Toys for Tots
/0 Comments/in Uncategorized Volunteer Opportunities /by competenowIn partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps, Community Teamwork is a distribution site for this program. Volunteers are needed to sort and distribute Christmas gifts to local families.
Community Teamwork accepts applications for 2021 Toys for Tots. Applications will be accepted at CTI’s Resource Center at 17 Kirk Street in Lowell. (Dates TBD)
Families requiring help should be referred to CTI’s Resource Center at 17 Kirk Street. Most applicants will be clients of CTI, however, staff may be eligible as well. Applications will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis to applicants within the Greater Lowell area. All applicants must bring proof of identification, social security cards for each person in family, and a rent receipt or utility bill. Children over the age of 12 are not eligible for Toys for Tots. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.If your client has already applied for Toys for Tots at other locations, they should not apply again as their application will NOT be accepted.
1230 children and families received holiday gifts through Toys for Tots.
Cooking Up Success at Youthbuild
/0 Comments/in News, Uncategorized /by competenowBy Soben Pin | June 22, 2021 KHMER POST
“They’re hungry all the time. It was amazing when we started to serve breakfast, kids started to show up, then they wanted to do their math homework and wanted to work,” said Siobhan Sheehan, YouthBuild Program Manager of Community Teamwork, Inc.
Students from left to right: Misael Bruno, Zachary Saphangthong, Jasmine Touch, Siobhan Sheehan, YouthBuild Program Manager, and Anna Jabar-Omoyeni, Culinary Art Instructor. Photo by Soben Pin.
The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor since 2018, providing troubled youths an alternative path to job skills, while completing their GED equivalent certificate called “HISET.” It is considered a vocational training program, specifically targeting young people ages 16-24 who dropped out from high school, or are struggling to complete their traditional high school diploma, and in many cases also ran into trouble with the law.
Siobhan Sheehan, Youthbuild Program Manager of Community Teamwork, Inc.
“Lowell High School is a very tough place to be” said Siobhan. “It is very hard to be among 4,000 other kids, you get shuffled in these numbers and you easily get lost. When kids have trouble at home, single parents who owes back rents, it puts pressure on these young people, they are hungry and worry about if they’ll become homeless. They have no one to turn to. We’re grateful for our parent organization, CTI — Community Teamwork Inc which has temporary shelter assistance if needed and rental assistance. We are able to help some of our kids get through it by coordinating between units and help their families” added Siobhan.
While at YouthBuild, a vocational training program which runs for one year with each cohort of about 20-25 young adults, they learn carpentry and culinary skills. Today, I visited the first state-of-the art kitchen that was recently finished. It is funded by Cummings grants that allowed the program to extend into serving the students lunch. “It makes a real impact on them and you can see it every day” said Anna Jabar-Omoyeni, Culinary Art Instructor. “It’s one thing to come here to learn, it’s another when you break bread together, it creates the type of bond that gives them a sense of family.” Anna who owned the famous La Boniche, a French cuisine in downtown Lowell on Merrimack Street that operated for 27 years. In 2014, she closed the restaurant. “I was blessed to do what I did for a long time but when you get to that age, (50), you know you couldn’t do it too much longer,” so Anna worked as a catering chef for two years before coming to CTI in 2018. “Working with these young people, it feels like this is what my lifetime work was meant to be, passing on my knowledge to the next generation. It’s fun and rewarding to see their transformation on a daily basis” said Anna.
Anna Jabar-Omoyeni, Culinary Art Instructor.
With Anna, they learn how to debone a chicken, how to peel the onions in a professional way, aging the food, safety in food handling and sanitization. Every day they cook a different meal based on the menu chosen for that day. As part of the program, they also do community service by cooking for homeless shelters and charities.
Every week on Monday morning, they would pick up fresh produce for the week from the Merrimack Valley Food Bank. On the day I visited, a Thursday at noon, food was prepared for St. Paul Charities. They made pasta, individually wrap 75 hot meals and deliver to Elliott Church at 4 o’clock in the afternoon.
“The kids learn about the value of being a part of the community,” said Siobhan. “They went on the wrong path because they don’t feel the attachment to the community. This is where the carpentry program became very successful — attaching them to the community by helping build low-income family homes for Habitats for Humanity, and building garden beds for the community. “They feel proud and take ownership of what they have done for their neighborhood. They tell their friends and families that ‘I did that’” said Siobhan.
Today I met with Misael Bruno, 19, who has completed the program and now interning at Tremont Pizza in downtown Lowell. “It wasn’t that hard” he said. “They just show me how they do their sauce and the way they make pizza dough,” Anna glanced him with a smile and said “it’s not hard, huh”. Misael added with a confidence, “I think I’ll be likely to get hired after the internship.”
Misael Bruno, 19.
“When kids graduate from the program, they earn a ServSafe Manager certificate (OSHA 10) that allows them to sufficiently manage a kitchen, so it gives them an edge. The first student interned at Tremont Pizza, first started as a dishwasher, but when they found out he had this certificate, he was promoted to the kitchen right away” said Siobhan. “We’re thankful for this grant that allows us to pay the students a stipend to work with their potential employer, where they will learn the work ethics and the scopes of their working environment before getting the real job.”
The internship is from 4-6 weeks, 18 hours per week. Students also receive a small stipend of $240 every two weeks for participating in the one year training program. “We train them to have ‘mental toughness’, there are timesheet which they have to clock in and out, coming to work on time or no pay for no show, they have to show that they want it for themselves too, then we see if we’re a good match” added Siobhan. “I had them wear an overall during the first year because they didn’t dress properly for the workplace. We train them for a job in the real world.” As part of the program, they also do math and reading as part of their academic work and have to pass an exam to earn their HISET certificate.
One of the students, Jasmine Touch, is interning at Andiamo Restaurant & Bakery in Andover because she likes to bake. She worked at four Dunkin Donuts stores before and intends to use her training to further her culinary interest.
The 3rd student, Zachary Saphangthong, who is making pasta sauce during my visit, was named Junior Chief because he is good with his cooking. “We also know he is smart, but he intentionally failed the test several times so he can stay on the program. His story made me cry” said Siobhan.
Zackary Saphangthong, 19.
He appeared in black jeans, worn low on his bottom, a cap turned to the side, and tattoos on his arms. Siobhan gave him a signal, he pulled up his pants and turn his cap, and put his mask on before entering the kitchen. A young handsome man indeed when the cap was turned to the front. He was open to tell me his story of why and how he found his path at YouthBuild.
“I ran into trouble with the law when I was 13. I got arrested for assault and battery and trespassing. I was under house arrest from 13-15”. At 15, Zackary was on the run, bouncing from house to house, selling illegal guns, he got caught and had to choose between going to jail or do community service. His choice was to do community service. After a few months at YouthBuild, he told Siobhan that he wanted a better life and wanted out of the gang life. That’s where his new journey started. Zackary is now 19 and is a Junior Chief working alongside with Anna. With help from the program, he got his driver license and saved enough money to buy his own car. He plans to attend Middlesex Community College in the fall to pursue an engineering major.
“Most kids here travel by foot. Most jobs require you to have a driver license and a car. It is nearly $1000 to help a student get their driver license which many kids can’t afford. It’s the poverty, when you don’t have that extra money it’s very hard to get a jump start. We are able to help 12 youths get their driver licenses, a few have jobs in Boston, others in other cities” said Siobhan.
The kitchen can hold up to six students at a time. Currently Anna teaches 12 students. They break into two groups and alternate daily. Six students per group. One day they do academics, the other they work in the kitchen. Beside making hot meals for local food pantries, they also have an opportunity to work alongside with Anna to provide state-of-art cooking and catering to many local events and fundraisers. It is the social enterprise part of the Culinary Art Program here at YouthBuild that is distinctive like no others. Anna catered 78 events in one year alone with her students prior to Covid-19. The largest party they served had 500 guests. “Next week, they will cater the Lowell House Open House cocktail party in which they get to dress up and serve in style” said Anna with excitement.
Celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act
/0 Comments/in Diversity & Inclusion Committee /by competenowNelson Mandela International Day
/0 Comments/in Diversity & Inclusion Committee /by competenowREQUEST FOR PROPOSALS – INSTALLATION OF SIDEWALK AND REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF BITUMINOUS CONCRETE OF ITS PARKING LOT AND DRIVEWAY OF TWO ELEVATORS – Licensed Contractors Only
/0 Comments/in News, Uncategorized /by competenowCommunity Teamwork, Inc. (CTI) is requesting proposals from qualified, licensed contractors for the installation of a sidewalk and repair and replacement of bituminous concrete of its parking lot and driveway of two elevators located at 126 Phoenix Avenue in Lowell, MA. Specifications with instructions for interested contractors are available on request from: Phyllis Marion, Purchasing Coordinator, Community Teamwork, Inc. 155 Merrimack St. 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852 pmarion@commteam.org 978-654-5656
All required submissions must be received no later than 1:00 PM on August 18, 2021. Community Teamwork, Inc. reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals not deemed in the best interest of Community Teamwork, Inc. This notice is provided for informational purposes only, applicants shall be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions contained in the actual request for proposals. CTI is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
Gateway Cities Legislative Caucus Presentation
/0 Comments/in News, Uncategorized /by competenowLowell is first stop for pols on tour COVID-19 RECOVERY
7/19/2021 – By Prudence Brighton Correspondent
State legislators visiting LOWELL » Lowell Friday heard from local leaders about the challenges their agencies faced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and how the state can help with recovery. The Gateway Cities Legislative Caucus, which is chaired by Sen. Eric Lesser, a Democrat from Longmeadow, and Rep. Antonio Cabral, a Democrat from New Bedford, made Lowell the first stop in a three- city tour of communities along Interstate 495. In addition to Lowell, the group stopped in Methuen and Lawrence.
State Sen. Edward Kennedy of Lowell hosted his colleagues and agency leaders at the UMass Lowell Innovation Hub on Canal Street. Other area legislators were also present to hear about what is needed to recover from the pandemic.
A common thread through the comments of agency leaders was team members stepping up and doing herculean work to keep serving their populations. That includes Lowell’s diversity and the challenge that serving a city where more than 70 languages are spoken presents.
School Superintendent Joel Boyd gave a detailed presentation of the school departments’ response to what he called an “unprecedented year in public education.”
Despite the health crisis, the school department was “able to meet or exceed every goal and target we established at the beginning of the year.”
Boyd said, “Schools were in need of extra help even prior to the pandemic. The pandemic exposed a higher need.” He reminded the legislators that when schools closed in mid-March, they were expected to reopen in two weeks.
That time frame kept changing and it was just two months before the start of the school year that it Salaries paid to child care workers are not enough, according to Frederick. She talked about a housing crisis in the region in both rental or owned properties. In Lowell, rentals were taking 52% of income and in Lawrence 58%.
She called rental assistance “staggering.” The figure for Lowell is $ 8.4 million; for Lawrence, $ 6.4 million; and $ 1.8 million for Methuen, she said.
Lowell Community Health Center Executive Director Susan Levine also spoke about her team’s quick response when the lockdown hit in March 2020, “During the pandemic, our team stepped up under extraordinary circumstances. Within 48 hours of the lockdown we had a virtual appointment system up and running. We quickly focused on providing COVID testing — and we provided critical access to vaccines as soon as they became available.” The Community Health Center offers services to roughly 50,000 people each year and 41% of them are best served in a language other than English, according to Levine.
The Gateway Cities Legislative Caucus is traveling to all 26 municipalities. Friday’s trip was the second the legislators have made. The first was to Malden, Revere and Chelsea.
Midsized urban centers are considered “gateway cities,” mid- sized urban centers that anchor Lowell is first stop for pols on tour became apparent that significant changes would be necessary. The normal timeline for designing a new program in education is six months, according to Boyd. We had to design three new systems of public education in two months.” The school year was shortened by 10 instructional days. But right now there is “no way to fully measure the impact” of curtailing the school year. Some students reported doing better with remote learning, but more struggled with it.
“The impact of COVID19 has been found to be more significant for some students and more moderate for others with that impact ranging from academic challenges to social and emotional wellness,” he said.
“Addressing these impacts require school- based resources that can be tailored by school communities to meet the individual needs of each child,” Boyd told the legislators.
These needs include non- instructional needs of students. For example, some schools require “upgrades to create classroom environments that are more conducive to teaching and learning now and into the future.”
CTI Executive Director Karen Frederick told the legislators, “We were able to keep our programs going. We never lost one day of service.”
But there were new challenges.
Families couldn’t get to food,” Frederick said. So CTI carried it to people, providing “724 meals daily.”
Just as Boyd said the pandemic made systemic issues more visible, Frederick said, “child care was in crisis before the pandemic.” regional economies with social and economic challenges.
At the Gateway Cities event in Lowell Friday, Christine McCall, the city’s top economic development official, speaks to the panel as state Sen. Edward Kennedy, standing, listens.
COURTESY JENNIFER MYERS © 2021 lowell sun. Please review new arbitration language here. 7/19/2021 © 2021 Lowell Sun. Please review new arbitration language here. 7/19/2021 Powered by TECNAVIA
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Karyn Polito meets with Lowell small business owners to discuss American Rescue Plan recovery
/0 Comments/in News, Uncategorized /by competenowLt. Gov. Karyn Polito sat down with a half-dozen Lowell business owners inside Olympia Restaurant on Wednesday, July 15, 2021 to open a discussion about the best ways the state can use $450 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to jumpstart economic recovery across Massachusetts.
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L-R: Representative Golden, City Manager Eileen Donoghue, Lt. Governor Polito and Secretary Mike Keneally
LOWELL — Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito sat down with a half-dozen Lowell business owners on Wednesday morning to open a discussion about the best ways the state can use $450 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds to jumpstart economic recovery across Massachusetts.
The event marked her first stop on a statewide tour of small businesses and downtown areas, which will continue throughout the summer and will include visits to about two dozen city and town centers.
“Today is a way for us to get into the community and touch base to try to figure out what the next steps are,” Polito told the Sun. “We’ve put a lot of federal dollars into play to help these businesses stay afloat over the course of this past year, and now we want to make sure that they rebound and continue to be successful.”
In June, the Baker-Polito administration filed a plan to promptly spend $2.9 billion of the state’s ARPA funds on existing, proven programs to support key recovery priorities, including housing and homeownership, economic development and local downtowns, job training and workforce development, health care and infrastructure. The proposal expressly targets support for lower-wage workers and communities of color.
Included in the plan is $450 million for economic development, $100 million of which will be used specifically for downtown development, $250 million of which will support “investments and regional collaboration” aimed at invigorating downtowns and the final $100 million will be designated for supporting cultural facilities and tourism assets.
“We want to make sure that we are allocating the resources that we have authorized both in our economic development bill and the federal funds to make sure that we are reaching small, micro-businesses, minority-owned businesses, female-owned businesses, downtown businesses, so that we can continue to see them succeed,” Polito said. “It’s really important that they continue to be operational, because they are part of the fabric of the community.”
Wednesday’s round-table discussion was held at Olympia Restaurant, where the owners of businesses including Lowell Culinary, Humanity Boutique and Cobblestones of Lowell highlighted what they see as the biggest challenges that stand in the way of a thriving Lowell economy: affordable housing, a lack of on-the-job training and, particularly, workforce shortages.
“We’ve had four managers leave — two of them went to FedEx, one went to Amazon, and another is just trying to figure out what they want to do — so I think a lot of people are taking the time to re-evaluate what they want to do, and it leaves us struggling with, ‘where is our workforce going to come from?’ That’s the big question,” said Kathleen Plath, co-owner of Cobblestones of Lowell.
“We need to go from crisis mode to vision mode,” added Fred Faust, president of the local real estate company the Edge Group.
With Wednesday’s discussion being a jumping off point for the Baker administration, no concrete solutions to the issues mentioned were uncovered, however the business owners and city officials told Polito that they were grateful that she and Baker are keeping them in mind.
“Your visit today reaffirms the support that the administration has given us during the pandemic, and we look forward to working to get more relief and more support, so that we can make the wonderful lifetime investments that are going to benefit small businesses and the community as a whole,” said City Manager Eileen Donoghue.
Celebrating World Population Day
/0 Comments/in Diversity & Inclusion Committee /by competenowREQUEST FOR PROPOSAL – ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION (2) – Licensed Contractors Only
/0 Comments/in News, Uncategorized /by competenowCommunity Teamwork, Inc. (CTI) is requesting proposals from qualified, licensed contractors for the Elevator Modernization of two elevators located at 126 Phoenix Avenue in Lowell, MA. Specifications with instructions for interested contractors are available on request from: Phyllis Marion, Purchasing Coordinator, Community Teamwork, Inc. 155 Merrimack St. 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852 pmarion@commteam.org 978-654-5656
All required submissions must be received no later than 1:00 PM on August 16, 2021. Community Teamwork, Inc. reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals not deemed in the best interest of Community Teamwork, Inc. This notice is provided for informational purposes only, applicants shall be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions contained in the actual request for proposals. CTI is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.