|
Building Communities
Changing Lives
|
|
Dear Friends,
I hope this letter finds you recharged from the Holiday Break and re-energized as we begin the New Year. For me, each January offers a chance for new beginnings and a recommitment to personal and professional priorities.
One of those priorities at Community Teamwork is our commitment to our DEI work – work which we began last year and which has been solidified with the recent hiring of Saadia Ahmad, our first Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. As detailed below, Saadia brings to us extensive knowledge and experience in this area and will help us look at all we do, both internally and in our programs, with an equity lens. We are thrilled to welcome her to our organization and our community.
This New Year, we are committed to tackling the issue of individual homelessness and the affordable housing crisis we face in our communities. There is an urgent need for the development of permanent housing for low-income and homeless individuals in Lowell and the surrounding towns, made even greater by the pandemic. We understand that we cannot solve this problem alone and are reaching out to Community Leaders in the Greater Lowell area to work together with us to tackle this problem head on – with intention and urgency. This is a problem that affects us all. Please don’t hesitate to contact me directly if you wish to discuss further and find out how you can help.
In the meantime, our work continues in our more than 35 programs, some of that work is described in detail below.
We could not continue the important work we do without our committed Board, dedicated staff and supporters, friends and donors like you.
We thank you and wish you continued success and health.
Gratefully,
|
|
Karen Frederick, CEO
Community Teamwork
|
|
Welcome Saadia Ahmad
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Saadia shared her thoughts about the position and about Community Teamwork: "The mission of building “beloved communities,” as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. put it, that are diverse, inclusive, and equitable has been woven throughout my professional journey before I even fully understood these words and definitions, and I’m excited for the opportunity to focus on making these contributions in a full-time capacity at this particular moment in time. The last two years have pushed many of us to consider in new ways how our words, actions, and policies may unintentionally cause harm or hold people back. This momentum for pursuing racial justice is unprecedented, and it calls upon each of us to approach this work in more holistic, systemic, and consistent ways.
Organizations such as CTI play an essential role in tackling many of these societal inequities by providing social and financial services to those in need, and I’m excited to support the people who work hard to provide these resources and opportunities. I am particularly excited and inspired to work with the CTI community given how much has already been accomplished with the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and the good work that lays ahead. That said, I also know from my own experiences that a reality of this work in any organization is that for some people, it falls below expectations, and for others, there is uncertainty or ambivalence. It is important to me to work to earn the trust of each employee here and to be someone who is accessible and available to everyone, regardless of how you identify or where you fall on the political spectrum."
|
|
Living the Dream Partners
In Remembrance of
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Community Teamwork was a sponsor and participant in the Living the Dream Partners event presented by Middlesex Community College on January 17, 2022.
Founded in 2018, the Living the Dream Partners/Middlesex Community College Foundation is a diverse group of community members and organizations dedicated to honoring the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and supporting positive change for the Greater Lowell community. Living the Dream Partners educate and inspire citizens in ways consistent with the service and ideology of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Pictured below are Community Teamwork staff who participated in the Living the Dream Partners event. They shared CTI's Partner's Pledge - Living the Dream is a Call to Action: View here: https://youtu.be/AttYJ4n5Yg0
"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."
|
|
L-R: Diana Santana, Gifty Korankye, Jonathan Lunde, Rita Ofori-Frimpong, Crystal Gomez
|
|
Financial Education Center
|
|
WE NEED VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) VOLUNTEERS
Volunteer to help your community by preparing taxes free of charge with the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Programs. You will receive training to provide free tax help for low-to-moderate income families who need assistance preparing their tax returns.
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
|
|
English 2021
Spanish 2021
|
|
|
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:
|
|
Housing Consumer Education Center (HCEC)
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT)
Community Teamwork's HCEC has been super busy throughout the pandemic, assisting thousands of families with emergency rental and housing assistance. Since July 2021, staff have assisted 3281 families ensuring that they remain safe in their homes - this is over 530 families each month!
|
|
Above are some of our amazing HCEC staff who process emergency housing assistance applications. L to R: Peter Clenott, Yajhayra Santana, Director - Tom Sun, Assistant Director - Gloria Morales, Ari Robillard, Edma Laracuente, Gladys Santiago, DeAngelo Purcell, De La Ngov
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:
|
|
Visit Community Teamwork's website for more information:
|
|
Heating Assistance Annual Household Income Guidelines (2021-2022)
|
|
You work hard. Heat is expensive! Do you need help keeping warm this winter?
Your family may qualify for payments towards 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.
-
New clients can apply online at: toapply.org/CTI (you must have a valid email address to submit an online application).
-
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
|
|
YouthBuild of Greater Lowell
New Cohort Starts
February 14, 2022
|
|
|
For Young Adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who have dropped out of school and are ready to embrace a second chance to receive educational and vocational training to achieve success.
We Welcome You!
We Provide:
- Hi-Set Certification
- Construction and Culinary Career Tracks
- Intensive Case Management/Counseling
- Career Development/Job Placement
- Stipend for Service
- OSHA 10 Construction Certification
- OSHA 10 General Industry Certification
- ServeSafe Manager Certification & Allergen Safe Certification
- NCCER Certification -National Center for Construction, Education & Research
- Restaurant Ready Certification
- Leadership Development and More!
|
|
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.
|
|
The Youth Services program had many great workshops and groups this year! Thank you all for your participation and support in 2021. We are looking forward to continuing the raising of awareness about youth and young adult housing insecurity in 2022. Happy New Year!
|
|
CAREERS AT COMMUNITY TEAMWORK
Early Learning Division is Hiring Teachers, Assistant Teachers and more
Special Career, Astonishing Benefits
Sign-On Bonus $2k Full-Time, $1k Part-time
|
|
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.
|
|
|
NEW ENGLAND MEDICAL INSURANCE AGENCY | STEVE MALLETTE
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|