Income inequality and generational poverty have decimated the American Dream. How does one claw their way out of a deep hole if the walls are too steep and slippery to climb. David Garfunkel has dedicated his life to solving this systemic problem. As President & CEO of the non-profit LIFT JAX, David brings business and community leaders together to eradicate generational poverty in Jacksonville, FL. And it’s not just lofty talk and abstraction. LIFT JAX has created meaningful and measurable community revitalization initiatives in Jacksonville’s Eastside, located less than a mile from downtown. "OutEast" is widely considered to be one of Jacksonville’s most important historically African-American neighborhoods, home to many noteworthy sites in African-American culture dating back to the mid-1800s. LIFT JAX focuses on culturally rich, generationally inclusive, and economically diverse neighborhoods for children and families, where social connections across socioeconomic and racial demographics are commonplace. Legacy residents feel valued and are part of the fabric of the growing community with newer residents. The built environment and investments in physical infrastructure support the ability for the community to thrive. And, all residents feel welcomed, valued, and integral to the composition of their neighborhood. Using the Purpose Built Communities model, grounded in the foundational beliefs that race and place matter, makes it possible for residents to experience greater racial equity, improved health outcomes, and increased upward mobility in their neighborhoods. For example, LIFT JAX has reopened the beloved Debs Store as a community wellness anchor that provides easy access to healthy food. The store was a neighborhood staple for more than 90 years and left the Eastside a food desert after closing. In addition, they're working to activate parks and green spaces by improving the infrastructure to better support activities for families. These basic lifestyle improvements make a house a home and a neighborhood a village. His journey toward social justice began straight out of college, where he received a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. David joined the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic, where he served for three years in the area of community economic development. Following the 2010 earthquake that struck Haiti, he moved to Port-au-Prince, where he led a rural loan and education program for Fonkoze, Haiti’s largest microfinance institution.

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