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The Uplift Update
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April 5, 2023 |
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I am so very grateful to the Board of Directors for selecting me to be Uplift Center for Grieving Children’s next Executive Director. I have known of Uplift’s work for several years and have always been impressed with its mission – that no child should have to go through grief alone – and how Uplift’s team works to make this possible. Gardening is one of my hobbies, and every day during my commute, I am uplifted by seeing the signs of spring unfold in Philadelphia. As I travel on the 32 bus from my home in South Philly to Uplift’s office in East Falls, I see the blooming trees along the Parkway and tulips planted by the museums along with window boxes and flowerpots filled with pansies and blooming bulbs throughout Brewerytown, Strawberry Mansion, and North Philadelphia. Each day I see the blooms getting fuller, notice how the days are getting longer and warmer, and see more and more people out enjoying all the new beginnings spring has to offer. As you’ll read in this newsletter, Uplift is also growing this spring. We welcomed a new Philly HopeLine Clinician, Roberto Mejía, who will offer more services to grieving Spanish-speaking youth and families, and Senior Uplift Clinician Samantha Anthony recently received her LPC certification in Pennsylvania. Our clinical team is also educating professionals about how to best support children after a loss, and creating opportunities for families to engage in creative activities, including an aloe-planting event later this month. Like many of you getting out and enjoying the longer warmer days, the Uplift team can be found throughout the City working with children, families, schools, and communities most affected by deaths. Our clinicians work with youth experiencing acute loss, such as from homicide deaths, and health-related causes of death. All of Uplift’s services are offered free of charge, regardless of income, citizenship, or access to insurance. team and their work, I am inspired by their commitment to this mission. I look forward to working with all of you to support Uplift’s work to provide services to youth during one of their most challenging times. Feel free to reach out to me to further discuss Uplift’s work, get to know one another, and how you can further be engaged with the organization. Executive Director, Uplift Center for Grieving Children |
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Join Us for
an UPLIFTing evening 2023
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 | | Join the Uplift community next month on Thursday, May 4 for an UPLIFTing evening, a meaningful evening at Vie by Cescaphe that celebrates individuals making an impact in the lives of grieving children and families in Philadelphia! an UPLIFTing evening is Uplift's signature fundraising event, and annually brings in more than one-quarter of our general operating support.
This year, Uplift will honor Eileen R. Heisman, ACFRE, President and CEO of the National Philanthropic Trust and Danny Stein, R.N., MSN, PNP-ret., a dedicated Uplift volunteer since 2017.
Attend an UPLIFTing evening as a guest by purchasing a ticket: |
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an UPLIFTing evening is sponsored by:
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 | The Lurie Family Foundation |
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Uplift Team Announcements
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 | Senior Uplift Clinician Samantha Anthony, MS, LPC, NCC recently received her LPC (licensed professional counselor) certification. As part of her certification process, Samantha completed two post-graduate courses, a certification exam, and 3,000 hours of clinical supervision, in addition to a one-year internship while working full time at Uplift. We are proud of Samantha for completing this significant milestone!
Samantha received her MS in Clinical and Counseling Psychology, with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Therapy, from Chestnut Hill College. Her clinical work experience at Uplift includes supporting grieving justice-involved youth, and she brings a passion for social justice, research analytics, and data to her clinical practice.
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 | Roberto Mejía joined the Uplift team as a part-time bilingual Philly HopeLine Clinician. Roberto comes to Uplift with a decade of social service experience and a love and passion for working with children and families. Born and raised in Chester County, he earned his B.A in Spanish with a minor in Latin American and Latinx Studies from West Chester University, and will complete his Masters in Social Work from Widener University in Summer 2023. Roberto’s personal and professional experiences have led him to a life-long journey of working to expand access to trauma-informed community care for all individuals and families.
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 | On February 22 and March 1, Uplift held in-person Family Nights in which youth and caregivers were invited to create their own paper lanterns. Participants wrote meaningful messages on the lantern's inner tubes, and at the end of the evening Uplift's clinicians, interns, and volunteers did a close-out circle with dimmed lights to enjoy the lights shining through the lanterns.All youth and caregivers went home with a new book, a blanket, and a snack and bottle of water to enjoy on the way home. Many thanks to First Book and Spring House Estates, an Acts Retirement Life Community, for their donations.
Next week on April 12, Uplift will hold its final Family Night, in which Senior Clinician Samantha Anthony will lead an aloe-planting activity.
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 | Katherine Streit, MSW, LCSW, M.S. Ed, Uplift's Associate Director of School Services and Professional Trainings, will present at a free webinar for Gift of Life Donor Program. Titled Grief–Universal But Misunderstood, this webinar will cover the living losses, such as changes in health status, finances, housing, and relationships, that can create grief responses. Katherine joins representatives from Gift of Life Donor Program and Temple University Hospital in this webinar recommended for behavioral health, social work, faith leaders, and other community services providers.
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 | Senior Uplift Clinician Lamya Broussard, LSW, MSS, MLSP joined experts from Tuesday's Children and the COVID Collaborative for Eluna Network's Community Conversations: The Pandemic's Impact on Grief. This panel covered aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on grieving families, addressed the stigma of COVID loss, and provided support strategies for families who have experienced loss. Watch an encore of the webinar at the link below.
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