African Americans Return to the Traditions of Self-Help and Determination by "Lifting As We Climb."

Cathy Cousear returns African Americans to the traditional values of self-help and determination by creating the non-profit organization, Lifting As We Climb, Inc.

Long before integration and the establishment of social institutions, African Americans created and developed a system of self-help where no one went hungry or without shelter. "The values of self-help have always been a part of our culture." says Cathy Cousear, the founder of Lifting As We Climb, a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the African American community by recruiting and coordinating a network of volunteers for a variety of short term and flexible projects.

It is through her life long dedication of helping others did she realized that African Americans are often missing in traditional volunteer organizations. " I think people truly want to give back, but many feel their time is limited due to other responsibilities". "We have ongoing donations from clothing to books".

Lifting As We Climb coordinators volunteer projects with agencies and community organizations and then recruit people who want to make a difference. Projects are divided into four categories, children and youth, adults, family preservation and community revitalization.

Cathy Cousear has over 17 years of experience in the human service field. She is also the president of Human Services Resource and Training Institute, a firm that provides staff training to people who work in the human service field.