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.
Cambridge Mayor David P. Maher, Jackie Neel, Deputy Director of the Department of Human Service Programs and Stephanie Ackert, Executive Director of the Multi-Service Center were presented with the LIFT Distinguished Service Award on behalf of the City. Tom Lucey, Director of Community Relations, accepted the award for Harvard University. Joining in the celebration of service to the community were members of Cambridge social service organizations, State Representative Alice Wolf, members of the local business community, LIFT-Boston Regional Board members, and LIFT staff and volunteers. The program included a warm welcome from Microsoft engineer Aquil Abdullah, opening remarks from LIFT-Boston Region Executive Director Maicharia Weir Lytle, and a reflection on LIFT’s “Decade of Service” in Cambridge delivered by Site Coordinator Brittni Reilly, followed by the awards presentation.
“This community is made up of neighborhoods and residents facing the same challenges that people around the country face. I want to applaud the efforts of our department of human services and especially folks at the Multi-Service Center for their daily commitment to helping to lift the lives of people in this community. I also want to thank the folks from LIFT—to be able to have an organization like LIFT to help with housing issues, tax issues, and employment issues—is extraordinary. Please accept my heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you,” Mayor Maher stated when receiving his award.
When presented with the award for Harvard by LIFT Student Director and Harvard volunteer, Wyatt Troia, Harvard’s Tom Lucey remarked, “One of the really great parts of working at Harvard is you are part of a community that is committed to making a difference in the world. I also want to join all of you in thanking all of our student volunteers and the folks that work at our Public Service Network that provide the vital support to allow them to do what they can do out in the community. Congratulations to LIFT on 10 years.”
The Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) brings nonprofit and community based organizations together for planning, coordination, and technical assistance, through grant funding. The Multi-Service Center (MSC), where the LIFT Cambridge office is co-located, is part of the DHSP. The MSC addresses the needs of homeless and near homeless individuals and families in the Cambridge community through direct services and other service providers like LIFT. The DHSP emphasizes collaboration to meet needs; also a primary tenet of LIFT’s client service model.
Harvard University has a long and proud history of a commitment to public service that continues today. Thousands of Harvard students volunteer each year in community programs or in service learning courses. Harvard makes many of its education, cultural, and other resources available to community residents. Harvard’s Public Service Network, which offers resources to over 50 organizations that promote student leadership, provides LIFT’s Harvard student volunteers with advising and support in the areas of strategic planning, risk management, community impact assessment, and volunteer training and reflection, allowing LIFT to effectively carry out its mission.
The Cambridge 10th Anniversary event was graciously co-hosted by the Microsoft New England Research and Development Center, and generously supported by the following sponsors and in-kind donors—Cambridge Savings Bank, North Cambridge Co-operative Bank, Century Bank, Keller Williams Realty, Middle East Restaurant, Be Our Guest, Erica Sullivan (graphic design), Innovative Resource Group, and Kevin Lawyer (A/V, Photography).