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Building Communities
Changing Lives
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Dear Friends,
On St. Patrick's Day, we are often reminded of our many blessings, and this month is no exception.
Celebrating Women's History month, we honor our personal and national heroes and we are reminded of how the past is present in the lives and voices of so many wonderful women making a difference in our community. We celebrate our own Gifty Korankye below.
We are also fortunate to have such committed organizations in our community who care deeply about our most vulnerable. Community Teamwork, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, and the Lowell Plan have come together in a campaign to Talk About Housing with the goal of creating 300 units of low threshold housing. We recently held a meeting with municipal leaders to discuss housing production, rental vouchers, and homelessness in Greater Lowell. We welcome other organizations to join us to discuss how this coalition can effectively and thoughtfully create more housing. Additional details are below.
As we head into Spring, our programs continue to grow and support our community in many ways, from our Youth Services, YouthBuild, Financial Education, Heating and Rental Assistance, and Volunteer Center to name a few - we remain active as ever, as you will read below.
Most importantly, I am so thankful for our many Funders and Donors, without whom we would not be able to continue to do the work we do.
May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow ~anonymous
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Gratefully,
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Karen Frederick, CEO
Community Teamwork
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March is Women in History Month
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This Women’s History Month, we honor our personal and national heroes. And, we are reminded of how the past is present. This national celebration of women’s history was initiated just 40 years ago with a single week in March before growing into a month-long remembrance of the women who have shaped our country.
Meet Gifty Korankye ~ Shaping our Community
If you haven't yet met Gifty, you probably should, and it's just a matter of time. She works in our Resource Center as a Client Assessment Specialist. She is a voice of advocacy for the agency and the community.
She recently participated in the celebration of Ghana’s 65th Independence Day. Gifty sang Ghana's National Anthem on the steps of Lowell City Hall. Like all groups who come to our city, the Ghanian community has made great contributions to Lowell.
Gifty is an active member of Community Teamwork's DEI committee and she joined with other Community Teamwork staff in the Living the Dream Partners event. They shared CTI's Partner's Pledge - Living the Dream is a Call to Action: View here.
"We are a Community Action Agency whose mission is to be a catalyst for Social Change.
Our vision is a community whose institutions, systems and people support EVERYONE's opportunity to thrive. We join our many partners to use our voice to speak out against the widespread violence of racist policy and action. And as we head into 2022, Community Teamwork is committed to upholding the values of Dr. King through the practice of anti-racism as the foundation of our work."
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We Need to Talk about Housing
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Homelessness is on the rise. Not just here, but everywhere. For the first time since counting began, the number of individuals sleeping outside is greater than the number using shelter beds. Nearly 18,000 people are experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts on any given night, and more than 1200 of those are outside[1] – and that’s just those we could count.
Working with our partners, The Greater Lowell Community Foundation, The Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, and the Lowell Plan, we are committed to working with our community leaders and developers to create 300 low threshold units of housing to help alleviate homelessness in Greater Lowell.
We have created a web page to provide a community resource for this effort. You will find ways to help and links to partner editorials, social media postings and other resources.
[1] The 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress
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Community Teamwork Celebrates National Volunteer Month in April
Make giving back your second act
Get involved and make a positive difference in your community. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to helping others. ~ AmeriCorps Seniors
April is National Volunteer Month! Community Teamwork's Volunteer Center Team will be highlighting volunteers in the community as well as hosting virtual events to support the programs that do so much for our community. We would love for you to join us! Learn about the volunteer opportunities within the Volunteer Center Programs and CELEBRATE the volunteers who make a difference in the lives of others, every day.
The Volunteer Center Programs include all three AmeriCorps Seniors Programs (Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions and RSVP), Mill City Mentors and Spindle City Corps. This will be a great opportunity for you to meet staff, volunteers, clients, mentors, mentees, and participants who are active in the Volunteer Center.
April 1st through April 8th Give Up, Give Back - General Donation
April 8 th Virtual Scavenger Hunt for CTI Employees - $5
April 15th Volunteer Center Volunteer Media Montage - Free
April 22nd Zoom Bingo Blitz $20 for 4 cards | $35 for 8 cards
Why participate/donate?
Events and Fundraisers like these are critical to our Volunteer Center Programs. These unrestricted funds allow us to provide supports to our elderly volunteers, mentees, mentors, and participants in the programs that help our community thrive each and every day with things that our federal, state and other grant funds do not allow. Your participation and donations are critical to the Volunteer Center Programs. You will make a huge impact in the lives of others by participating and supporting our Volunteer Programs.
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Financial Education Center
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VITA is up and running and our volunteers are ready to help you and your family prepare their taxes for the 2021 year. Please share these flyers with your networks and let’s try to help as many community members as possible.
The VITA program has operated for over 50 years, offering free tax help to help those who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. In order to properly process your return quickly and efficiently, please visit: www.getyourrefund.org/cti
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English 2021
Spanish 2021
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First-Time-HomeBuyer Webinars
To register for an upcoming webinar, choose one of the links below. You must attend all four ZOOM classes. 6:30pm-8pm.
The Financial Education Center at Community Teamwork is hiring! Come join our team and make an impact in our community. Looking for a Career Coach - Learn more here!
Visit our website for information about all of our programs:
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Housing Consumer Education Center (HCEC)
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT)
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Does someone you know need emergency rental assistance?
Click the link below to access the central application:
Does someone you know need help with mortgage assistance?
Click the link below to access the HAF application:
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Visit Community Teamwork's website for more information:
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Heating Assistance Annual Household Income Guidelines (2021-2022)
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You work hard. Heat is expensive! Do you need help keeping warm this winter?
Your family may qualify for payments toward winter heating bills, discounts on monthly utility bills, a no-cost home energy assessment, free appliance replacement, and other energy-saving improvements for your home, all at no cost to you.
CTI Fuel Assistance Program is currently accepting FY2022 Fuel Assistance applications.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: APPLICATION PERIOD EXTENDED TO MAY 13TH.
With the extension of the winter shut-off moratorium by the Department of Public Utilities, DHCD has extended the APPLICATION PERIOD from April 29th to MAY 13, 2022. The heating season remains November 1, 2021 through April 30, 2022.
Applications may be updated with any changes to household size or income through May 13th. With the extension of the application deadline, other program-related deadlines are extended - Visit our website for more information.
To find out more, visit:
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New clients can apply online at: toapply.org/CTI (you must have a valid email address to submit an online application).
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Call the Fuel Assistance office at 978-459-6161 to make an appointment to apply for Fuel Assistance over the telephone.
- If you applied for Fuel Assistance in previous years, call the office at 978-459-6161 and we can mail you an application.
OTHER WAYS TO SUBMIT COMPLETED APPLICATIONS
Fax #: 978-458-8594
Email: fuelassistance@commteam.org
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School Age Program in Action
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Pictured L_R: Maureen Fitzpatrick - HR Business Partner - LGH, Angela Say - Education and Operations Manager - CTI, Leandro Sgarioni - Manager - MacDonalds Drum Hill, Minerva Amarane - Associate Agent - Allstate Ins. Co., and Kelly Leonard- Store Manager - Walmart Chelmsford
Beatriz Sierra, a Youth Employer Services at the Greater Lowell WorkForce Board thanked participants in the making of the video that will help prepare Lowell High School Students for their 2022 Job Fair on April 12th for ages 16+. Amongst those participants were CTI's Angela Say, Education and Operatons Manager - who appears at the 4.35 mark in the video below - advising students on how to make a good first impression on an interview.
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Keryn Shannon, Family Services Worker, and Billy Ma, Content Area Manager read (virtual) to the second graders at the Shaughnessy Elementary School.
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YouthBuild of Greater Lowell
Culinary Program Prepares for Mardi Gras and a
Fat Tuesday Feast
Shrimp Etouffee, Red Beans, Rice and Cajun Meatballs
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Last month, YouthBuild culinary students worked hard prepping smoky broccoli and cheddar with bacon and scallion garnish soup for WinterFest 2022 Soup Competition held Saturday, 2/19/22.
Their entry won Best Presentation!
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Lots of hard work this morning getting ready for our first catering event of 2022…Thank you to Dwelling House of Hope and Greater Lowell Health Alliance for engaging our students in this important part of their training!
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Congratulations to Joel Calcano, Josh Calcano, Jovan Kong, Kyle Chan, Xavier Close-Courtois, Sam Brown, Nate Quinonez and Jeremy Caggiano for completing your National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER ) Certification course!
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Congratulations to Jonathan Chavez for passing his High School Equivalency Test - HiSet!
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For more information about the Culinary and Construction Programs, Contact Tim Caldwell - 978-905-7375 or Janise Rosario - 978-770-8543
167 Dutton Street, Lowell Ma 01852
This workforce Product was funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. This product was created by the Grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor.
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Check out our new wheels! Youth Services continues to grow our outreaching efforts and community engagement- so be sure to give us a wave if you see us buzz by!
Youth Services is geared to provide supports for youth and young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who struggle with housing instability and emotional barriers.
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A couple more shots from our fun movie night in celebration of the Youth Action Board’s 3rd birthday! Thank you to our awesome youth and young adults who spent the evening with us in The Mill You.
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For the month of March 2022, Community Teamwork will receive a $1 donation from each purchase of the $2.50 reusable Community Bag at the Stop & Shop store located at 209 North Main Street, Andover MA.
Rght now, supporting local organizations is more important than ever. Thank you for your support!
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CAREERS AT COMMUNITY TEAMWORK
Special Career, Astonishing Benefits
Sign-On Bonus $2k Full-Time, $1k Part-time
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This newsletter is sponsored by our Premier Partner, Enterprise Bank, who continues to support Community Teamwork's mission each and every day.
We appreciate all of our Sponsors whose continued generosity allows us to fulfill our mission.
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NEW ENGLAND MEDICAL INSURANCE AGENCY | STEVE MALLETTE
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There are ALWAYS Ways to Help
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If you find yourself in a position to help, your contribution will aid our efforts on every front as we work together to defeat COVID-19, care for our clients and families in their hour of greatest need, and emerge stronger than ever.
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COMMUNITY TEAMWORK
978.459.0551
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