Sandra Schiff is the president of Health Mate, Inc., who also spends her time working with the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit. There, Sandra Schiff teaches a program called I Rise Family Empowerment.

1. YMCA I RISE PROGRAM INVOLVES
PARTICIPANTS IN URBAN GARDEN
Sandra Schiff

2. INTRODUCTION
 Sandra Schiff is the president of Health Mate, Inc.,
who also spends her time working with the YMCA of
Metropolitan Detroit. There, Sandra Schiff teaches a
program called I Rise Family Empowerment.
The I Rise Family Empowerment program focuses on
delivering both personal and career coaching to
parents. It also offers motivational forums, where
parents can listen to speakers discuss topics that
pertain to working families and how to improve family
life. Child care is provided through a subsidy, allowing
parents to focus on what they are learning.

3. YMCA I RISE PROGRAM
 In previous years of the I Rise Program,
participants became involved in the Michigan
Urban Farming Initiative, working to plant
and maintain the garden and even getting
their children as young as toddler-age
involved. Participants found that working in
the garden not only increased the value of
the experience but also taught them and their
children usable skills and helped keep their
lives in perspective.