At LIFT-DC, we know that economic mobility doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It takes support, resources, and a belief that with the right tools, every person—especially parents and caregivers—can build a better future for themselves and their children.
That’s why we’re thrilled to have launched a new initiative in partnership with City Year DC, made possible by a transformative investment of $1.5 million from the Health Equity Fund under the Greater Washington Community Foundation. The project, LIFTing As We Climb: Supporting Parents and Caregivers Participating in National Service, is a collaboration aimed at providing critical support for AmeriCorps members who are parents.
Too often, people step into national service roles like AmeriCorps with incredible passion and purpose—only to find that the financial realities make it impossible to continue. This is especially true for caregivers and young parents, who often face impossible choices between fulfilling a service commitment and providing stability for their families. Through LIFTing As We Climb, we’re aiming to change that.
With this new initiative, AmeriCorps members who are also caregivers will receive individualized coaching, group sessions, and financial supports, including quarterly cash payments and post-service transition funding. These wraparound services are designed not only to help members complete their term of service, but to equip them with the tools and momentum to step confidently into living-wage careers.
This is more than a pilot—it’s a powerful statement: that caregivers deserve to serve, grow, and thrive, just like anyone else. And that when we invest in their futures, we’re also investing in the futures of their children and communities.
LIFT-DC brings deep experience to this work. Our proven coaching model has helped parents increase household income by tens of thousands of dollars while setting and reaching meaningful personal and professional goals. City Year DC, likewise, plays a vital role in shaping the next generation of diverse leaders by placing young adults in DC schools as student success coaches.
Together, we’re excited to demonstrate how this kind of support—grounded in dignity, equity, and practical action—can shift outcomes, not just for individuals, but for systems. Over the course of the three-year project, we will be gathering learnings and insights to share with partners like AmeriCorps and other national service organizations to make the case for expanded investment in caregivers nationwide.
We are incredibly grateful to the Health Equity Fund for believing in the vision behind this project. Their commitment to addressing the root causes of health disparities—like income, employment, and education—makes them an ideal partner for this work.
As our Executive Director, Neils Ribeiro-Yemofio, shared:
“Some people look at a young parent and see them as a problem. We see them as the solution.”
LIFTing As We Climb is a reflection of that belief. It’s a call to action for a more inclusive approach to service—one that values caregivers not just as participants, but as leaders with the power to transform systems, communities, and futures.