InnerCity Weightlifting (ICW) is on a mission to empower those most affected by systemic racism and mass incarceration. Ian Kilpatrick, Head of Development at ICW since 2018, has used his passion for social justice and fitness to create opportunities and build a supportive community for all.
ICW’s approach is unique. We work with participants throughout Boston and Chicago through personal training apprenticeship programs and individual case management, helping them become experts in fitness and advocates for social change. A key strength of ICW is its use of skills-based volunteering. Partnering with companies like Manulife/John Hancock, ICW has benefited from the expertise and support of dedicated volunteers. Ian has seen firsthand how these partnerships have been invaluable in advancing ICW’s mission.
Ian Kilpatrick shares his inspiring journey, his motivations for working with ICW, and the significant impact of skills-based volunteering in building a more equitable society.
“I approach my work as a collaboration between me, my colleagues, the people who we help empower through our program, and the community. The goal is to shift from fear to connection and support.”
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.
Can you share a memorable story or situation where a student thrived in ICW’s programs that has left a lasting impression on you?
The person currently on my mind I’ll call Alex for confidentiality. It’s important to recognize that success at ICW can look different for each individual. Success can mean someone who has been in and out of prison multiple times but returns to us and turns a corner in their life. I’ve known Alex for six years. When I joined the organization, he was a 20-year-old with a good heart and great energy, but his life circumstances were unstable in a way that made holding down a job near impossible. Even though we are proud of our ability to dramatically decrease recidivism rates, the reality is that many ICW participants are deeply caught up in the cycles of incarceration. It’s important to note, in many ways the prison system has more design features that lead to reincarceration than it does to prevent it. Even though Alex was great with clients and had potential, he bounced in and out of prison during his early twenties. When he came back to work with me at our new location in Savin Hill, he thrived because he became more in touch with what he wanted and his confidence in personal training grew. He built relationships with clients, including scientists and footwear designers, and excelled at teaching group classes.
Unfortunately, Alex had a pending case related to a charge from his past, which resulted in an 18-month sentence. We knew he would have to return to prison, but the big success was that we stayed in touch. He called us regularly, and we sent him updates and encouragement. Returning to prison is a tough and traumatic experience. Alex maintained open communication with us and returned to the gym shortly after his release. After a bureaucratic battle to get his license reinstated, he returned to Savin Hill and has shown tremendous potential as a personal trainer and beyond. I am so proud of Alex for becoming the person he is today, and I know he has a lot more to give!
What role does volunteerism play in ICW’s mission?
Skills-based volunteerism plays a big role at ICW. As a social enterprise, traditional volunteerism isn’t our main model. Volunteers who contribute their skills feel a sense of accomplishment because they see the impact of their work over time. It’s not just a one-time contribution because it often leads to ongoing collaboration and support. Many volunteers continue to stay connected and offer help beyond the day of service sponsored by their employer. This ongoing engagement is vital for bridging networks and leveraging social capital, which is essential for our mission and operations.
I find that skills-based volunteers have enhanced our work at ICW. Although we don’t have SEO experts on staff, volunteers have helped us with SEO projects. We’re focused on fitness and community work, so we don’t always have the marketing expertise we need. These volunteers bring in the kind of experience we wouldn’t normally have, allowing us to tackle tasks that we otherwise couldn’t.
Their contributions range from small updates, like improving our web page, to bigger projects, such as developing a strategy to attract corporate funders. Skills-based volunteering is a creative way for us to build capacity without overextending our budget on consultants.
My favorite part of working with skills-based volunteers is that it gives me a chance to talk about ICW in a collaborative, low-stakes environment. It helps me articulate our work more effectively, not just to funders or corporations but to anyone interested. I also value their unbiased feedback. They offer an external perspective that’s free from our organization’s internal insights and opinions. This feedback is particularly useful for validating our strategies or suggesting new approaches, especially when internal consensus is hard to reach.
Ian Kilpatrick’s journey with InnerCity Weightlifting is a testament to the power of community, resilience, and the transformative impact of skills-based volunteering. Through trust, hope, and economic mobility, ICW is not just changing individual lives but also fostering a broader movement towards social equity. As Ian and ICW continue to bridge gaps and build connections, their work serves as a powerful reminder that with the right support and opportunities, everyone has the potential to thrive and contribute to a more just and inclusive society.
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