LiftWorks™ Program
At the LiftWorks™ Program, we
forge economic opportunities for
people in and around Chicago from
disinvested and overlooked communities, who are overcoming barriers to fair wage employment.
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Our workforce comes from our employment partners and includes those in the justice system and identified most at risk for gun violence; those coming out of addiction, housing instability, homelessness, and food insecurity; at-risk young mothers; young adults with intellectual differences; and those who are physically challenged.
Through on-the-job training in the Ben Arkes Lift™ Center, mentorship, and educational workshops, LiftWorks™ Program associates learn critical career development skills needed in the workplace.
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What they do:
- Create, produce, and fulfill our Lift™ line of bath & spa
goods, face masks, eye masks, hand sanitizer, and lanyards
- Finish and assemble our ecoLIFT™ line of social impact home, office, and personal care products
- Cross train in the Warehouse on kitting & assembly and
3rd Party Logistics projects
Our employment partners:
- Heartland Alliance (READI Chicago, FarmWorks, and SEED)
- Cara
- Transition2Work
- StreetWise
- Growing Home
- New Moms
- Lawrence Hall
Security:
Offering job opportunities; providing healthy meals, mentorship, and emergency funding (for food, housing, transportation, and medical services in an emergency); delivering support services directly and through our agency partners; and focusing on mental health through yoga and our annual 5k race, in a supportive, caring, and nurturing environment.
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Education:
Educational opportunities and enhancements through: working in our on-site computer lab to learn Microsoft Word/Excel and Google Docs/Sheets; off-site conferences and field trips; and conflict resolution.
Growth:
Providing leadership training opportunities and career development that pairs LiftWorks™ associates' interests and talents with organizational needs. Career paths have included brand management, customer service, logistics, website management, and soon, social media management.
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