LIFT Annual Report 2015: Creating A Better Way | Page 26

________

“LIFT has changed
the arc of my future.
It’s given me the
confidence to be vocal
on the issues I care
about.”
_________

A Life Shaped by Service.
LIFT’s team members come from all walks of
life. They represent a variety of life stages, from
college students to seasoned professionals. By
weaving together this rich tapestry of experiences
in service of a common goal – helping families
lift themselves out of poverty for good – we are
able to achieve big things. To offer you a behindthe-scenes look at the stories that shape LIFT’s
identity we sat down with one of our superstars,
Eleni Refu, who recently transitioned from the role
of AmeriCorps Shriver Fellow to staff member, and
asked her to tell us more about her LIFT journey.

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Finding refuge + support in the U.S.
Eleni was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and
came to the U.S. as a refugee when she was just
a child. Moving from Ethiopia to Idaho might have
come as quite the culture shock to some, but Eleni
flourished in the welcoming environment of her
new home. She found peace among the sizeable
population of refugees living in her community.
After graduating with a degree in Political Science
from the University of Rochester, Eleni was
determined to use her education to set herself on
a career path that made a difference on an issue
that many refugees face today: poverty.