Recently, 9&10 News shared a story about the risk of the "summer slide," or the social and academic regression that can happen to students during the summer months. This is such an important topic for our community to be aware of, and is the biggest reason why we started LIFT's free summer programming five years ago; to ensure that Leelanau County teens had access to consistency, adventure and connection during a time of year when those opportunities are often harder to find.

By Emily Worden LIFT volunteers are the individuals who are in our programming spaces daily, alongside our Coordinators and teens, helping keep spaces fun and safe, engaging and intentional. Their hearts and dedication are beyond impressive, and each one of them is so deserving of this spotlight we’re excited to share. What better person to start with than Sharon Sunal? Affectionately dubbed “Grandma LIFT” by our middle school Lakers, Sharon has been with LIFT since the in

When the final dismissal bell rings to welcome summer, a lot of teens’ schedules slow down (big time) and a quieter schedule certainly can be a good thing! It allows for more rest, potential social time, hours that can be spent outdoors, or employment and income for some. We recognize, though, that the quiet can also bring forth some unpleasant experiences for our teens; isolation, instability around meals, a decrease in physical activity and academic backsliding. With that

We all know that it takes a “village” to raise a child, and here at LIFT, we have the privilege of being a part of many of our local teens’ supportive networks. This privileged position also gives us a front row seat to see just how extensive these “villages” are within our region. That’s why we’re excited to introduce a “Partner Spotlight” series here on the blog where, monthly, we will showcase the work of one of our community partners working with us to help set LIFT kids

As is true in many sectors, especially as technology advances, the world of youth development is always changing. There is a constant stream of new research, trends, and ways of understanding what young people need. It keeps us on our toes, and a big part of doing this work well means staying curious and keeping up with what’s evolving. At LIFT, we back that up with a professional development stipend for every full-time team member. Employees are encouraged to use the stipend

We often say that a career in human services, especially youth-focused human services, is both “hard work and heart work”. Working alongside tweens and teens is incredibly rewarding, and at times, it can also be incredibly demanding. Your listening ears are always on, your name gets called more times than you can count in a single afterschool session, and you pour A+ energy into creating safe, engaging spaces and activities five days a week. Because we take that reality serio

Bekah hanging an encouraging poster on the wall in our Leland Middle School LIFT room. Today’s Generation We hear the sentiment “kids these days” all the time, usually paired with a sigh, a complaint, or a shake of the head. It’s a phrase that tends to carry a negative connotation, suggesting that younger generations are somehow lacking compared to those who came before them. But from where I sit, after nearly 15 years of working with “kids these days”, I’m here to set the re