Building Communities
Changing Lives
September 2022

September is a time for new beginnings! 

Can you feel it in the air? That is how I have always thought of September – a time for new beginnings. Whether it was bringing my boys to start a new school year each September, or now watching all of our school age children return to our programs, it is an exciting time.

It’s an exciting time for our city as well, as we have recently watched in awe the creation of beautiful murals as they came alive on various buildings throughout the city, including our own mural expansion on the Youth Opportunity Center at 167 Dutton Street created by artist Evaristo Angurria. We are grateful for ARTUp and Project Learn for bringing these world renowned artists to Lowell for this project.

In addition, Community Teamwork has exciting new programs underway, including our partnership with Lantern Light Camps to bring a camping experience to our school age children, and our new Fair Housing Program which provides education and resources for tenants, our new and improved Farmers' Market which continues through October 28th, and our upcoming event, An Evening to End Youth Homelessness, to be held on November 10th, to name a few. Please see details on these programs and other events below.

As always, we are so appreciative for your continued support.

Happy September!

Gratefully,
Karen Frederick, CEO
Community Teamwork

National WIC Association Applauds Lowell WIC

The National WIC Association (NWA) staff, out of Washington, DC visited CTI’s Lowell WIC office on Monday, 8/29. They also visited locations in Maine and Worcester, MA. They came in appreciation of all the WIC program did during the pandemic and in support of the ongoing efforts to meet formula shortages.

L-R Back Row: Carl Howell, CTI CPO; Karen Frederick, CTI CEO; Rady Mom, MA State Representative; Brian Dittmeier, NWA Senior Director of Public Policy; Meghan Blanchet, CTI WIC Director; Tina Andrade, MA State WIC Director of Operations; Laura Kalemba, CTI WIC Program Assistant, Sarah Seguin, CTI WIC Senior Nutritionist

L-R Front Row: Sara Khun Leng, District Director, Congresswoman Lori Trahan's office; Lowell Mayor Sokhary Chau; Noora Kanfash, NWA State Public Policy Manager; Vanna Howard, MA State Representative; Nicky Chapman, CTI WIC Nutritionist; Desiree Collado, CTI WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor; Leslie Boutin, CTI WIC Nutrition and Program Assistant; Abbey Milligan, WIC Nutritionist; and Connie Martin, CTI Division Director Energy and Community Resources

Not pictured from NWA: Tim Ward, NWA Communications Director 
Not pictured from WIC: Nicole Spitalere, Nutritionist/Breastfeeding Coordinator
Community Teamwork Pilots Residential Summer Camp Program

As part of our Behavior Health initiative, this summer Community Teamwork, launched a new partnership with Lantern Light Camps, to offer a traditional overnight camp experience for its Lowell School Age and shelter children from the often neglected 10-14 age group. Lantern Light Camps, located on Northwood Lake in Northwood, NH, was established to support outdoor educational and recreational programs for children, young adults and families. For many of the 28 children who participated in six (6) week-long sleep away camp sessions, it was the first time they had ever been away from Lowell, and their parents. To be suddenly transported to 325 acres of wilderness, meet a community of new friends, and have the freedom to choose from many daily activities such as archery and pottery making, proved to be transformational.


Mural Expansion throughout Lowell
Including
Evaristo Angurria's Installation Extension on our Youth Opportunity Center

Big thanks to Evaristo Angurria, Project Learn, Beyond Walls, ARTUp Lowell and everyone involved for the fortunate experience and privilege of watching the evolution of the completion of “El Sonido de mi Patria” on CTI's Youth Opportunity Center at the corner of Dutton and Shattuck Streets . This along with the other 6 murals, were created in August throughout Lowell, will provide endless enjoyment and an upgrade to the existing surrounding gardens for all of Lowell's residents and visitors.


Thank you @artuplowell @projectlearn_inc @beyondwalls @United.Rentals and many more for your partnership and support in this work.

#artuplowell #projectlearn #beyondwalls

Visit Community Teamwork’s
Lowell Farmers' Market

Mack Plaza
Corner of Shattuck & Market Streets Fridays, 11am-3pm
Through October 28th


For more information about the Lowell Farmers' Market, contact Jessica MacDonald: jmacdonald@commteam.org

There are some WIC Farmers' Market Coupons still available. Clients need to come to the Lowell WIC office to collect them. WIC does not issue coupons to anyone who has already received them this year. You must bring ID and WIC card. Participants must be active and children must be at least 4 months old as of August 5th.

Need to apply or reapply? Go online to start your application https://www.mass.gov/forms/apply-for-wic-online
or call us at (978) 221-8815; (978) 454-6397. 

Mosaic Lowell and the City of Lowell features local artists

Downtown Window Art is a collaborative project between Mosaic Lowell and the City of Lowell, featuring Lowell-practicing artists.

Six local artists' work adorned the windows of our 167 Dutton Street building ~ Art pictured below L-R by: Spencer Yates, Makayla Boucher, Neveah Lee, Stephen Clement, Brook Lambert, Raksha Soni

For more information, please visit: https://mosaiclowell.org/

Spencer Yates
Makayla Boucher
Neveah Lee
Stephen Clement
Brooke Lambert
Raksha Soni
Financial Education Center
The Financial Education Center is pleased to announce the next round of the Financial Literacy Academy. We are also very excited about our very first Spanish Financial Literacy Academy which will take place in September.  

Do you know about the Secure Jobs program? We’re able to help anyone living in a DHCD funded shelter who is receiving RAFT assistance or HomeBASE funding to advance their career and job training efforts. Our coaches can help create robust resumes, aid in job search, and even help enroll in career training and education programs. Those qualifying for Secure Jobs have the opportunity to advance their careers as well as receive aid to help break down any barriers that could be holding them back from retaining work. This can include some help with overdue bills, transportation, and paid education and training. Secure Jobs Program Flyer
First-Time-HomeBuyer Classes (In-Person)

To register for an upcoming webinar, choose one of the links below. You must attend all classes. Next Class is September 17 AND 24, 8:30am-12:30pm, at Chelmsford Woods, 267 Littleton Road, Chelmsford, MA, 01824.
For more information, email Cathy Dyl and to register, visit our website:
In addition to the great programming we offer, our social media pages offer tips and tricks focused on financial literacy and education, as well as any updates or important notices. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and reach out to Brittany McLaughlin (bmclaughlin@commteam.org) to be added to our newsletter mailing list.
Visit our website for information about all of our programs:
Housing Consumer Education Center (HCEC)
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT)
The federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) stopped accepting applications on April 15, 2022. Households can still apply for rental assistance from the more targeted, state-funded Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program.

The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. RAFT provides qualifying households with up to $7,000 per year to preserve current housing or move to new housing. RAFT can cover utilities, moving costs and overdue rent, as well as forward rent in limited situations. Renters or landlords can apply by submitting an online application.
 
RAFT does not serve homeowners. Homeowners may access mortgage and other assistance through the federal Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF).


The Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) program ended on December 31, 2021. Homeowners may be eligible for assistance through the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF). To learn more about eligibility, resources and to apply, homeowners can visit www.massmortgagehelp.org.


Visit Community Teamwork's website for more information:


Calling all Housing Provider Partners
Community Teamwork is looking for 2 and 3 bedroom units in Lowell, Lawrence and surrounding towns.

Units must be deleaded. We can offer longer term leases. This is a special program and provides some extra benefits to the owners.

Please email your responses to Avi Glazer acf2022@commteam.org

Common Ground Development Corp. (CGDC)
With the entire region facing a severe crisis in housing supply, Common Ground Development Corporation (CGDC) was created as a non-profit subsidiary of CTI to produce more housing, for home-buyers and tenants, and to preserve existing apartments at affordable rent levels.

Common Ground’s mandate is to work cooperatively with the cities and towns throughout the Merrimack Valley and North Shore to address this acute need. New units are being created through rehabilitation of distressed buildings and through new construction. Existing apartments are being preserved at affordable rent levels through the acquisition and maintenance program.

 
On August 25th, Common Ground and Peabody Properties hosted a first time ever resident cookout event at our Westford properties, Stony Brook I and II. There was great food shared and face painting! The kids, the residents, and manager had an awesome time, as you can see in the pictures. 
Introducing CTI's Fair Housing Program

Fair Housing Happens when:

Tenants know their rights;
Landlords know the law; and
Advocates intervene.


Who we help:

•Tenants/homebuyers
•Housing providers (landlords/property managers)
•Case managers and people providing supports

What we help with/provide:

•Tenant complaints, technical assistance, referral to legal services
•Trainings on fair housing for tenants, landlords and support providers
•Fair Housing outreach, advocacy, and promotion

CONTACT THE COMMUNITY TEAMWORK FAIR HOUSING PROGRAM

Contact us at (978) 654-5736 or fairhousing@commteam.org OR





YouthBuild of Greater Lowell
is accepting
Applications for the Fall Cohort

AND

Graduation Celebration
Friday, September 16
12:30-3:30pm,
Shedd Park
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.
Save the Date
Details to follow

Please contact kplath@commteam.org for more Sponsorship Opportunities.

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.
SPRING CELEBRATION SPONSORS
There are ALWAYS Ways to Help
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. 
COMMUNITY TEAMWORK
978.459.0551