About

LIFT EASTBROOK IS A NONPROFIT AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON LITERACY IMPROVEMENT, WHOLE CHILD DEVELOPMENT, AND SPIRITUAL NURTURE

THE NEED FOR LITERACY SUPPORT HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER

The Lift Story

In February 2014, Dianne Biehl and Lisa Sells met with leadership at Eastbrook Community Schools to ask what they could do to partner with the schools to make a positive difference in the Upland  community. That meeting led to further discussions with the Eastbrook South Elementary principal and staff about ways to partner with the school for the purpose of supporting those students who needed an extra “lift” to reach their full academic potential. As a result of these conversations, on September 2, 2014, Lift was officially launched with fourteen 2nd​​ ​grade students. Since 2014, the partnership with Eastbrook South has deepened, as have the number of students impacted by Lift. In each of the next two years, 2015 and 2016, another grade was added based on recommendations from teaching staff. In 2017, Lift obtained nonprofit status, and operates programming entirely on the generosity of donors.


When the pandemic of 2020 closed Lift to in-person programming, Lift focused on staying connected to the families of Lift and supporting them with weekly distanced visits, deliveries of books, activities, and healthy snacks. In the fall of 2020, Lift reopened and has seen great growth in our students with 100% of the 2023-24 third grade cohort passing IREAD-3.


New legislation in 2024 has required schools to incorporate  instructional methods supported by "The Science of Reading," with a focus on phonics. Lift is well-positioned to support reading instruction at Eastbrook South as we have been using phonics-based methods since our inception. In 2022, using grant funding, Lift was able to add an additional layer of support with focused Orton-Gillingham literacy tutoring for higher risk students.

MORE ABOUT OUR MISSION

  • Literacy

    • In our information-dense society, literacy is a basic need. More than just sounding out words, litearcy involves  truly understanding what is read and  thus is the doorway to the training required for a fulfilling career, the ability and confidence to secure needed medical care, and the skills required to navigate daily tasks like grocery shopping or paying bills. Through intentional skill instruction, supported reading in highly engaging text, and a modeled love for reading, Lift helps students learn this fundamental skill.
    • In 2nd and 3rd grade, students are learning to read. Starting in the 4th grade, students shift to reading to learn. This shift, and the associated skills, are critical as students become more independent learners.
    • We accomplish this through students reading out loud with staff and volunteers for extended time, sharing the love of text together in a risk-free environment. We know and believe that children benefit from intentional guidance from a caring adult. 

  • Whole Child Development

    • Lift students are little people  with big dreams and big hopes as well as some big struggles and big hurts. They are learning how to interact well with the wider world - how to make good choices, how to try new things, how to treat others, how to handle their emotions, among so many other things. We believe children need consistent guidance with safe role models to help them learn and grow into healthy adults.
    • We work to provide learning opportunities in the physical, relational, and intellectual realms  through literature, play, healthy snack choices, music, games, art, enrichment, and positive relationships with staff and volunteers. Lift staff thoughtfully arranges all parts of the Lift day to develop each student as a whole child.

  • Spiritual Nurture

    • At Lift we believe that each person is created by a loving God to be in relationship with Him. We believe that out of His love God sent His only Son Jesus Christ, to be the Savior of the world and we want each child to know and experience that deep love.
    • Each week students meet formally for Biblical instruction, worship, prayer, and age-appropriate Bible stories and lessons. We want Lift students to know that the Bible was written for them and to gain confidence in reading it for themselves.
    • In addition, Lift staff and volunteers seek to live out vibrant, authentic, life-changing faith in Jesus Christ as they read, play, and talk with students.
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