InnerCity Weightlifting (ICW) began as a gym focused on keeping gang-involved youth off of the streets of Boston and out of jail. Since it began in 2010, ICW has evolved into a hub for education and employment of young men.
ICW’s unique program trains formerly incarcerated gang members to become expert & certified personal trainers. Beyond arming them with marketable skills, ICW’s goal is to break down social barriers they face as they reintegrate into society.
ICW works to bridge class, race, and neighborhood lines by building greater empathy between trainers and their clients.
The Lynch Foundation immediately recognized ICW as one of Boston’s leaders committed to bringing actionable social change to the local community. We saw the inherent value in strengthening human connections to create reliable & safe opportunities for a vulnerable population.
Partnering with The Lynch Foundation
The Lynch Foundation connected with ICW early in its journey. In 2010, we made an initial investment to help strengthen and build the organization.
This allowed ICW to begin building a larger team & raise additional resources from other donors throughout the city.
This organization generates economic mobility and social inclusion through a practice many of these youth already relate to. Instead of alienating these young people after incarceration, ICW works to connect with them, expand their skills, and give them an opportunity to change & influence their local community.
Since the initial Lynch Foundation grant, ICW expanded its facilities to a second location in Cambridge. They’ve gone from serving an initial four students to now serving over 450 in 2021.
ICWhas embarked on a multi-year strategic growth initiative that will quadruple the number of people served, enhance their footprint across Greater Boston, and expand and scale to other cities, starting with Chicago.