As the start of the 2026–2027 school year gets closer, the LIFT team has been hard at work preparing for an incredible year ahead! Last week, we gathered for our annual staff training and planning sessions, spending time learning, collaborating, and getting ready to welcome students back through our doors.

We also had the chance to snap a few photos of our amazing team and celebrate some exciting additions. We are thrilled to welcome back Taitlyn Chesser, who is returning as a Program Assistant after taking a year away from LIFT. In addition, three new Program Assistants will be joining our team this year (one not pictured)! If you follow up on Facebook, be on the lookout for “Get to Know Our Staff” posts, coming soon.

The LIFT team is made up of people with big hearts and a passion for serving others. Every day, they show up ready to ensure that each student experiences LIFT’s mission: to be Loved as they are, Inspired to be more, Found in community, and Trusted to make a difference. We can’t wait to see what this school year has in store!

Meet Tina Pinkston
LIFT's Executive Director

Hi! What an honor it is to get to be the Executive Director of LIFT Youth Center! The opportunity to connect with awesome people like YOU, our upLIFTers, is a big part of that honor. Thank you for supporting our students by helping to keep our services FREE to them! This takes a big investment from many sources – it does indeed, “take a village” – and I am just so thankful that you are in ours! I hope you enjoy these weekly upLIFT messages. Please reach out if you need me. Peace, Tina.