Grant Will Fund Coffee Truck To Aid Worcester Sex Trade Survivors

WORCESTER, MA — A Worcester organization that helps people leave the sex trade received a nearly $500,000 state grant on Thursday. The money will help Living Together in Freedom (LIFT) fund a coffee truck to create job opportunities for survivors.

The grant came from the state Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Grant program, and was one of over 65 awarded on Thursday with over $20 million in funding. Three other Worcester nonprofits also received awards.

LIFT was founded in 2015 by Nicole Bell, who battled substance use disorder for years beginning in her teens while being prostituted. LIFT has grown to offer a wide range of services, from a low-barrier shelter to a diversion program in conjunction with the Worcester County District Attorney's Office.

The $491,000 grant announced Thursday will allow LIFT and partner organization Latin American Health Alliance to purchase a food truck, and open a garage where the truck can be maintained. Program participants will use the truck to learn job skills, according to a state Office of Housing and Economic Development news release.

The other Worcester nonprofits that were given grants on Thursday include:

$63,301 to Friendly House for the "I, Too," which is "a collaboration between Friendly House, local business leaders, departments of state and local government and the Worcester Public Schools, to provide 20 young people ages 13 to 17 who are at heightened risk of criminal justice system involvement with a positive role model whom will help to guide, empower, and inspire them."

$382,600 to Centro Las Americas, Inc.'s for the "Towards Financial Empowerment" program, which "is a bilingual community collaboration for Worcester’s historically disproportionately affected communities, to leverage resources, form greater learning opportunities, including for those affected by incarceration, to overcome barriers to economic stability, from housing to entrepreneurship. The program will facilitate successful evidence-based learning, wraparound services, and provide socioemotional and cultural support post Covid-19 by improving financial literacy, creating new entrepreneurs, support existing businesses and building up families and community. Roughly 45 students will participate in the Start Up and 3 Venture Growth classes. Another 20-25 students will enroll into the CENTRO Financial Empowerment Education and Coaching 8-week course."

$50,000 to the Black Excellence Academy/Charles Houston Cultural Project, Inc. for "an out of school program for 50 Worcester Public School students in grades 1 - 6. The year-long program runs concurrently with the Worcester Public School calendar. The goals of the program are to support working families; accelerate academic performance in ELA and math; expose students to various aspects of STEM with hands-on activities; and enrich knowledge and appreciation of Black history and culture."