths. This seems wise for any organization, but especially for
those with the serious goal of bettering the lives of those we work with.

Working at LIFT is a stretching experience for me. Although I am no stranger to those struggling
to make ends meet, Ive never been charged with the kind of responsibility that I have at LIFT.
In the past 10 weeks Ive tweaked resumes, pursued apartment listings, applied for jobs, and
navigated the daunting process of applying for public benefits. (The Site Coordinators and
Student Directors help new volunteers get accustomed to these processes, and it is hands-on
from the very beginning.) Sometimes I feel myself riding the same emotional roller coaster
that my clients are on. I hope that, in a struggling job market, my client will be the lucky one to
get a call back about his application. I feel the tremendous burden of searching for housing as
my client faces the possibility of homelessness. The work is often weighty.

But the volunteers are wonderful. I love walking into the office because, despite the serious
situations our clients face, the atmosphere is always positive. This past Monday I had a client
who, after a long meeting that seemed to make little progress, asked me an unexpected
question. How does LIFT work so well? What? I said, surprised that she was anything but
disappointed. How does LIFT seem to get stuff done? I go to other places and it seems like
we get nowhere. I responded as Id heard others respond: Well, we dont give up. We break
big problems into little tasks. And we remain positive and tackle the little tasks one at a time.
She seemed satisfied with that answer. And, well, its true.

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 A Transformative Experience | 9

This entire experience is humbling and eye-opening. I volunteer because I understand how
privileged I am, and because I am personally aligned with the Jesuit commitment to justice.
I am fortunate enough to be able to ponder my personal calling as well as larger issues of
social justice. Borrowing from the insights of Dr. John Neafsey, at LIFT those two things
personal calling and social justicecoalesce into one. In the final analysis, I volunteer at LIFT
because Jesus words resonate with me: Love God with your all, and love your neighbor as
yourself.

I hope that this letter finds you well. Thanks for taking the time to read it. I hope it has helped
you understand LIFT a little better.

Shalom,
Anonymous
Loyola University Chicago, 2012

10 | Loyola University Students and LIFT-Chicago

Father Garanzini and the Administration of Loyola,

I am a sophomore at Loyola and have been volunteering at LIFT for more than a semester. I
began volunteering last September to fulfill a service-learning requirement for my theology
class. At the time I did not give much thought to social justice and how important this type of
work is. Over the past semester I have seen, firsthand, the importance of LIFT, not only for the
community but also for myself.

LIFT gives clients hope to pursue their dreams and ambitions. This is a very powerful tool when
combined with the resources that we are able to provide clients. In the time I have volunteered
there, I have only heard great things from our clients about the services at LIFT. I also believe
LIFT is important because the majority of our clients want to help the underserved in their
community as soon as they have built a strong foundation for themselves. This is an important
aspect because the first step in fighting poverty is awareness of the issue. This awareness does
not only affect them but it also affects myself as well.

I am studying biology and neuroscience, and in my field of study, I would not normally come
in contact with the underserved and impoverished in the community. This experience has
broadened my view of the injustices in our community and has made me passionate about
doing more to help those who are underserved. This has also changed my career path and I
would now like to go to medical school then work at an underserved clinic. LIFT is an incredible
program that has helped define who I am as a person and has opened my eyes to a different
side of life.

All the best,

Jon Medernach
Loyola University Chicago, 2012

 A Transformative Experience | 11

Dear Father Garanzini and the Loyola Administration,

My name is Phil and I am writing on behalf of LIFT Chicago. I am an undergraduate, and hope
to continue with graduate work, in the School of Social Work at Loyola University Chicago. I
am also a volunteer at LIFT Chicago, an organization that works towards combating poverty and
expanding opportunity. I believe that these two organizations share a common goal.

At the age of 30, my educational path has been less than conventional. However, I believe
the circumstances that brought me to this point make me uniquely qualified to speak to the
importance of organizations like LIFT. In addition to being a student, my other full-time job is
maintaining my sobriety. My life, until my moment of clarity, had become progressively out
of control. Four years ago, having burned all bridges I found myself homeless, living out of
my truck. This was my bottom. I was utterly hopeless and certain that my life was destined to
come to an end sooner rather than later. I continued to drink and use until, gratefully, I ended
up in the state-run mental health facility in Elgin, Illinois.

After a four-month stay I was transferred to a group home in Woodstock, Illinois, run under the
management of the Pioneer Center for Recovery. With the help of the staff at both Pioneer
and McHenry County Family Services, I was able to turn my life around. I will be celebrating
three years of continuous sobriety on May 12th of this year. The very idea that I would be
applying to graduate school at Loyola University would have been beyond unbelievable to me
four years ago. My attendance at the University is a constant reminder of how blessed I am.
With that reminder comes the reality that were it not for the people that helped me, and
offered me hope at my lowest point, I would not be where I am today.

Two weeks ago I received a message that one of my dear friends had passed away. Her body
was found 10 days after she succumbed to a lethal overdose of heroin. I dont mention this
lightly. She was someone that I loved. I mention it as an example of the result of hopelessness,
and what happens when there is no one there to help and offer hope. The staff at LIFT makes
it their duty to bring hope to the hopeless, addressing one need at a time.

My involvement with LIFT is a living amends to myself, and it could not be more personal and
important to me. Nothing is more important in life than to do what we can to help our fellow
man. In this way, I believe that the mission of LIFT aligns itself with the mission and ideals
espoused by the Jesuit community.

Thank you for your time,

Phillip
Loyola University Chicago
12 | Loyola University Students and LIFT-Chicago

Dear Father Garanzini,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to share with you my incredible experience with LIFT,
and how I feel it helped to shape my undergraduate career at Loyola.

I discovered LIFT as an eager freshman, responding to a flyer that promised community service
and opportunities for leadership positions. Finding out more, I felt it was a good fit for me and
started working with clients within a few weeks.

LIFT provided me with training upfront, as well as bi-weekly trainings throughout my four
years. The fact that I was still learning new techniques and finding resources as a senior is
a true testament to the variety of services that LIFT is able to provide clients. These services
range from resume writing to housing searches to emotional support in some of our clients
most trying times.

I had one particular client who I worked with for about a year. She was insistent upon working
with the same volunteer, and she was persistent in advocating for herself. We worked together
to search for suitable affordable housing and an outlet to publish her various short stories.
While we focused on the goals we made together, I feel she kept coming back because of the
emotional support LIFT volunteers provide.

When a client walks in the door, they can expect to see a cheerful volunteer. Loyola student
volunteers work relentlessly to meet their clients needs, including the need to feel valued and
accepted by others. In Uptown, where social services abound, LIFT sets itself apart by looking
at the client holistically.

I cannot imagine my time at Loyola without LIFT. It was a nice contrast to my science-heavy
courseload, and complemented what I was learning in my Psychology courses. It gave me
concrete examples to draw upon in discussions with peers, and also gave me a true picture of
Chicago to bring home to my family.

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 A Transformative Experience | 13

LIFT allowed me to advance through the leadership ranks to the position of Local Director.
In this role I was able to influence new volunteers and gain vital experience. The many ways
I developed as a leader, through LIFT and opportunities at Loyola, demonstrate themselves
in my classroom every day. I currently teach high school on the southwest side of Chicago. I
am certain that I would not be as strong of a leader if I had not integrated LIFT into my Loyola
education.

I hope you have a chance to visit LIFTs office in Uptown and see the wonderful work that they
do. I am immensely proud of how much they have grown over the years, and inspired by their
current leadership.

Sincerely,
Lauren Levites
Loyola University Chicago, 2009
14 | Loyola University Students and LIFT-Chicago

Dear Father Garanzini and Loyola Administration,

For the last four years, I have been involved with an extraordinary organization called LIFT.
LIFT is a growing movement to combat poverty and expand opportunity for all people in the
United States. We do this by training and equipping college students to work one-on-one with
community residents. Working together, LIFTs volunteers and clients regularly find solutions
to pressing financial and social problems; such as unemployment, inadequate housing and a
confusing public benefit system. In 2009, LIFT met with 736 clients, placed 15 individuals in
subsidized housing and secured 60 jobs.

As beneficial as LIFT is for clients, it is also an invaluable experience for the volunteer. I started
at LIFT as a sophomore at Loyola University Chicago. Having graduated from Loyola Academy,
I was already familiar with service work and social justice. However, I had never before been
engaged in direct serve. LIFT allowed me to put into practice my education, skills and values.

Since then, LIFT has helped me develop as a person and as a leader. In addition to being a
Student Advocate, I had the opportunity to contribute as a Community Outreach Manger and
the Student Director for Partnerships and Outreach. In my senior year, I applied for and was
hired as a Site Coordinator and I now look forward to my fifth year with LIFT.

However, I am just one of many whose lives have been touched by LIFT. Please see our website at
www.liftcommunities.org for personal stories about our clients and volunteers.

Sincerely,
Steven Monroy
Loyola University Chicago, 2009
Site Coordinator/AmeriCorps*National Direct, LIFT-Chicago

 A Transformative Experience | 15

Fr. Garanzini and the Administrators of Loyola,

My work at LIFT has been one of my highlights (if not the highlight) of my time here at Loyola.
As a senior graduating in May, I regret not finding out about this organization earlier. Everyone
involved is incredibly enthusiastic about their work, as are the clients who come to get help,
and this fosters a very positive environment.

There are times when I have a very busy week and volunteering is at the bottom of my list of
priorities. Then I enter in the office, and I am transformed. LIFT places tremendous responsibility
on its volunteers (its the most serious volunteer position Ive ever had or heard of) and this
in turn motivates us to perform to our best ability. As I help clients, I am also helping myself
learning about various social services, maneuvering through the web of resources, adapting
my approach to the diverse needs of clients, and preparing myself for the real world after
graduation.

LIFT must continue to be valued at this school. All students should know about it, as there are
many opportunities for the program to evolve.

I am pretty lost as I enter the graduation phase, but LIFT has solidified my belief that I need to
be helping people in some way in whatever path I choose.

Connor Dearing
Loyola University Chicago, 2010
16 | Loyola University Students and LIFT-Chicago

Dear Father Garanzini and members of the Loyola Administration,

My name is Sabeen Shamsi and I am currently a sophomore at Loyola University. I started

volunteering at LIFT in the fall semester of my sophomore year and from the very beginning
it opened me to a whole new perspective on life not only as a student, but also as a human
being. LIFT is a growing movement to combat poverty and expand opportunity for everyone
in the United States. Students like me volunteer to work one on one with clients of different
backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses and even cultures, towards a common goal of bettering
peoples lives.

My experience at LIFT, in just this short time, has opened my eyes to the injustice and suffering
that is experienced across the country, especially in Loyolas own neighboring communities. I
have learned that the Jesuit tradition of social justice can actually be put into practice through
working with members of the community to obtain housing, employment, food, and other
human needs.

Working at LIFT has taught me in a way that no book or lecture ever could. I have learned
the value of hard work, the reasons behind the need for social justice, the heartache of not
being able to help everyone, and the importance of having hope even in the most desperate of
circumstances. I will carry these lessons with me for the rest of my life, and hope to put them
into practice when I one day become a doctor. LIFT has given me experience with helping those
who need it. I hope to do this kind of good for the rest of my life.

Sincerely,

Sabeen Shamsi
Loyola University Chicago, 2013

 A Transformative Experience | 17

Dear Father Garanzini,

My name is Theresa James and I am currently a sophomore here at Loyola University Chicago.
I am writing to share the impact of my experience working with LIFT-Chicago, a non-profit
organization dedicated to combating poverty in Chicago, as well as across the United States.
Through helping LIFT clients secure housing, public benefits, and employment, I have a better
understanding of what it is to be part of a Jesuit institution and a member of the greater
society.

This past fall I enrolled in a service-learning course called Moral Problems: Social Justice. I
had always been passionate about social justice and was excited to learn more. The required
service hours and organizational fair led me to LIFT. It was during my office hours working one-
on-one with disadvantaged clients that the Jesuit ideals of service became part of who I was as
an individual. It wasnt simply classroom talk. It was action. I heard St. Ignatius words, Teach
us to give. I felt a connection with clients as I listened to their stories. I heard about the
conditions of shelters, the depression that comes with being homeless, and the challenges that
came from working with the system. I looked into the faces of the disadvantaged, those hit
hard by the economy, and those oppressed by the cycle of poverty and saw people no different
than myself. I discovered a connection with the Chicago community beyond the gleam of
Michigan Avenue. I realized that a human connection through serving the disadvantaged is
what Loyola was about. It was there, that I found the true importance of being part of a Jesuit
institution. The hardships I saw became so important that I could no longer ignore injustice
as a member of society. It was then that I decided that my life path could not diverge far from
my human community.

Without the introduction from my Loyola Theology course, Im not sure that I would have
found LIFT or a place for social justice in my life. I feel that without my involvement there and
the subsequent incarnation of Jesuit values, my Loyola experience would be incomplete. LIFT
has been one of the most influential and life-changing experiences I have had over my past two
years at Loyola. I have both Loyola and LIFT to thank for their dedication to service and help
in finding my calling.

Thank you so much for your time.

Sincerely,
Theresa James
Loyola University Chicago, 2012
18 | Loyola University Students and LIFT-Chicago

Dear Father Garanzini and Loyola Administration,

I am writing to tell you what a wonderful experience LIFT-Chicago has been for me as a first-
year student. I came to Loyola because of its unique combination of a dedication to service and
access to the city of Chicago. I was looking for an experience which would not only educate
me about the problems in our community, but allow me to address those problems as an
undergraduate student. LIFT-Chicago has exceeded all of my expectations, and embodies what
Loyola meant to me as a prospective student.

LIFT-Chicago has educated me about the problems in our community and profoundly impacted
my academic experience. Many issues which I have discussed in class, I have seen firsthand
as a LIFT volunteer working one-on-one with low-income individuals to secure housing,
employment, and public benefits. LIFT has constantly reminded me that the issues facing
our community such as homelessness and unemployment are not just facts in a text book,
but dynamic social issues that can be changed and must be advocated for in our community.
LIFT-Chicago has supplemented my formal academic education with firsthand experience,
bi-weekly ongoing training, including many distinguished special guest speakers, and even
through community events such as the Chicago Homeless Coalitions Affordable Housing Rally,
which I participated in as a LIFT volunteer.

In addition to supplementing my education, LIFT has empowered me as a volunteer helping

to serve the community. LIFT has simultaneously provided me with a support network of
excellent professional Site Coordinators and fellow volunteers, while challenging me with
immense personal responsibility. This has allowed me to develop as a community leader, but
also has always allowed me to feel secure knowing that I am supported by knowledgeable staff
and peers who are always willing to help me with difficult client situations.

I am also thankful that LIFT has many excellent opportunities to become more involved in their
organization. I will be working this summer full-time at LIFT through their Summer Fellowship
Program, for which I feel very blessed. Looking back, I feel very lucky to have been introduced
to LIFT as a first-year student through Loyolas student activities fair. It is this sense of fortune
which compels me to tell you what a great organization LIFT-Chicago is, because I would like
to see LIFT become more prominent on campus, so that other students may have the same
privileges and opportunities that I have had through LIFT. I hope this letter may be helpful in
any consideration you may be rendering regarding LIFT-Chicago.

Sincerely,
Paul Mack
Loyola University Chicago, 2013

 A Transformative Experience | 19

Dear Father Garanzini and Loyola Administration,

I have been with LIFT for a semester and a half, and feel that the experience has been a wonderful
addition to my education at Loyola. I began volunteering because of a class requirement, but
have continued to volunteer because of its value to me personally and the difference I feel it
makes in the lives of so many people. LIFT-Chicago has provided me with a great opportunity to
help address the socioeconomic disparity around the Loyola community, and I feel privileged
to be able to give back to the neighborhood in this way. As a future social worker, it has also
provided me with the space to develop invaluable interpersonal skills and tools that will aid
me in my career. While I can learn about the facts or theories of poverty and social services in
the classroom, no lecture allows me to so tangibly assist people find resources to meet daily
needs, as LIFT does. I have enjoyed getting to meet new people (both volunteers and clients)
and increasing my own sense of justice and equality. I feel that this has been one of the most
formative experiences of my Loyola education thus far.

Sincerely,
Hannah Auger

20 | Loyola University Students and LIFT-Chicago

Dear Father Garanzini,

My name is Karan Bhargava and I am both a student at Loyola and a volunteer at LIFT-Chicago.
I am writing to enlist your support in our ongoing pursuit to combat poverty in Chicago.
Though I am a Business major, I have come to appreciate the passion for economic and social
equality that Loyola stands for through a combination of my experience here in LIFT and my
courses in Theology at Loyola. There are many other organizations that address poverty and
humanitarian work in Loyola, but LIFT is an organization devoted to combating the root of
the problem of poverty in Chicago. The cyclical process of the invisible discrimination of this
country has led to many families being left out in the streets of Chicago, but with its network of
resources and volunteers, LIFT has been able to provide its clients with housing solutions that
range from emergency shelters to permanent and subsidized housing. We have also secured
other services for our clients such as legal aid, food stamps, SSDI, employment, and healthcare.
Most importantly, LIFT helps provide a sense of support and hope for the members of our
community.

Our Lord and Savior was a servant for the poorest of the poor, and he provided aid to all who
were in need. We at LIFT are continuing His mission 2,000 years later. The lessons we have
learned from our clients and the lives we have touched at LIFT are some of the most valuable
experiences we will ever gain, and we do not want it to stop. It is because I so strongly believe
in what we fight for that I am asking for you to support our organization. We know that with the
backing of an influential member of the community, such as yourself, our sphere of influence
will be greatly increased and the number of lives we help will be even greater.

Sincerely,

Karan Bhargava
Loyola University Chicago, 2013

 A Transformative Experience | 21

To the Loyola Administration,

My name is Nicholas Passarelli and I am a first-year Honors student here at Loyola University
Chicago. Over the past school year, I have been able to exemplify the standards of a Loyola
education, including understanding diversity, promoting social justice, utilizing spiritual
action, and actively participating in civic engagement. I have been granted this opportunity
by volunteering with LIFT-Chicago. LIFT-Chicagos mission is to combat poverty and expand
opportunity for all people in the United States. As residents of Chicago, LIFT volunteers take
responsibility for the betterment of their surrounding community by assisting those in need.

Additionally, volunteering with LIFT exemplifies experiential learning, as we have the ability to
apply and put into practice all that we are learning at Loyola. As volunteers for LIFT-Chicago,
Loyola students return the surrounding community the same opportunity that they are given.
Just like Loyola, LIFT-Chicago prepares people to lead extraordinary lives. Thank you for your
time.

Regards,
Nicholas Passarelli
Loyola University Chicago, 2013

22 | Loyola University Students and LIFT-Chicago

Dear Father Garanzini and Loyola Administrators,

I wanted to explain to you why my experience at LIFT has been truly beneficial to my development
as a person, someone who wants to work in the public sector, and to learning about Chicago
as a city. I first heard about LIFT at the extracurricular fair at the beginning of my sophomore
year. After adjusting to life here at Loyola during my freshman year, I really wanted to start
getting more involved on and off campus with different organizations and just volunteering
to give back to the community. LIFT immediately sounded amazing. It is a resource center
for low-income individuals that can help with housing, employment, legal referrals, public
benefits, and more! And my favorite part ITS FREE! I couldnt believe it! It sounded like such
an amazing organization, and I immediately wanted to get involved.

All of my preconceptions were right. LIFT is amazing. In my first semester there, I learned so
much about public benefits, housing laws, immigration, and various roadblocks that so many
people face in our society. Volunteers work one-on-one with clients for forty-five minute
meetings to help clients with any of the services we offer. Clients always come in ready to
work, progress, and get their lives where they want them to be. I volunteered there twice a
week and always left feeling as though I made a difference in someones life that day even if it
was just helping to make them see that everything will be ok because we were not able to find
them employment or housing that day. The clients at LIFT see the magic that the volunteers
are able to provide as an inspiration for them to achieve their goals and more. There is a kind
of positive atmosphere at LIFT the volunteers are ambitious, intelligent, and eager to help
in any way they can. The clients are inspired by the volunteers and seem to really enjoy their
meetings and leave feeling accomplished. In my first semester, I met a lot of clients that I still
think about today and check up on through our database to see how they are doing.

After just one semester there I was ready to do more and take on a leadership role. I applied
for the Student Director of Volunteer Engagement and got it! This is a position that involves
speaking in classes to talk about LIFT, recruiting new volunteers, training them, helping to
host the ongoing training meetings we have every other week, and provide support for the
volunteers. I also still go into the office to continue my client service. I am loving being a
Student Director and I look forward to becoming even more involved next semester.

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 A Transformative Experience | 23

LIFT is truly a wonderful organization that benefits the lives of its clients, the volunteers, and
staff that work there. The students that work at LIFT become intensely educated on public
benefits, searching for employment, resume building, and more. The skills I have learned at
LIFT have already helped me so much with my own searches for employment and housing. LIFT
is an organization that is growing all over the nation because people are beginning to see what
great resources it has to offer, along with how enjoyable it can be to volunteer there. I have
truly loved being involved in LIFT and I look forward to learning even more.

Sincerely,
Alex Flatley
Loyola University Chicago, 2012
Copyright 2010 LIFT, Inc. All rights reserved.

LIFT-Chicago
Uptown Office
4554 N. Broadway, #329
Chicago, IL 606040

LIFT-Chicago
Pilsen Office
c/o Chicago WorkForce Center
1700 W. 18th Street, 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60608

www.liftcommunities.org/chicago