LIFT is working hard to make economic equality a reality for more Dane County residents. We are proud to announce that we made the Milwaukee Business Journal’s list of 20 Wisconsin Start-Ups to Watch in 2020! To that end, we have engaged Theory & Principle, a legal technology product design and development firm, to build the technology upon which our initiative will be based. Theory & Principle is well-known throughout the country for its innovative work in rethinking how legal services can best reach those most in need and designing solutions to the problems that everyday people experience in a way that they actually understand them. We are first addressing drivers’ license suspensions as they present a significant barrier to obtaining and maintain employment. Our first pop-up legal clinic will take place at the Job Center on January 30, 2020. Check here for more information.
LIFT Dane is also gratified by the support of Dane County’s philanthropic community. With grants from CUNA Mutual Foundation and Diane Ballweg, we were able to increase available funding by accessing a matching grant from Schmidt Futures’ Alliance for the American Dream that will multiply the impact of the funds we received. Thank you to CUNA Mutual Foundation and Diane Ballweg!
We also are engaged in policy efforts to further address barriers to employment, such as the recently imposed wheel tax Madison, after last year Dane County also added a fee. Sarah Davis from the LIFT Dane team is working with a local coalition on strategies to minimize the impact of these taxes on Dane County’s working families.
As always, we appreciate your support of LIFT Dane as we work towards a more healthy and vibrant Dane County community.