Lift Up Lawco Initiative Discussed at Lawrenceburg Rotary

Lawrenceburg Rotarians learned about the Lift Up Lawco initiative during the club’s regular meeting on Friday, August 14, at Lawrenceburg Rotary Park. The program is designed to promote mental health and create a greater sense of inclusion, friendship and belonging among local students.

Devin Ezell, director of the Lawrence, Wayne and Giles County Health Departments; Peyton Russ, health educator with the Lawrence County Health Department; and Jessica Yokely, director of A Cora Christmas, shared information about the new school-based program. The initiative is being developed with the assistance of Jenny Golden, Lawrence County Coordinated School Health supervisor.

LIFT stands for Listen, Include, Friendship and Togetherness. The program encourages students to create clubs and activities that promote kindness, inclusion and positive mental health. Examples could include celebrating birthdays or other special occasions so students feel seen, valued and welcomed.

Russ explained that the goal is to guide students in developing their own initiatives that spread kindness and help others feel included. Several community partners are already involved, including E.O. Coffman Middle School, Ethridge United Methodist Church, A Cora Christmas, and the Lawrence County Health Council.

Yokely said one of the driving forces behind the initiative is the realization that adults do not always understand the experiences and challenges faced by today’s youth. Lift Up Lawco provides an opportunity for students to help shape activities that address those needs while building positive connections with their peers.

The long-term goal is to establish a Lift Up program in every school, with South Lawrence Elementary School identified as the next school for expansion. The presenters emphasized that the program is fundamentally about supporting student mental health through positive relationships and a sense of belonging.

To establish a Lift Up Lawco program at a new school, organizers need a school staff sponsor and a fiscal sponsor, with approximately $250 needed to support the program.

The presenters also discussed broader community initiatives associated with Lift Up Lawco, including a proposed walkway connecting Hope Springs Park with the Lawrenceburg Square.

The initiative is part of the ongoing collaborative work of the Lawrence County Health Council and its community partners to develop creative ways to enhance the mental and physical well-being of local residents.

Photo Caption: Rotary President Tad Keaton, Rotarian Tina Holt, Speakers Jessica Yokely, Peyton Russ, & Devin Ezell, and Rotarian Jon Guthrie