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"Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public."
- Cornel West
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Introducing Our 25th Year Anniversary Logo!
We are celebrating 25 years of Changing Places, Changing Lives, and Changing Systems. Follow our 25 year journey on social media!
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Visionary Work: Celebrating The Past and Looking Forward to The Future | |
 |  | The exceptional leadership of five unique executive directors has fueled Groundwork Lawrence for the past 25 years. Each executive director has played a pivotal role in shaping GWL into the powerhouse it is today. Last month, we took you on a journey from dream and concept to reality as GWL took shape in 1999, and Marianne Paley Nadel stepped in as the first Executive Director of the organization. Marianne’s stewardship of the organization has had long lasting positive reverberations in the community including her first park project, Reviviendo Park on Newbury Street. The tenure of each Executive Director including Maggie Super Church (2004), Kate O’Brien (2007), and Heather McMann (2009) brought their unique lenses and expertise to the role of ED of GWL. Groundwork Lawrence has seen its share of strong leaders who not only preserve our mission of changing places, changing lives, changing systems but who helped the organization grow the robust budget we have today of $4.2 million dollars — all of which gets invested back into our community through our Green Streets Program, our city wide cleanups like the Spicket River and Earth Day events, our food resiliency partnership, the Green Team and Urban Adventures programming, and community initiatives like the Pa’lante Resident Task Force to name a small few.
The job of an executive director is important to shaping an organization and when the GWL board named Lesly Melendez as the next Executive Director in 2022, they knew that the organization would be in the best hands possible to take GWL to the next level of changing places, changing lives, and changing systems.
Lesly is the first woman of color and first Lawrence kid to lead GWL. Lesly takes pride in her longtime service of 14 years at Groundwork Lawrence before putting on her executive director “hat.” In fact, over the course of her career, Lesly has worn many “hats” at GWL including Outreach Coordinator, Youth Program Coordinator, Youth and Stewardship Program Manager, Project Director, Community Programs Director, and Deputy Director positioning her to lead not only with passion and purpose but with an immense body of knowledge and a thorough understanding of each of the organization's program areas. Lesly’s knowledge of the inner workings of each program helps shape her vision as Executive Director and when asked where she sees GWL in the future Lesly had this to say, “As we reflect on 25 years of Groundwork Lawrence our next 25 will be all about our continued growth and deepening our commitment to community — whether it is youth, residents, businesses, or regional partners, we will continue to put community voice first as we wait to see what the future holds.”
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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 this winter. If you are finding it difficult to keep the lights on and stay warm, you might want to meet José and his team from Mass Save for a free energy assessment. 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.
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.
During the free assessment, the Mass Save team 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. Reach out to José today to learn more about this energy saving program.
💡Did You Know?
Nearly 1.6 million of kWh of electricity
has been saved by small businesses in Lawrence
and Methuen after receiving their energy assessment
and implementing the energy and cost saving measures.
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Roots of Liberation: The Osage Orange Tree and Environmental Justice | |
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Our in-house arborists Tennis Lily and Eric Lundquist are passionate about sharing all their tree expertise with the community, and this month you can check out their February Tree of The Month— The Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera). The Osage Orange is a medium sized deciduous tree that is indigenous to the south-central U.S., most commonly in eastern Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. The tree was prized by the indigenous Osage people for its flexibility and strength. The bumpy, green fruit that gives the tree its name resembles an orange and has also been referred to as “hedge apple.”
The tree’s natural strength and rotting resistance made it popular with farmers and ranchers for use as fence posts and for its ability to be cultivated into natural hedge rows. Its dense root structure and ability to form natural fences made it a common choice for the New Deal era Shelterbelt Program that planted over 200 million trees throughout the Midwest to act as natural windbreaks and prevent soil erosion. Today, the tree’s medium size (30-50 feet at maturity), adaptability and tolerance for harsh conditions make it a popular urban tree, suitable for planting in private yards, parks and even as a street tree, where the fruitless, thornless ‘White Shield’ variety is commonly planted.
But did you know the Osage Orange has a connection to Lawrence and the Underground Railroad? In fact, Daniel Saunders, one of the founders of the City of Lawrence and an ardent abolitionist, resided with his family on Andover Street, where their house served as a stop on the Underground Railroad, and where Saunders assisted African Americans fleeing slavery. According to local lore, one of the freedom seekers presented Saunders with Osage Orange seeds as a gift. Later, he would establish a grove of trees at his family's estate on Prospect Hill. The land would later become the home of the Venerini Sisters convent. Sadly, most of the property, including the 100-year-old orange grove, was razed in 1966 to make room for the construction of the Rt. 495 interchange. At the time, it was the only known Osage Orange hedge row in New England.
The incredible history of the Osage Orange tree is worth preserving and sharing with the community, so our Green Streets program has planted dozens of these trees throughout the city in private yards and several public parks including the Campagnone Common, Immigrant Place, Stockton and Cronin Park. Its lush green foliage and rounded crown makes it a great shade tree for smaller yards which helps cool our yards and our city. The Osage Orange is one of over 50 different tree species available at no cost through the Green Streets program. To learn more about how you can have free trees like the Osage Orange planted at your home, visit our website and get in touch with our tree guys today!
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How Does Climate Change Impact You?
Take The Survey To Share Your Feedback
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From fluctuating temperatures, fierce winds, droughts, and flooding, climate change impacts 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, actively fosters inclusive community-led initiatives to address the challenges posed by climate change, including the mitigation of extreme heat and flooding in the area.
And here's how you can help! Share your observations by taking our Climate Safe Neighborhoods Survey to help us gauge how the you feel about climate change in Lawrence. You will also learn more about current resources available in the community. Thank you for your participation!
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Now Hiring: Green Team and Urban Adventures Applications Open Now! | |
This summer there are thrilling opportunities for youth eager to dive into environmentalism, bolster their leadership skills, and make some cash—all while actively participating in environmental stewardship projects 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.
What is Green Team?
The Green Team Summer program is a 7-week part-time job and leadership opportunity for 50 high school students in the city of Lawrence to be an integral part of urban agriculture, environmentalism, stewardship, community engagement initiatives, and service learning. Green Team leaders need to be 21 or older.
What is Urban Adventures?
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. Urban Adventures Counselors need to be 18 and older. Urban Adventures Junior Counselors need to be 16 and older.
For more information about these and all GWL open positions visit our website.
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More Food Please:
FREE Cooking Classes & Winter Farmers Market!
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Winter Farmer’s Market
Our farmers 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 squash to name a yummy few. Our 2023-2024 winter market season began on November 11th and will be held twice a month until May 25th. You can find our winter market in the lobby of the same building 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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Delicious and Nutritious?
Sign up for FREE Cooking Classes Today!
Ever found yourself staring at a bundle of fresh veggies with no clue where to begin? Or perhaps you've been yearning to give your favorite dishes a heart healthy twist? Join our exciting free cooking classes led by Healthy Living Programs Manager, Maria Natera, and embark on a culinary adventure this new year!
In these interactive sessions, Maria will guide you through the art of prepping and cooking fresh ingredients while sprinkling in valuable lessons on budgeting and portioning. But that's not all – our participants won't leave empty-handed! All participants will receive farmers market coupons, a stylish tote bag, and the starting ingredients to recreate the mouthwatering recipes they’ve just mastered. It's the ultimate cooking class experience, and it's all FREE!
Classes begin in March 2024 and are exclusively available to Lawrence residents. Act fast – with only 15 spots available this is your chance to turn your culinary dreams into reality. Reach out to Maria Natera today for more information and secure your spot in the kitchen today!
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Changing Systems:
Celebrating Black History Month
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This February join us as we honor Black History Month by elevating the stories of Black environmentalists during this month's “Changing Systems” resource feature. Immerse yourself in this month’s curated collection of sources that transcends genres and caters to all ages and interests with fiction, non-fiction, and picture book recommendations that will inspire a movement towards a more inclusive and sustainable world.
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.
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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