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"Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world."
— Dolores Huerta
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Operation Groundwork:
Environmental Activists Assemble!
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The Groundwork National Assembly is an annual conference run by Groundwork USA, a non-profit organization that works on behalf of our national network of Groundwork trusts all of which are established by local stakeholders to address environmental and economic challenges. Assembly is held at a different trust (there are 21!) every year and this year, Groundwork Lawrence had the honor of hosting the conference. On October 3rd, GWL welcomed trusts from all over the country and the UK to the city of Lawrence for the 2023 National Groundwork Assembly! There were trusts representing 16 states, our friends across the pond, Catherine Browne of Groundwork East, and Sarah Reece-Mills, National Partnerships Director of Groundwork UK and interim CEO of Groundwork Northern Ireland, and the National Park Service and Environmental Protection Agency!
At Assembly, participants reflected on the evolution of the network. A variety of workshops and tours were offered, including three tours highlighting several of GWL's programs: a tree tour led by certified arborists Tennis Lilly and Eric Lundquist exploring our Green Streets program and the impact of urban forestry, a tour of former brownfields sites we’ve converted to green usable space led by Eddie Rosa and Brad Buschur, and a tour our urban agriculture work in the city led by Maria Natera and Jorge Hernandez and featuring our community gardens and urban farm at Costello Park. Participants had conversations about forestry and urban canopies, disability justice, and tribal engagement. There were a wide variety of informative workshops, including one where participants thought through the effects of gentrification during, “Displacing Displacement and Advancing Strategy: People, Places, and Prosperity.”
It was an immense privilege to showcase our city and share the good work GWL has done in Lawrence. We also appreciated the chance to learn from other trusts and reflect on the remarkable work being done around the country and in the UK. We shared resources and learned from our sister trusts with the shared goal of advancing environmental justice in our respective communities.
And while Assembly was full of exciting learning opportunities, it also provided the valuable chance to mingle and get to know our colleagues around the world and to elevate the resources of Lawrence, including local small businesses and the burgeoning food scene. We were delighted to support our local restaurants by ordering the meals for the 3-day gathering with 100 attendees from a wide variety of delicous eateries including Korbani’s Bakery, Heavenly Donuts, El Taller/Cafe Azteca, Jessy’s Clean Meals, and the Spicket River Brewery. Thank you to all these establishments for doing a terrifc job catering such a special event. We loved being able to share some amazing eats in Lawrence while also supporting our local economy and advancing environmental justice. We hope everyone had a great time at the Assembly. We know we did! See you next year!
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💡Did You Know?
The first Groundwork Trust started in the UK in 1981!
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Gotta Get Glowin'
Tickets on Sale Now
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Tickets are on sale now for Lawrence's biggest party of the year-GWL's Glow Gala! Early birds can take advantage of our special pricing at $85 a ticket which has been extended to October 30th. After that, the ticket price will be $100/ticket.
What can you expect at the Glow Gala?
✨ Dance the Night Away: Groove to the beats of Los Sugar Kings and let loose on the dance floor!
🍽️ Delicious Food & Drinks: Indulge in a mouthwatering spread catered by Artisan Chef Catering Co!
🎨 Eco-Art Extravaganza: Marvel at stunning, original eco-art pieces that embody one of the 4 R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair.
🎉 Auction & Raffle: Bid on a wide array of fun and exciting items and experiences and try your luck with fantastic raffle prizes!
🌱 20 Years of Green Team: Join us in celebrating two decades of our inspiring youth program!
So, grab your friends, put on your best GLOWING attire, and join us for a night of fun, community, laughter, and celebration!
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Testifying in D.C. -
Brownfields Reauthorization Program
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 |  | In our August newsletter, we highlighted the National Brownfields Conference that Lesly attended in Detroit, Michigan. As a quick reminder, brownfields are contaminated pieces of land that require cleanup before they are considered safe for use. Brownfield revitalization is core to our open space environmental work, so when Lesly got the call to share her testimony on reauthorizing the national brownfields program, she knew she had to make the important trip to D.C. On September 27th, Lesly testified before the Committee on Energy and Commerce in support of the importance of revitalizing brownfields with an equitable lens and advocating for the reauthorization of the national program. The hearing, titled “Revitalizing America Through the Reauthorization of the Brownfields Program,” was a chance to emphasize the importance of brownfields revitalization to the health of communities across the nation and the critial role funding plays in ensuring that this vital work is done and continues. As Lesly stated before the hearing panel: “With over $25 million dollars in investment, including EPA Brownfields funding, we have been able to redevelop and create over 25 parks, four of those being brownfields-to-greenspace projects that have helped to increase property values, provide Lawrence residents much-needed greenspace, and holistically change the way people view greenspace and community development in the City.”
In addition to Lesly’s testimony, we were honored that Congresswoman Lori Trahan joined us at the hearing. Her fierce advocacy for her district and championing for environmental justice was a powerful voice during the hearing. Want to see these fierce advocates at work? Check out both Lesly and Congresswoman Trahan’s testimonies here. (Lesly's testimony starts at about 1 hour 59 minutes in.)
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We’re proud to share that Eddie Rosa, Community Programs Director at Groundwork Lawrence, and Evelyn Rodriguez, a member of Lawrence Pa'Lante have been appointed to the Commission on Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting (CEISP) by Governor Maura Healey. The CEISP will be tasked with reducing permitting timelines, ensuring communities have input in the siting and permitting of clean energy infrastructure, and ensuring that the benefits of the clean energy transition are shared equitably. This is an honor and we are beyond proud of Eddie and Evelyn. Please join us in congratulating the two of them on their appointment!
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Park Bucket List:
Visit to O’Connell South Common
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Nestled at the crossroads of South Union Street and Market Street, O'Connell South Common has been a cornerstone of the South Lawrence community. For this last park visit of the season, Dariana wanted to highlight the park she frequented as a child. Spending her summer riding bikes with friends, walking the perimeter of the park, or practicing her pitch on the mound of the baseball field with her dad and brother, the park holds many memories for Dariana and all residents living in the neighborhood.
These days, O'Connell South Common, among other wonderful things, is host to Groundwork Lawrence's farmer's markets and at night you can usually find a food truck or two offering different late-night snacks too. Not only is the food scene a vibe, the park’s recently renovated basketball courts with covered awning and light posts assure games can be played regardless of the weather and time of day. In addition to the new basketball pavilion, the walking paths were upgraded to make them wider and easier to walk on. The changes to South Common occurred in phases, but during the last phase—the renovation of the iconic bandstand—the Merrimack Valley gas explosions occurred which paused renovations. After the crisis, GWL stepped in to support the city's efforts to restore the park from its usage as a temporary housing site during the crisis to recreational green space, renovating the baseball and softball diamonds in the process. Currently, the city is evaluating budget options to fund the proposed improvements for the bandstand and a fully-inclusive playground. These improvements would dramatically improve the accessibility of the playground and the bandstand increasing the usability of the park.
O'Connell South Common is a testament to the resilience of the city of Lawrence. It is a haven for fitness enthusiasts, families seeking quality time together, children, food lovers indulging their taste buds, and nature enthusiasts basking in the tranquility of the outdoors.
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Winter Farmer's Market Ready to Go! | |
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Our farmer’s market is a staple all year round, and with the weather changing you can expect to see new additions to the available fruits and veggies with wonderful seasonal produce like sweet potatoes, apples, broccoli, and tomatoes to name a yummy few. Our 2023 winter market season begins on November 11th and runs until May 25th. It will be held in the lobby in the same buiding as our office -
50 Island Street, Entrance B.
We Accept / Aceptamos
Cash, Debit, Credit, EBT/SNAP/Food Stamps, HIP, WIC, Senior Coupons, and Groundwork Lawrence coupons.
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Vote for Groundwork Lawrence! | |
MillTown Helping Hands is a community give-back program with the goal of supporting local organizations. This month, Groundwork Lawrence is eligible to win a $1,000 donation and your vote can make that happen! Visit MillTown Plumbing.com/milltowns-helping-hands to place your vote or scan and vote here: | | |
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Vote today, spread the word
and help GWL receive $1,000! Voting ends Tuesday,
October 31.
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Changing Systems:
The Contributions of Dolores Huerta
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This month, our feature “Changing Systems” highlights the voice of civil rights icon Dolores Huerta and her contributions to the farmworkers' movement. Huerta co-founded the United Farmworkers Association which we know today as the United Farm Workers, a labor union for farmworkers in the United States. Learn more about Dolores Huerta and her contributions to the labor movement and Chicano civil rights movement by checking out this article or by reading one of this month’s featured books! | |
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Check out these books and more at your local public library, purchase them from your favorite bookstore, or from our community partner and local Lawrence bookstore, El Taller Cafe & Bookstore.
And if you would like more resources, please reach out to Dariana for more information or find us on Instagram and share your favorite reads!
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