December 2023

“You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.”

- Shirley Chisholm

We Are Groundwork Lawrence

Groundwork Lawrence staff are proud champions of the environment and of our community, but did you also know we are full of diverse and creative staff who sing, sculpt, draw, and write? This December we asked our staff to get in touch with their creative side by contributing a line or two to a community poem inspired by our own roles within the Groundwork Lawrence family. How did it turn out? See for yourself:

The neighborhood oak and shaded bench; the rippling waters and riverside path; cleaner air and urban trails. This is our legacy.

Every time we cut a ribbon on a project, we know we had a small part in helping

to create beautiful and transformational spaces. Our legacy, not just for me,

not just for you, but for all those to come after.

Our work feels natural, with passion and purpose,

leading with heart, mind and hand, empowered to inspire

and cultivate change. Building a brighter Lawrence for all.

We want to plant trees whose shade we’ll never know.

We want to cook potatoes, tomatoes, and squash from our fresh gardens.

We want to hear the laughter of youth– the aha! moments,

the I’m so glad I know that now!

And sometimes it might feel like our role is just another cog in the wheel

but it's as vital as all others no matter how small it may feel,

like the warmth of the sun hitting your skin on a cold December day.

Coming to a place where people gather, addressing and working hard to fix the issues that affect our big beautiful city, our big beautiful world, never feels like a typical 9 to 5. Trabajar en GWL nos permite unir nuestras pasiones:

crear y fomentar comunidad.

We are from Texas, Pennsylvania, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico,

We are Lawrence natives, movers and shakers, Merrimack Valley for generations,

all part of something bigger, all of us bringing a piece of our home

and culture to work everyday. That’s what makes us special.

We transform tainted earth to a vibrant green,

maestros of renewal in the public realm.

Es una mezcla gratificante.

See You Next Year!

In celebration of the holiday season, the Groundwork Lawrence office will be closed from Friday, December 22nd, through January 2nd. We hope our staff rest and rejuvenate, and we extend our warmest wishes to our community partners and supporters during this festive time. Your support has been instrumental to our programming, and we look forward to serving the community in 2024! May this holiday season bring joy, peace, and happiness!

A Gift That Counts:

Your 2023 Donation!

DONATE TODAY

It’s remarkable that another year is coming to an end and that we will be welcoming 2024 in a few short weeks. We have seen hundreds of folks over the year from farmers market shoppers and sellers, to visitors from Georgia during Assembly last October, to volunteers and participants at our Kite Festival and Earth Day Clean Up and Greenway 5K. We’ve planted more than 800 trees, and changed lives all along the way! This December we’re asking you to make a gift that counts by donating to Groundwork Lawrence. Every donated dollar helps keep our gardens open, helps our Green Team youth paid, helps our tree guys increase the urban canopy, and helps to close the gap on hunger. Help us close out 2023 with gusto!

How Does Climate Change Impact You?

Take The Survey To Share Your Feedback

From fluctuating temperatures, fierce winds, droughts, and flooding, climate change is impacting all aspects of our world. Climate change has long lasting consequences for the humans, wildlife, and plant life who call this planet home. In an effort to create opportunities for community members to share their observations and concerns Groundwork Lawrence, with the support of the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, created Pa'Lante. Pa’Lante is a committed task force comprised of Lawrence residents working towards establishing a climate-resilient community. With a special focus on the Lower Tower Hill neighborhood, Pa’Lante, in support of Climate Safe Neighborhoods project, is actively fostering inclusive community-led initiatives to effectively address the challenges posed by climate change, including the mitigation of extreme heat and flooding in the area.

And you can help! Share your observations and experiences by taking our Climate Safe Neighborhoods Survey to help gauge how the you feel about climate change in Lawrence while also learning about current resources available to the community.

TAKE THE SURVEY HERE

Save The Date 2024

As the new year approaches, we have great events scheduled for 2024! Mark your calendar and check out our events page for more information! We look forward to seeing you!

Engaging With Food Systems Across the State

The annual Massachusetts Food System Collaborative hosted their annual Food System Forum on Friday, Dec. 8th at Holy Cross in Worcester. Groundwork Lawrence’s Director of Education and Workforce Programs Jorge Hernandez, External Affairs Manager Jonathan Guzman, and Food System Resiliency Partnership Coordinator Dariana Guerrero were in attendance to strengthen their knowledge and get up to date on current food systems work in the state. When asked about one of his takeaways Jonathan noted, “While it might differ across the state, difficulties arise everywhere regardless of whether we are on the Cape or in Western MA, we must collaborate and network with problem solvers who will own their voice to seek change.” Jorge also added, “Our food system is greatly impacted by the climate crisis. Advocating for and engaging in the work of environmental justice is also working for food justice.”

Forum attendees participated in a diverse range of workshops and favorites included: “Authentic Community Engagement For Policy & System Change”, “Housing and Food Systems”, and “Youth and The Food System: How Are We Creating the Next Generation of Food System Leaders?”

Preserving Environmental Treasures:

Spicket River Watershed Meeting

At a remarkable 17 miles long, the Spicket River is a treasure that flows through downtown Methuen and through the heart of the Arlington neighborhood in Lawrence. GWL has worked for two decades to revitalize the Spicket River - we’ve removed thousands of pounds of trash from the river, created parks along the river’s banks, and now we’re part of a team developing a plan to improve the Spicket’s water quality. The Merrimack Valley Watershed Council has devoted a lot of resources to collecting water quality data, and engineers have been reviewing ways to improve infrastructure to reduce pollution in the river. What makes the work of revitalizing the Spicket River community so important is the immense commitment the Council and GWL has to community members and residents along the river. Case in point, residents were able to share their insights and feedback at several public meetings that were held on December 5th and 6th.

💡 Did You Know?

The hundreds of trees we’ve planted

around the city are a source of green infrastructure due to the urban tree canopy’s absorption of water.

Changing Systems:

A Year of Social Justice Resources

Our feature “Changing Systems: Resources For Social Justice” piloted in January featuring a variety of resources from novels and stories to films and short clips. Changing Systems offered a variety of sources from texts on racial justice, work by disability activists, picture books, and Young Adult Fiction. We hope you were able to find something that interested you with this breadth of resources.

What resources would you be interested in?

Books, essays, articles

Film, TV, short videos

Highlighting activists and change makers

All of the above.

DONATE

www.groundworklawrence.org