Journey to a Living Wage: The Hidden Challenges
Across Hawaiʻi, many families are working — sometimes more than one job — yet remain unable to meet the rising cost of living. For ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households, the journey toward stability is shaped not only by wages, but by access to training, mobility, and systems designed to support their success.
In this upcoming webinar, Lift HI Foundation will share how its innovative approach is helping turn economic vulnerability into opportunity for Hawaiʻi’s workers and families.
About Lift HI
Lift HI’s mission is rooted in a powerful belief: when people are supported to live stable, healthy, and fulfilling lives, communities flourish.
Their work focuses on expanding access to good jobs as a pathway for transformation by:
Designing training-to-employment pathways in Hawaiʻi’s high-demand healthcare sector
Making participation accessible for vulnerable but deserving ALICE households
Removing structural barriers that prevent residents from entering and advancing in the workforce
Supporting families to move from short-term survival toward long-term stability
Lift HI aims not only to fill workforce gaps — but to ensure that those most impacted by Hawaiʻi’s affordability crisis can share in the benefits of a growing economy.
What This Webinar Will Explore
This session will unpack the often unseen challenges that stand between workers and a living wage, including:
Why employment doesn’t always equal economic security
Barriers that limit access to training and upward mobility
What a realistic pathway to a living wage looks like in Hawaiʻi today
Promising models that support both workers and employers
Participants will gain insight into the systemic issues affecting ALICE families — and the solutions beginning to shift outcomes across the islands.
Why This Matters for Hawaiʻi
A living wage is not just an economic benchmark — it is the foundation for:
Family and community wellbeing
Housing and healthcare stability
Workforce participation and retention
A stronger, more resilient local economy
As communities continue to navigate rising costs and widening inequities, Lift HI’s work offers a grounded, practical pathway forward.
About the PRESENTER
The session will be led by Jennifer Meehan, Founder & President of Lift HI Foundation, who brings more than 25 years of experience connecting low-income communities to economic opportunity across Asia and Hawaiʻi. She now leads Lift HI’s efforts to strengthen families through equitable access to good jobs and serves as Chair of the Board at Le Jardin Academy.
Who Should Attend
This webinar is for:
Workforce and training providers
Community-based organizations
Employers and HR leaders
Policymakers and funders
Anyone committed to expanding equitable pathways to good jobs in Hawaiʻi
📅 Date: Monday, December 15th, 2025
🕙 Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm HST
📍 Location: Virtual – Zoom
About our Session Presenter:
Jennifer Meehan is the Founder & President of Lift HI Foundation. She has spent the last 25 years connecting low income communities to economic opportunities that enable them to transform their own lives and those of their families. She was a Founder and Board member of Fair Employment Training & Assessment Center (FTC) in Manila, the Philippines and also served on the Board of Hong Kong-based Fair Employment Foundation. Prior to that, she worked in leadership positions within Grameen Foundation USA, part of the Grameen Family of Companies. She was based in Asia for 23 years prior to moving to Hawai’i in 2017. She serves as Chair of the Board for Kailua-based Le Jardin Academy and lives in Waimānalo.
