InnerCity Weightlifting (ICW)

Another fun collaboration with OUTbio - thank you for coming!

Thanks for featuring our work and for our partnership Common Impact!

The second stage of our model is titled “Hope” but the word itself has taken on various meanings. This quote from Mariame Kaba captures the heart of ICW’s approach: “Hope doesn't preclude feeling sadness or frustration or anger or any other emotion that makes total sense. Hope isn't an emotion, you know? Hope is not optimism. Hope is a discipline… we have to practice it every single day.” How do you define hope?

Stephen Redden is such a tech baller! Can't recommend him and OutfIT enough for all of your computer/internet/tech-related needs 🙌

Yesterday, the MA Senate voted to pass #RaiseTheAge and keep 18 year olds out of the adult system! A heartfelt thank you to Senate President Karen Spilka , Majority Leader Cindy Creem, Co-chair of the Judiciary Committee Jamie Eldridge and legislative champion Senator Brendan Crighton for your tireless efforts to pass this important legislation to benefit our young people.

That’s our guy!

We’ll be there!

“I spent a lot of time incarcerated, so the psychosis of a prisoner is real. I came out here to reintegrate into society only to find that a lot of the things I am supposed to be involved in are triggering to my mental health. You know, certain people, places, even smells and things so it’s like for me, mental health is something I deal with on a regular basis” - Daunte, ICW Trainer (5/9 Civic Discussion) As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, we want to re-emphasize that the impact of incarceration on mental health can't be ignored. The experiences, expertise, and voices of the folks in our organization's program are a great place to start when re-thinking our systems of punishing and even compounding mental health issues rather than addressing root causes with resources and support.

"Philanthropy is us, together, co-creating solutions with the communities that the impact matters most to and listening to those closest to the solutions.” -Daphne Principe-Griffin, Interim President We love the new approach to philanthropy from our partner United Way of Massachusetts Bay - thank you for all the support.

So where does a gift to ICW go? Here are just a few places... JOBS: In the past 2 years ICW has helped place program participants in over 115 jobs. INCOME: From '22-'23 our trainers and participants have earned just shy of $1M in income at ICW gyms. COMMUNITY ROI: By reducing recidivism rates and generating both jobs and safety, all funding invested into ICW returns to the community at a rate of 12.5x