InnerCity Weightlifting's Head of Development Ian Kilpatrick was recently interviewed about his journey to and through ICW. This story was developed in collaboration with Common Impact, an organization that connects nonprofits with skilled corporate volunteers. Read the full article here!
What inspired you to join ICW and contribute to their mission of supporting disenfranchised youth and reducing street violence?
My inspiration comes from my family. My parents were very active in social justice—my dad was involved in civil rights and anti-war protests, and my mom worked in social services, helping low-income families with various challenges through counseling. My sister has always been a social worker and founded a nonprofit focused on addiction recovery and racial justice in Boston and Cape Cod. Their dedication to making the world a better place has deeply influenced me and continues to drive my passion for creating positive change through my work with ICW. When I learned about the organization, I realized how street violence and incarceration are deeply linked to racial inequity, and I wanted to be part of the solution. ICW embodies the belief in community support and love, which I strongly value.
I came to the conclusion that participants in our program were no different from me in terms of potential, ambition, talent, and aspirations. Our paths look different because we grew up in different circumstances and environments. I grew up in a safe environment with opportunities to support my education and career ambitions. Not everyone had those circumstances and therefore had to make different choices as a result. That realization made me a better advocate because it helped me see the shared humanity in the people I work with every day. Now, I approach my work as a collaboration between me, my colleagues, our program participants/trainers, and the community. The goal is to shift from fear to connection and support going in all directions.
ICW’s approach involves multiple stages, such as earning trust, building hope, and increasing economic mobility. Can you elaborate on these stages and their significance in accomplishing the organization’s mission?
The way we work at ICW promotes collaboration. It’s not just about helping a few individuals or “disadvantaged” people. We prefer to say uplifting and centering communities that are “disinvested,” meaning they haven’t received the same resources and support as other communities.
First, trust is crucial. We work with people who have faced significant challenges—fear, stigma, and exploitation, often before they turn 16. These experiences make it hard for them to trust, especially when interacting with people from different backgrounds. There’s a natural skepticism from new participants coming from experiences such as poverty or incarceration, which is understandable. ICW builds trust through fitness. We start with something simple, like inviting someone to a workout class.
The hope phase is where our participants start to see possibilities beyond survival. They begin to envision options beyond just getting through the day. We don’t fault them for being in survival mode; rather, through trust and conversations, we help them see that there are other possibilities. Participants start to share the dreams and goals they didn’t even know were possible until they felt safe enough to think about them.
As we coach participants and they learn personal training skills, they start to bridge social capital with clients. We invite them to our other locations throughout Boston, such as Kendall Square, Savin Hill, and Dorchester, to expose them to diverse people and opportunities. These interactions help build valuable relationships and open doors for participants. A study by Raj Chetty shows that having a strong social network is key to improving economic mobility. Our model creates situations where individuals who have been incarcerated or come from under-resourced backgrounds interact with high-level professionals, such as biotech CEOs, venture capitalists, and researchers through workouts and networking events.
Every day, staff members learn from people with incredible lived experiences and resilience. When society recognizes the value of learning from these individuals and includes them in conversations about reducing street violence and creating hope, progress will be made more quickly.
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