CTI Programs Closed as Virus Precaution

January 29, 2021/0 Comments/in News /by competenow

Lowell Sun 1/29/2021

CTI closed its Early Learning Program and School Age sites for five days as a precaution against COVID-19

By Robert Mills

rmills@lowellsun. com

Lowell » Community Teamwork Inc. closed its Early Learning Program and School Age sites, which host about 450 children, for five days earlier this month as a precaution against COVID-19, according to administrators.

The programs were closed from Jan. 15 to Jan. 22.

“Community Teamwork has not had any known transmission of COVID within our programs which has forced closure, rather, closures are due to staff being out with flu and cold- like symptoms. We are extremely cautious and presume all staff positive until they are able to get tested,” said Kathleen Plath, CTI’s development officer.

“The decision to close was a difficult one, knowing how critical our services are to the children and families in our community,” she said.

“We consulted with local DPH office, Department of Early Education and Care, and assessed our ability to operate with a reduced workforce.”

When about 10% of students and 25% of staff were quarantined due to exposures or cold and flu- like symptoms, the programs were closed in an effort to ensure staffing levels could be maintained, according to Meghan Siembor, director

of CTI’s Division of Child and Family Services. “We wanted to make sure we had enough staff to adhere to the safety protocols,” Siembor said. “We thought that if we close and get everyone healthy it will ensure we can remain open for the rest of the pandemic.”

Plath said CTI has adhered to “stringent” health and safety guidelines for the programs since they reopened in July, and that the closure was a long- term strategy to maintain a healthy environment.

“Closing for a short stint enabled our staff to recuperate, allowed us to do some deep cleaning, and enabled us to resume operations much quicker than we would have, if more staff needed to be out,” Plath said.

https://lowellsun-ma.newsmemory.com?selDate=20210129&goTo=A06&artid=0

January 27th – International Holocaust Remembrance Day

January 28, 2021/0 Comments/in Diversity & Inclusion Committee /by competenow

National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

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January Connector Newsletter

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CTI Names New CPO

January 20, 2021/0 Comments/in News /by competenow

Nonprofit Names New Chief Program Officer
Community Teamwork Inc.

by Aaron Curtis
acurtis@ lowellsun.com

Lowell » Community Teamwork Inc. recently announced a new chief program officer, promoting
from within to fill the spot. Carl Howell, who previously served as CTI’s Director of Residential programs — and most recently as Division Director of Housing and Homeless Services — will replace current Chief Program Officer Michael Collins, who is retiring from the position effective Jan. 31.

“ I am honored and excited to take on this new role at Community Teamwork,” Howell said in a statement released by CTI. “ The last two chief program officers were Karen Frederick and Michael Collins and I’ve been lucky to have been mentored by both of them. Howell has been with CTI since 2010. CTI says its mission is to “ help people help themselves with childcare, family supports, nutrition, fuel assistance, housing, skill training, employment, financial education and individual asset and small business development.”

“ During my time at Community Teamwork, I have been able to interact in an extensive way with many
different programs across the divisions as well as the community, especially this past year, and I look
forward to expanding on my role both within the agency and the community as I move into the position
of chief program officer,” Howell said. In Howell’s role as CTI’s division director of Housing
and Homeless Services, his focus has been on the operations of a variety of programming and supportive
services the nonprofit provides across 72 cities and towns statewide. The programs include homeless
prevention, as well as administrating subsidized housing to more than 3,600 tenants. Howell joined CTI after working with Catholic Charities in Baltimore County, Md., where he managed Christopher’s Place
Employment Academy — a workforce development program for homeless men.

Prior to that, Howell spent two years at Target Community and Educational Services in Westminster,
Md., where he managed residential programs for adults with developmental disabilities. Howell also was a supervisor of case management services for three years at Chase Home for Children, in Portsmouth, N.H., which is a residential home for children in need of behavioral and clinical supports.

“In his most recent roll, Carl has overseen the creation and expansion of our Youth Services programming, increased family shelter opportunities, introduced new programming such as SNO MASS, and taken the lead in the Agency’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work,” CTI CEO Karen Frederick said in a release from the nonprofit. “ Many of these services have become recognized for their innovation, success and effectiveness.

“I look forward to the energy and leadership Howell will bring to his new role as chief program officer,” she added.

Howell will begin his new position Feb. 1.

January 13th – A Day to Celebrate and Honor Korean Americans

January 13, 2021/0 Comments/in Diversity & Inclusion Committee /by competenow

Cti health safety content coordinator Vernon smith left and group leader tiffany De oliveira both of lowell inside lowell Memorial auditorium

Curtain call for remote learners

January 11, 2021/0 Comments/in News, Uncategorized /by competenow

With CTI’s help, venue shifts from shows to education Lowell MEMORIAL Auditorium

Lowell Sun 1/10/2021
By Barry Scanlon, Correspondent

https://bit.ly/3oBzltlt

Lowell » During its nearly 100- year run, Lowell Memorial Auditorium has hosted musicians, comedians, actors, boxers, dancers, and much more.

Now the venerable building on East Merrimack Street has added a new chapter to its glorious history: Classroom.

The building is hosting 24 students Monday through Friday thanks to a partnership between Pete Lally, president of the Lowell Management Group, and Community Teamwork, Inc.

“ It’s really nice to have the auditorium being used, especially for something like this in the community where there’s such a need,” Lally said. Lally was approached by Kathleen Plath, CTI’s director of Development and Marketing. Due to the pandemic, CTI was looking for buildings with capacity to help students learn remotely.

“ She said, ‘ Hey, I know you’re not doing many concerts these days,’” Lally said.

Indeed, few industries have been hurt by the pandemic more than the entertainment one. Events booked at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium have been canceled or postponed since last March. The auditorium, which opened in 1922, consists of 2,800 seats for most events and has 100,000 square feet of room.

“ It’s been a busy place for so many things,” Lally said. “ There’s been a number of days it was pretty much just me there.”

Lally jumped at the chance to assist CTI, an organization that does “ so many good things,” he said.

There were some hurdles to clear, mainly getting a license from the Department of Early Education and Care. That process took about six weeks as the auditorium was tested for air quality and the building’s WiFi had to be upgraded.

Auditorium » 6A

CTI health & safety content coordinator Vernon smith, left, and group leader tiffany De Oliveira, both of Lowell, inside Lowell Memorial auditorium which is hosting two-dozen schoolchildren for remote learning.

Julia Malakie photos/ lowell sun

Demetri Rivera-Robinson, 8, of lowell, uses on an online drawing instruction program.

Auditorium

FROM PAGE 1A

A total of 24 students, ages 5-13, have been remote learning at one of Lowell’s most notable buildings since Dec. 19. That number will grow, possibly up to 104, as CTI increases its stafﬁng level. The students are able to use the building from 7 a. m. to 5 p. m., freeing up their parents to work during the day.

CTI is committed to helping low-income people become self sufﬁcient. The organization serves 63 cities and towns in Middlesex and Essex counties.

“ It’s been absolutely fabulous,” said Meghan Siembor, CTI’s director of the Division of Child and Family Services. “ The kids love being there. The staff loves being there. It was a winwin. Pete and his entire team were fabulous to work with. It was a shared mission.

You don’t want buildings unoccupied, es- pecially during the winter.”

CTI looked into other venues, including community centers and churches, before ﬁnding the perfect match with Lally, Siembor said.

CTI provides meals to be brought to the students. Breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks are provided. The auditorium also affords space for the children to stay active when they close their laptops.

The stage has been used for acting purposes, and the auditorium also has space for arts and crafts activities.

Students learn while being socially distanced on the main ﬂoor of the building. Meeting spaces on the upper ﬂoors are available as well.

“ I think the parents are so grateful,” Siembor said.

The Lowell Memorial Auditorium normally hosts 120- 140 events a year. The Golden Gloves boxing tournament, concerts, dance competitions and recitals, High school graduations. It’s normally a beehive of activity.

Lally, who also operates entertainment buildings in Lexington and Plymouth, said the partnership between his group and CTI will continue through the end of February. If the pandemic continues to wreak havoc with the auditorium’s schedule, students may be allowed to learn there into the spring.

“ It’s refreshing for us to have it used 50 to 60 hours a week,” Lally said.

Karen Frederick, CTI executive director, echoed a similar sentiment: “ The partnership with the Lowell Memorial Auditorium has enabled us to provide services to our families and keep people working in the community, which they would not be able to do without much needed childcare. This is a good example of the community coming together to meet the needs created by this pandemic. We are grateful that LMA Management and the city of Lowell were willing to work with us to think outside the box to come up with this solution.”

Kaleb Liman, 7, of Lowell, shows his work to group leader Keily Escalante at Lowell Memorial Auditorium.

JULIA MALAK(E / LOWELL SUN

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Happy Mahayana New Year 2021 – This year celebrated on January 28th

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