Lift Orlando Inc

LIFT ORLANDO, INC. (LIFT ORLANDO) IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WORKING WITH RESIDENTS, BUSINESS LEADERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TOWARDS NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION.

COMMUNITY QUARTERBACK: AS THE LEAD ORGANIZATION IN WEST LAKES' COLLECTIVE IMPACT PARTNERSHIP, ALSO KNOWN AS THE COMMUNITY QUARTERBACK, LIFT ORLANDO COORDINATES THE EFFORTS OF MULTIPLE PARTNERS, RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES LEADERS, AND EDUCATORS IN THE COMMUNITY, WHILE HOLDING EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE TO A COMMON VISION AND A SHARED AGENDA. LIFT ORLANDO CONTINUED AND STRENGTHENED ITS ROLE AS COMMUNITY QUARTERBACK BY DEVELOPING/REVISING MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING WITH PARTNERS, INCREASING COMMUNICATION, AND ADVOCATING FOR CONTINUED INVESTMENT AND PROGRESS FOR THE PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. LIFT ORLANDO COLLABORATES AND SPONSORS WEST LAKES PARTNERSHIP TO PURSUE PROJECTS THAT INCREASE THE WEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF WEST LAKES RESIDENTS. ALONGSIDE THE RESIDENTIAL PAINT & BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM, COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP AND DREAM HOUSING REHAB PROGRAM, WEST LAKES PARTNERSHIP ISSUES THE WEST LAKES NEWSLETTER, WITH MORE THAN 2,000 EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS. THE RESULTING E-NEWSLETTER WAS DISTRIBUTED ON A WEEKLY BASIS FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF 150,000 INDIVIDUAL EMAILS BEING DISTRIBUTED IN 2021. IN ORDER TO MONITOR AND EVALUATE HOW LIFT AND ITS PARTNERS ARE AFFECTING EACH HOUSEHOLD IN THE COMMUNITIES OF WEST LAKES, LIFT ENGAGES POLIS INSTITUTE TO TRACK AND RECOMMEND SPECIFIC STRATEGIES TO STRENGTHEN THE IMPACT BASED ON BEST PRACTICES AND PROJECT METRICS. EACH YEAR, POLIS EXECUTES A DOOR-TO-DOOR SURVEY TO COLLECT FEEDBACK FROM WEST LAKES RESIDENTS ON HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE CHANGES IN THEIR COMMUNITY AS WELL AS A SPECIFIC TOPIC SUCH AS HEALTH, ECONOMIC VIABILITY, EDUCATION, ETC. POLIS UPDATED THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT THIS YEAR TO HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL FOCUS AS WELL AS RECRUITED, TRAINED AND MANAGED THE COMMUNITY SURVEYORS. THEY MADE THREE ROUNDS IN THE COMMUNITY TO 1200 HOUSEHOLDS TO GIVE ALL RESIDENTS A CHANCE TO PROVIDE THEIR FEEDBACK. 373 HOUSEHOLDS PARTICIPATED. IN ADDITION TO THIS, POLIS MANAGES A PUBLIC DASHBOARD WHICH DISPLAYS POPULATION LEVEL DATA ON INDICATORS THAT WERE SELECTED BY LIFT. POLIS GATHERS THIS POPULATION LEVEL DATA USING THE COMMUNITY SURVEY AS WELL AS SECONDARY SOURCES SUCH AS THE U.S. CENSUS AND ESRI. EACH QUARTER, POLIS COLLECTS AND ASSESSES QUANTITATIVE REPORTING FROM LIFT PROJECT PARTNERS, ACCORDING TO PRE-ESTABLISHED KPIS. POLIS PROVIDES EVALUATION AND STRATEGIC CONSULTING OF THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT GOALS AS WELL AS LIFT'S ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS. POLIS STAFF MEETS MONTHLY WITH LIFT STAFF TO GATHER INFORMATION, AS WELL AS ATTENDS ALL COLLECTIVE IMPACT MEETINGS AND DOES AN IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW WITH EACH LIFT ORLANDO PROGRAM PARTNER ANNUALLY. POLIS PROVIDES AN OFFICIAL EVALUATION REPORT QUARTERLY WITH AN ASSESSMENT AND SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT. IN ADDITION TO THIS, LIFT SUPPORTED A COMMUNITY PROGRAM TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS ACCESS TO FREE TOYS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, HEALTH SCREENINGS, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, FURNITURE, GROCERIES AND MORE.

HEALTH & WELLNESS: UNDER COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS, LIFT ORLANDO WORKS TO PROVIDE A MIX OF HIGH-QUALITY FACILITIES, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES THAT ENHANCE HEALTH, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND INCREASE OVERALL LIFE EXPECTANCY. IN JUNE OF 2021, LIFT ORLANDO BROKE GROUND ON THE HEART OF WEST LAKES WELLNESS CENTER AND CONTRIBUTED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COSTS TO WEST LAKES HWC, INC. SET TO OPEN IN 2022, THE HEART WILL BE A RESIDENT-FOCUSED CENTER, DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING CONVENIENT ACCESS TO HOLISTIC HEALTH, FINANCIAL, AND LIFESTYLE SERVICES UNDER ONE ROOF. THE TWO-STORY FACILITY WILL BE A SPACE FOR RESIDENTS TO CONNECT, LEARN, AND THRIVE, AND WILL FEATURE FIRST-CLASS AMENITIES PAIRED WITH DECOR THAT PAYS HOMAGE TO THE COMMUNITY'S RICH HISTORY. ON THE FIRST FLOOR, RESIDENTS WILL ACCESS A COMMUNITY CAF, GATHERING SPACES, A COWORKING SPACE, AND THE WEST LAKES FINANCIAL WELLBEING CENTER. ON THE SECOND FLOOR, COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS (CHC) WILL PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE SERVICES, PROVIDING A VITAL, NEW RESOURCE TO COMBAT THE AREA'S EXTREME LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES. TO ENSURE THE NAME OF THE FUTURE HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER WAS AN ACCURATE REFLECTION OF THE COMMUNITY, LIFT ORLANDO CREATED A NAMING COMMITTEE, COMPOSED OF RESIDENT LEADERS FROM EACH OF THE FIVE HISTORIC WEST LAKES NEIGHBORHOODS. THE COMMITTEE WORKED WITH LIFT ORLANDO AND ITS ARCHITECT TEAM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS TO PROVIDE A CRUCIAL VOICE IN THE SELECTION OF THE NAME AND BRAND FOR THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER. THE SYMBOLISM OF THE HEART REFLECTS THE MISSION AND THE VISION OF THE CENTER PERFECTLY. HEART NOT ONLY MEANS CARE AND SUPPORT, BUT ALSO COURAGE AND FORTITUDE, ALL OF WHICH ABOUND FOR RESIDENTS SURROUNDING THIS INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF THE COMMUNITY. LIFT ORLANDO SPONSORED WEST LAKES PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM CALLED WEST LAKES COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP WHICH INVOLVED COORDINATING FOUR COMMUNITY WIDE CLEANUP EFFORTS. ON JUNE 21, 2021, LIFT ORLANDO AND PARTNERS CELEBRATED THE REOPENING OF THE NEWLY RENOVATED LAKE LORNA DOONE PARK. LIFT PROVIDED MEDIA SUPPORT FOR THE GRAND OPENING EVENT. LAKE LORNA DOONE PARK WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE 1800S, THE HISTORIC PARK WAS A GATHERING PLACE FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN THE 1950S AND THE LOCATION OF THE SOUTH'S FIRST INTERRACIAL LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME PLAYED IN 1955. THE PARTNER-FUNDED $9 MILLION RENOVATION NOW SEES THE PARK RETURNED TO ITS FORMER PLACE AS A GATHERING PLACE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, COMPLETE WITH A SPLASH PAD, PUTTING GREEN, ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND, WALKING NATURE PATH, AND MORE.

ECONOMIC VIABILITY: LIFT ORLANDO'S GOAL IN LONG-TERM ECONOMIC VIABILITY IS TO STIMULATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD ECONOMY THROUGH INVESTMENTS IN EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMS THAT INCREASE INCOME LEVELS FOR FAMILIES. LIFT ORLANDO CONTINUED TO WORK ON SMALL BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT, NETWORKING EVENTS AND MARKETING, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AS WELL AS THE RESEARCH, DATA AND PLANNING TO SUPPORT THIS WORK. FOR INDIVIDUALS, THE WEST LAKES FINANCIAL WELL-BEING CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED IN LATE 2018 AND PROVIDES THOSE LIVING IN THE ZIP CODE OF 32805 WITH FREE FINANCIAL WORKSHOPS, ONE-ON-ONE FINANCIAL COACHING, AND JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES. FROM 2019 TO 2021, 151 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN ONLINE WEBINARS (COVERING TOPICS SUCH AS BUDGETING, SAVING, INVESTING, TAXES, AND FIRST-TIME HOME BUYING), 75% OF THOSE ATTENDEES DEMONSTRATED AN INCREASE IN THEIR FINANCIAL LITERACY COMPETENCY. IN TOTAL,151 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN ONE-ON-ONE FINANCIAL COACHING SERVICES OFFERED BY THE CENTER, 34 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN JOB TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT WEBINARS, AND 20 INDIVIDUALS WERE DIRECTLY REFERRED TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS. PROVIDED THROUGH THE FWC BY LIFT ORLANDO'S PROGRAM PARTNER, GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, THE PROSPERITY PLATFORM WAS LAUNCHED IN 2021 AND IS DESIGNED TO HELP FAMILIES INCREASE INCOME AND SAVE TO EXPAND ECONOMIC MOBILITY. AT THE END OF 2021, FWC HAD 51 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING COACHING UNDER THE PROSPERITY PLATFORM MODEL. OVERALL, 76% OF MEMBERS HAVE ESTABLISHED AND MANAGED A BUDGET AND INCREASED THEIR MONEY MANAGEMENT SKILLS. LIFT ORLANDO CONDUCTED A RESEARCH PROJECT THAT SOUGHT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES OF WEST LAKES. THIS PROJECT INCLUDED FIVE WEST LAKES FOCUS GROUPS WITH A TOTAL OF 45 PARTICIPANTS. FOCUS GROUPS GARNERED DIRECT FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS AND LOCAL EMPLOYERS TO BETTER DEFINE THE NATURE OF THE DIVIDE BETWEEN LOCAL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND WEST LAKES RESIDENTS. THE WEST LAKES DISTRICT JOINED THE CITY OF ORLANDO'S MARKET STREET PROGRAM IN MAY 2021 AND WAS FOUNDED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LIFT ORLANDO, THE CITY OF ORLANDO, WEST LAKES PARTNERSHIP, AND A FOUNDING GROUP OF NEIGHBORHOOD ENTREPRENEURS REPRESENTING BUSINESSES WITHIN WEST LAKES. THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO BUILD PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO REVITALIZE WEST LAKES' SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH, JOB CREATION, AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. LIFT ORLANDO PROVIDED OPERATING FUNDS IN 2021 TO SUPPORT WEST LAKES DISTRICT AND PROVIDED AN INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UNTIL AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS IN PLACE. PLANNING FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT, THE SMALL BUSINESS INSTITUTE (SBI) COMMENCED IN 2021. TO BE LOCATED WITHIN THE HEART OF WEST LAKES WELLNESS CENTER, THE SBI WAS DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESSES WITH PROGRAMMING, EDUCATION, EXPERTISE, AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO CREATE A SUPPORTIVE ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM THAT WILL HELP DRIVE ENTREPRENEURS FORWARD. DURING 2021, THE SBI MODEL WAS RESEARCHED AND CRAFTED. THE LONG-TERM GOAL FOR BUSINESSES PARTICIPATING IN THE SBI IS TO INCREASE COMPANY REVENUE AND OWNER HOUSEHOLD INCOME.