Ringing in a Recharged New Year
"The New Year stands before us, like a chapter in a book,
waiting to be written."
Melody Beattie
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Groundwork Lawrence closed 2022 with laughter, hope, and a holiday potluck, reminding us of the importance of community and filling our proverbial cups. Our Operations Manager, Isae Grullon, reflects on the importance of rest and recharging, stating: “I am so grateful to be part of an organization that values its greatest asset, the people, as much as the work those people do. I took time to focus on other parts of life like school, family and checking with friends as well as with myself. I was able to make space to reflect on the previous year as well as look forward to the year ahead and imagine the potential 2023 holds for GWL, myself, and those around me.”
Isae importantly captures why recharging our batteries is important - it allows us to return to Groundwork stronger, healthier, and better equipped to continue the work of changing places, changing lives, changing systems.
We wish all our partners, supporters, community members, and friends a very happy new year!
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The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. |
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On January 16th, we observed MLK Day honoring the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This is a time to reflect on our past to learn and take action in our present for our future. Dr. King's dream of the Beloved Community, a community in which everyone is cared for, absent of poverty, hunger, and hate (https://thekingcenter.org/about-tkc/the-king-philosophy/), serves as our inspiration in all aspects of our work. It also drives us to push ourselves from reflection to action and materialize the beloved community King hoped to achieve.
In a commitment to changing systems, we will feature social justice related resources in our monthly newsletter to highlight the voices of black, brown, and underrepresented voices in our work. This month we are featuring resources on racial justice, antiracism, and activism as we reflect on Dr. King's legacy.
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Making Herstory:
Maura Healy Inauguration
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On Thursday, January 5th, Maura Healy took the gubernatorial oath at the Massachusetts State House becoming the state's 73rd governor. Groundwork Lawrence’sEducation Program Manager, Raphael Cartagena, and External Affairs Manager, Jonathan Guzman attended the historic event.
Reflecting on his experience and the importance of youth involvement in politics, Raphael observes, “There were a lot of families with young kids at the event, it made me feel good to know that the youth are getting involved early in politics […] [letting] them know how they can make a change when it's their turn to vote and represent their peers around them.”
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Governor Healy is both the first woman and the first open member of the LGBTQIA+ community to hold the office in Massachusetts and is one of the first two all-female governor/lieutenant governor pairings in the US to lead a state. Healy's inauguration reminds us of the importance of diverse representation. |
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Seeking Our Next Youth Leaders
Green Team and Urban Adventures Now Hiring!
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Finding a summer job is in many ways an adolescent rite of passage. Finding a meaningful summer job, however, that offers mentorship and rewarding paid work is so much more than that! And that is exactly what GWL's Green Team offers!
This summer we have exciting opportunities for young people looking to learn more about environmentalism, enhance their leadership skills, and earn some cash along the way while working on environmental stewardship in Lawrence.
GWL is hiring Leaders and Team Members for our Green Team and Counselors and Junior Counselors for our Urban Adventures program this summer. Green Team leaders need to be 21 or older. UA Counselors, 18 and older; UA Junior Counselors, 16 and older. High school aged students are encouraged to apply.
The Green Team Summer program is a 7-week part-time job and leadership opportunity for 40 high school students in the city of Lawrence to be an integral part of urban agriculture, environmentalism, stewardship, community engagement initiatives, and service learning.
Urban Adventures Summer Program is a summer youth program designed to provide children with a fun-filled summer camp-like experience within the heart of Lawrence while promoting social-emotional learning, environmental stewardship, sustainability, nutrition, academic excellence, team building, creative expression, and regional exploration. Groundwork Lawrence is working in partnership with community-based organizations to administer this program. Urban Adventures is designed for youth ages 11-14.
For more information on these and all GWL open positions visit our website
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Yaritza Bushell
Ed Team Program Coordinator
Meet the newest member of the Education Team! Yaritza (Yari) Bushell is a former Green Team Leader with a love for art, the environment, and teaching; needless to say she fits right in! In talking about her new role Yaritza says, “I care about doing a good job.”
Welcome Yari!
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Raphael Cartagena
Education Program Manager
Raphael Cartagena started as a Green Team Member, then Green Team Leader, then Program Coordinator for the Education Team, now: he's been promoted to Education Program Manager. Raphael reflects on his GWL journey, “To return 5 years later as a leader in the Green Team Program to help guide the youth of today in Lawrence was a blessing, then just a year later being blessed with the opportunity to be running the very same program that gave me my first job as the Education Program Manager is a feat that I couldn't have imagined as a 15-year-old.”
Join us in congratulating Raphie!
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To learn more about Yari, Raph, and the rest of our team, visit our website
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Is There An Arborist in the House?
The Tree Guys Get Certified!
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Tune in to Tree Talk with the Tree Guys to learn more fun facts about trees. Topics include anything tree-related such as the benefits of planting trees, how to request free trees, and how to care for planted trees.
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Fun fact:
An arborist is a tree surgeon!
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Celebrate with our “Tree Guys,” Tennis Lilly and Eric Lundquist who recently received their arborist certifications through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). To earn an ISA Certified Arborist credential, you must be trained and knowledgeable in all aspects of arboriculture. When asked how more people can get involved Eric added, “Spend time outside! Start getting to know your local trees, learn about the other plants and animals that live around you too! Life is so beautifully interconnected, and you don’t need a certification to know that. BUT, if you’re curious about the how and why (and how trees play a role in it), go take a course! You'll be glad you did.”
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Hitting an astonishing milestone with over 19,000 visitors, our Farmer’s Markets are an integral part of our community; these markets serve as a welcoming and safe place to shop for fresh produce and locally sourced foods all year round. Our winter market has headed indoors, and can be found at our offices at 50 Island Street Entrance B.
Our next Farmers Markets are February 11th and February 25th.
Join us, your neighbors, and future friends in supporting local farmers and producers. We can't wait to see you there!
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We Accept / Aceptamos
Cash, Debit, Credit, EBT/SNAP/Food Stamps, HIP, WIC, Senior Coupons, and Holy Family Hospital Farmers Market Voucher.
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Interested in being a vendor at one of our markets? |
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Since 2015, we have seen the sales at our markets increase an average of 70% each year. In the 2022 summer and winter season, our three markets combined reached over 20,000 customers with approximately $616,400 in sales!
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The Power of Partnership: The Food System Resiliency Partnership |
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đź’ˇFood insecurity is the condition of not having access to sufficient food, or food of an adequate quality.
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In 2020, Feeding America estimated 73,630 individuals were suffering from food insecurity in Essex county. This staggering number needed to change and the Food System Resiliency Partnership was born.
With over 30 participating organizations (community-based, corporate, and municipal) across Andover, Haverhill, Lawrence, Methuen, and North Andover, the Merrimack Valley Food System Resiliency Partnership addresses food security and its social, cultural, and political causes and consequences.
Groundwork Lawrence thanks Essex County Community Foundation for their support through the ECCF Food Systems Resiliency Partnership Grants, which has allowed Groundwork and its partners to assess both strengths and gaps in Merrimack Valley’s food infrastructure, and develop a concrete action plan to address those gaps.
The Food System map, provided by our partners, Northbound Ventures highlights why a systems-thinking approach is needed when addressing food insecurity.
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Soaring Energy Bills?
Get an Energy Assessment Today
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As days get shorter and colder, the costs of keeping a house warm have never been higher. If you are finding it difficult to keep the lights on, you might want to meet José for a free energy assessment.
Groundwork Lawrence works with Community First and Mass Save to help Lawrence, Methuen, Haverhill, Andover and North Andover with energy efficiency options. Transforming the way Massachusetts residents and businesses use energy, saving money and creating a better, more sustainable future, Mass Save can help save you money this season.
A free energy assessment provides cost-saving, energy-efficient solutions to residents (owners and renters), small businesses, places of worship, local non-profits, and other energy-dependent entities.
During the free assessment, José will help you identify and implement energy savings opportunities, such as insulation and heating, and cooling equipment upgrades that will help keep those energy bills in check for winters to come.
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Contact Energy Advocate, José Ayala for a FREE energy assessment (978) 974-0770, ext. 7022.
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Changing Systems: Resources for Racial Justice
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Groundwork Lawrence commits itself to changing places, changing lives, changing systems. These three core values of our mission are driven by our unwavering commitment to community and social justice. Beginning with this newsletter, we will share resources and opportunities to learn more about the issues that are so critical to Lawrence, the Merrimack Valley, and our greater world.
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Check out these books at your local public library, purchase them from your favorite bookstore, or from our community partner and local Lawrence bookstore, El Taller Cafe & Bookstore.
If you would like more resources on racial justice, especially regarding its intersections with class and environmental justice, please reach out to Dariana for more information!
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