

Spring Celebration 2023 - Champions of Community Action
Secure Jobs Success Story
D.B. came to Secure Jobs program as a referral from the Resource Center here at CTI. He relocated to Lowell, MA from Detroit, MI because he felt he needed a drastic change in his life. He expressed feelings of being burned out from his time working for the Corrections Dept. in his home state. D.B. is living at the Lowell Transitional Living Shelter where he was advised to visit CTI for further assistance. D.B. was quickly referred to the SJ program and enrolled on 10/18/18. We began to work on updating his resume and developing a cover letter. We taught him how to modify these documents, using specific job postings, to reflect the desired position. D.B. worked hard on his job search every day until he landed a full time position, with full benefits, at Securitas (a security company). Although the position pays just $14.00/hr. it will earn him enough money to move out of shelter, with the help of our RAFT program, and a place of his own. D.B. will continue to participate in the program until he acquires a position with a company in the field of his choice, Human Services. But for now, he is proud to have found a job and will soon be able to leave shelter and live on his own.
More about Community Teamwork’s Secure Job Program
Gainful employment is critical to a family’s ability to maintain housing stability. The Secure Jobs program helps people achieve the long term objective of self-sufficiency and permanent housing. Since its inception, the program has helped more than 1oo people with the steps needed to secure long-term employment.
The Secure Jobs Initiative was established in 2013 as a pilot program in partnership with the Fireman Foundation with funding through the Housing Stabilization and Preservation Trust Fund. Other partners in launching this program include the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) and Eastern Bank. This initiative provides job readiness skills training, eliminates barriers to employment and connects families with suitable employers in jobs with defined career paths. The program provides job training, job search services and a year of stabilization services for participants.
In addition to providing clients with personalized employment services, our Secure Jobs staff works with the client to remove barriers to success by linking participants with childcare resources, transportation to and from training programs, helping navigate options for people who have challenges with CORIs, and providing skills training, job readiness training, and job search services.
For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact the Financial Education (FEC) Office, 978.654.5673. Located at 165 Merrimack Street Lowell MA 01852.
Tonya’s Story
The Family Self- Sufficiency Program (FSS) is designed to help families receiving rental assistance to become self-supporting. This is a voluntary program and is open to all families receiving a housing subsidy such as Section 8. Community Teamwork’s Family Self-Sufficiency program has empowered many graduates to achieve their goals and Tonya is one such successful graduate.
Tonya graduated FSS on December 31, 2018 with $3109 in escrow. Over the years she took an additional $5482 in interim disbursements to pay for her college tuition, thereby totaling $8591 in FSS escrow disbursements. Tonya earned her associate’s degree in Nursing from Laboure College on December 17, 2018, and was hired as a full time Registered Nurse on December 2, 2018. Upon graduating FSS, Tonya immediately set herself on the path to asset development by choosing her new goals: Starting a savings account for a down payment on a home, starting a 401K at her new job, taking a first time home owner’s class, and improving her credit.
Tonya credits here success with the help and guidance she received from the Family Self-Sufficiency Program.
Tax time is approaching and many people will choose to receive Refund Anticipation Loans (RAL) better known as PayDay Loans from private tax preparers; so, they can leave the tax office with a check for their anticipated refund amount.
Before agreeing to an RAL the taxpayer should be aware of the following:
FREE VITA Site at Community Teamwork!
Community Teamwork works with the Internal Revenue Service to recruit and certify volunteer tax preparers. These are people from our own community who donate their time to study and pass tax tests in order to save others the cost of private tax preparer fees and loan fee and interest. There are never any fees with VITA!
The normal direct deposit time is only 1-to-2-1/2 weeks.
What is CTI’s VITA site doing to help?
VITA will begin accepting calls for appointments starting on January 15th. If taxpayers have any questions before that they can contact Gail at 978-654-5676.
Community Teamwork is very pleased to announce the appointment of Liliana Kualapai as Director of the Merrimack Valley Small Business Center. Kuaplapai is a longtime entrepreneur, with a passion for small business. She has a performing arts background with over 25 years of experience in the arts as a performer, educator and business owner.
Kualapai opened her first business, The Bennet Dance Center (BDC), outside of Lincoln, Nebraska in 1994, providing dance instruction in rural Nebraska towns to children and adults, including children with special needs. She later relocated to Massachusett, where she earned her B.A. from Brandeis University and continued her work in the arts as a theater and dance educator.
In 2006, Kualapai re-established herself as a small business owner and opened Downtown Dancewear in downtown Lowell, filling a need as a retailer within the Merrimack Valley dance community by offering dance apparel, shoes, and supplies at prices the local economy could support. As a downtown business owner, she worked to strengthen business relations, establishing connections with fellow business owners and reaching out to organizations dedicated to supporting the small business community, one of which was the Merrimack Valley Small Business Center (MVSBC).
From Downtown Dancewear’s inception, Kualapai worked closely with the team at MVSBC to formulate business strategies, increase sales, and improve retail practices. To further her business education, she also enrolled in the InterWise StreetWise ‘MBA’ program, earning her Certificate in Small Business Entrepreneurship from Boston University’s Entrepreneurial Management Institute.
Downtown Dancewear closed in March of 2014 as Kualapai pursued a professional career in small business assistance and accepted the position of Director of the MVSBC. Her experience as a business owner is an asset that the center is looking forward to utilizing as the program continues to grow and support entrepreneurs throughout the Merrimack Valley.
For more information about Kualapai and Community Teamwork’s MV Small Business Center click here: Sun Article on Kualapai.
Summer Zhou is one of the rare people who looks forward to tax season. A graduate student in the Manning School of Business, Zhou is participating in the Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for the second year in a row. From January to mid-April, she spends Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings at Community Teamwork in downtown Lowell, greeting clients, answering questions and preparing income taxes. The service is offered free of charge to residents who meet specific income requirements.
“I love volunteering,” says Zhou, who will receive her master’s degree in accounting in May. “I’m helping people and getting experience in my field.
“Zhou is in her second year as a volunteer for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program at Community Teamwork,” explains VITA Program Coordinator Gail Fortes. “She has been an great asset to the program due to her knowledge, flexibility and her warm personality.”
Zhou signed up for the VITA program last year after hearing about it through the student Accounting Society. A national program, nearly 92,000 volunteers participated in VITA last year, preparing more than 3.3 million returns, according to the IRS. Zhou estimates she filed about 20 returns during last tax season.
A native of Beijing, Zhou says the VITA program gives her the opportunity to learn more about the U.S. tax system while applying what she’s mastered in her courses and through an accounting internship last summer with Parexel International Corp., a biopharmaceutical firm in Billerica.
“It’s great to use what I have learned,” she says.
Zhou and other volunteers are required to complete training before they start working on taxes. Many of the other volunteers are experienced professionals and Zhou says she has learned a lot from them. In her volunteer role, Zhou also reviews returns prepared by others and troubleshoots issues for clients, many of whom are not native English speakers.
“There is a lot of problem-solving involved,” she says.
To learn more about this program, contact Gail Fortes at gfortes@comteam.org.
Note: This article is excerpted from the online digital newletter courtesy of UMass Lowell University Relations.
Community Teamwork’s Center for Financial Self-Sufficiency, in collaboration with Lowell Public Schools, presents our 8th Annual Women’s Conference
F i n a n c i a l l y H e r s – A Program of the Financial Education Center (Financial Education/Asset Development/Secure Jobs)
FinanciallyHers, offered during Lowell Women’s Week, is a seminar focusing on women and their personal financial journey. Workshops are designed to deliver up-to-date content that supports women and directly relates to issues faced in today’s economy. Our focus is to help women become financially independent by offering the right information, tools and resources.
Participants will choose a workshop, enjoy light snacks, spend time networking and receive a gift card.
Doorways to Dreams Fund through the SaveYourRefund campaign is giving you the opportunity to win $100 in weekly prizes and a grand prize of $25,000. It’s simple, just have your tax preparer use Form 8888 when he or she prepares your taxes electronically so that your refund is split into two parts, one for spending, one for savings. Try it out for yourself and share it with others. Begin saving for your vision, this is a great opportunity. Check out www.saveyourrefund.com for details and to register.
Community Teamwork is beginning the New Year by holding a special event to recognize the important work of legislators who have successfully advocated for strong families and child education and care and to launch its EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) and Free Tax Preparation Program through its VITA program for this tax season. Set up an appointment at Community Teamwork, 165 Merrimack Street Lowell. Contact Sandra Diaz sdiaz@commteam.org 978.654.5725 or Gladys Santiago 978.654.5673
Congresswoman Niki Tsongas has praised Community Teamwork for expanding the reach of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program to include homeless families and individuals living in local shelters, including two operated by Community Teamwork. “The Earned Income Tax Credit and free tax preparation puts much needed money back into the hands of hard-working Americans who are struggling to make ends meet. This action benefits individuals and our local economies alike.”
“Community Teamwork provides critical supports to vulnerable families including quality child care and increased access to the Earned Income Tax Credit,” says CTI’s Executive Director Karen Frederick. “Join us in thanking legislators for their support of our efforts to increase family economic security and help us continue this work as we launch our 2014 tax preparation season.”
Congressman John Tierney, a champion of family strength, will join Community Teamwork on the 27th: “I am proud to join with Community Teamwork to highlight the important benefits of the Earned Income Tax Credit. Each year, the EITC assists over 6 million people and gives working families a much needed boost at a time when many are still struggling. As families begin to file their annual tax returns, it’s critical to have the information necessary to know if they qualify for an Earned Income Tax Credit,” said Tierney.
Community Teamwork provides these free EITC tax services and free tax preparation through its VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Program in partnership with Mills 42 Federal Credit Union, Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union and UMass Lowell.
“The program serves senior citizens, students, individuals, families and single parents,” says CTI Executive Director Karen Frederick, explaining that, “Many use this refund as a way to stay afloat during the year, pay down debt, put money in the bank, and even make down payments for a home or to buy a car.” Last year, the program helped 537 people receive returns totaling $1.1 million. “This is a great boon to these households and to our local economy – the Earned Income Tax Credit has a great impact on poverty reduction.”
Financial Education
Asset Development
Secure Jobs
We are getting ready for VITA which will also be completely virtual this year. Information for scheduling appointments will be available by the end of January 2021.
Give us a call to learn more about our free programs!
Listen to Chris Santos-Gordon, Director Financial Education Center, disucss the Top 6 things to do to manage finances during the pandemic – WCAP Radio 8/4/2020: 1.Rework your budget 2. What can you live without? 3. Divert those “things I can live without” into savings 4. Take Care of Your Credit 5. Increase Income 6. Schedule a financial coaching appointment with us! 978.654.5673; FEC Facebook Page
All programs are being offered virtually.This September AND October we’ll be holding our Financial Literacy Academy via ZOOM. All who complete the FLA will receive a gift card for participating in the 6 week, once per week program! Give us a call to learn more 978-654-5673
Community Teamwork’s Coordinated Family and Community Engagement, funded by the MA Dept of Early Education and Care bring you: Teaching Your Preschooler about Money
WHY FINANCIAL LITERACY MATTERS IN AN ECONOMIC CRISIS
Billy J. Hensley, Ph.D, President and CEO of National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE)
•A new survey from the National Endowment for Financial Education finds that nearly 9 in 10 (88%) Americans say the COVID-19 crisis is causing stress on their personal finances.
•Financial literacy cannot predict or remedy a crisis, but financial education will play a pivotal role in the economic recovery of our country.
We encourage you to call or take advantage of Social Security Administration’s secure and convenient online services to:
•Apply for Retirement, Disability, and Medicare benefits,
•Check the status of an application or appeal,
•Request a replacement Social Security card (in most areas),
•Print a benefit verification letter, and
•Much more.
Most business with SSA can be done online but we know that many people still rely on phone or in-person help. That’s why we want people to know they can still count on SSA by phone.
Lastly, we know that getting medical and other documentation can be difficult due to the pandemic. SSA continues to extend deadlines wherever possible.
Financial Literacy Academy – FLA
The Financial Education Center at Community Teamwork will be holding its’ Financial Literacy Academy (FLA) starting in February. The FLA delivers a powerful introduction to personal finance management. Our hands-on approach offers an interesting and fun learning environment.
The FLA is free, offered once per week in the evening for six weeks. We provide dinner and *some childcare at no cost! Attendees will also receive a Certificate of Attendance.
Please call to register–Contact Gladys – call 978-654-5673 or email gsantiago@commteam.org
Financial Literacy Academy
Tuesday evenings—
Time: 6:00-8:00 PM
Location: Community Teamwork’s Financial Education Center
165 Merrimack Street-Lowell, MA 01852
*call for more information on childcare
…Helping families achieve financial goals
The FLA offers a powerful introduction to personal Finance management. It is offered for 6 weeks, once per week for 2 hours.
We provide dinner and SOME childcare on a limited basis – (please call to learn more about childcare).
Attendees also receive a certificate of attendance.
Things to Know about the FLA
For more info contact: Gladys Santiago gsantiago@commteam.org or call 978.654.5673 to register
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Why pay to have someone do your taxes when CTI will do them for free? VITA is offered to low-income individuals, and families who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Appointments are scheduled on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings during tax season. Please call to learn more: 978.654.5676
One-on-One Financial Coaching
Do you have a financial goal you’d like to reach, need help repairing your credit, want some one-on-one assistance in creating a budget or with ways to decrease debt? Financial coaching is a smart way to get you started! Please call our office to schedule an appointment: 978.654.5725 / 978.654.5673
Certified financial coaches will work with you on ways to: Increase your monthly income; Eliminate and manage debt; Repair and improve credit; Understand and take advantage of tax credits; Create a savings plan
CTI’s Financial Education Center…Helping Families Achieve Financial Goals
Sign up for our E-Center newsletter for the latest news and events from Community Teamwork.
Pam Houlares is a native Bostonian born into a large Greek family. She grew up in a large extended family with aunts, uncles and cousins in the Boston area. Both sisters, including her twin, experienced a strong bond with their Greek culture and identity. After graduation from UMass Amherst, Pam’s older sister became a nun in Greece and has lived there for about 50 years. Her twin sister, Natalie, is a real estate broker with Sotheby’s in Boston.
In Pam’s 37 years in education, she began as a Spanish teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and ultimately, a Principal of Jonas Clarke Middle School in Lexington, MA. After retirement, Pam worked in two colleges as an Adjunct Professor instructing courses in administration and continues as a Spanish tutor in her home -town.
During 2016 – 2020, Pam served as the President of the Hellenic Women’s Benevolent Association, a non-profit that oversees the Hellenic Nursing Home in Canton, MA. In fact, Pam’s mother, Jennie, was one of the founders of the nursing home in 1973. Pam continues to serve on the Board of Directors at the Hellenic Home.
Pam and Jim have four grandchildren, James, Conor, Catherine and Theodore, who live nearby, Aside from some babysitting, Pam and Jim feel very fortunate that they are very close and celebrate holidays and family events together.
Pam’s husband, James, has devoted his entire career to early childhood education. Jim displays that same enthusiasm and love of children to this day, and is adored by his children and grandchildren, alike. Both Pam and Jim are pleased that to continue to be a part of the CTI family and have contributed greatly to the Early Education programs at Community Teamwork.
James Houlares was born and raised in Auburn, Maine, He has a twin sister and also married a twin who has a twin sister as well. James has an older and younger brother as well. James and Pam have been married since 1974 and lived in Wellesley and now South Natick. They have two children, Nathaniel and Elena, named after my father-in-law and mother. Nathaniel and Christina have two children, Catherine (2.5 years old) and Theodore (7 months). Elena and John have two children, James (9) and Conor (7).
In1962, Jim arrived in Boston to attend the Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology to earn a Bachelors and an advanced degree. His studies continued at the University of MA in Amherst where he earned his Masters. Jim’s first job with Head Start was as a teacher in Lewiston, Maine 1969 – 1971. After earning his Masters, in 1973, he was hired as an Education Coordinator at the Head Start program at Community Teamwork. At that time, CTI served 120 children in six classrooms. When Jim retired in 2005, the Agency served more than 516 Head Start and Early Head Start children.
During Jim’s 32 years at Community Teamwork, he was involved with many challenging and exciting initiatives including:
MA Education Coordinators Association
CDA Advisor and Instructor
State Supplemental Funding for Head Start Programs
Planned and designed the James A Houlares Early Learning Center in Lowell
Chaired the State Head Start Association
Hiring the First Executive Director of the MA Head Start Association
Chaired the New England Head Start Association
Jim presently serves on the following boards: New England Head Start (NEHSA), National Head Start (NHSA), and the Thom Child and Family Services.
Jim is forever grateful to Community Teamwork Inc. for the opportunities it offered to him in the field of early learning and care for children and families, and Community Teamwork is forever grateful to Jim for his contributions to the field of Early Learning and his additional contributions to Community Teamwork over the past few years.
Community Teamwork is celebrating Bill Lipchitz’s retirement after a legendary 51-year career. He currently serves as the Director of Real Estate Operations for Common Ground Development Corporation, a Community Teamwork subsidiary that develops affordable housing for low-income families in northeast Massachusetts. He oversees several other Community Teamwork subsidiaries, including Merrimack Valley Housing Services, Inc. and Mechanics Hall Corporation, and serves as a Special Assistant to the Executive Director working with the Community Teamwork Board on Board Development and Governance.
Bill’s career at Community Teamwork started in 1971 when he was hired as a Community Planner. Initially, Bill was assigned to the Town of Dracut to assist the Town in identifying and applying for grants. Bill was quickly promoted to Deputy Director of the Agency and served in that position for many years. Bill transitioned to oversee the Agency’s subsidiary, to assist Common Ground in implementing its vision of building and managing a portfolio of affordable housing. Common Ground has grown, and now supports family and senior housing in Methuen, Lowell, Acton, and Westford. Common Ground is currently working on new developments in Acton and Dracut and is assisting Community Teamwork and its partners in developing at least 300 units of permanent housing for homeless individuals.
Bill has devoted his life’s work to Community Action and to the City of Lowell, not only at Community Teamwork but in his many other roles including serving as Clerk of the Lowell Development and Financial Corporation, President of the Center City Committee, and on the Boards of the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association (CMAA), Lowell Heritage Partnership, and the National Community Action Foundation. Bill was also deeply involved with the Friends of Lowell High School and Shedd Park Baseball (where he served as Baseball Commissioner!)
Bill has also mentored many staff at Community Teamwork and beyond. His love of his family, City, and work all centered Bill’s life and career. Passing on his passions and knowledge has helped move the career path forward for many staff and community members over the years.
Bill holds a Bachelor’s in Chemistry from Lowell Technological Institute (now UMass Lowell), a Master’s in Organic Chemistry and a Master’s in Urban Affairs from Boston University. We are all fortunate that Bill left his first career teaching at the college level. Bill is the proud father of Rebecca and Will and grandfather of five.
Aleksandra Tugbiyele (née Ward) is a Development professional turned Executive Assistant that builds relationships to make positive change. Her Lowell story began when she transferred to UMass Lowell and earned her BA in English. Since then, Aleksandra has helped raise nearly $100M for local and national non-profit organizations including the Children’s Trust Fund, UTEC, Acre Family Child Care, and Jumpstart for Young Children.
Aleksandra is a passionate advocate and volunteer in our community. She is currently serving on the Board of Trustees for Community Teamwork, Inc,; is a member of the DEI Consortium- Lowell, and was recently appointed to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Black Men and Boys. In her current role within the Office of the President at Middlesex Community College (MCC), Aleksandra provides administrative and operations support. She is also a part- time student! Above all, her favorite “job” is “Best Friend and Wife” to Bobby, and “Mom” to Sammuel and Ellis.
Originally from Worcester, Massachusetts, Aleksandra is from a family of heroes. She is the proud daughter of a teacher and a fire-fighter, and is the big sister to a nurse. She adores bagpipes, describes fire truck sirens as a “lullaby”, and drinks mostly Polar seltzer and Bustelo coffee . In her spare time she enjoys supporting small businesses, and together with her children practicing Kung-Fu and tending their plot at the Rotary Park community garden.
Bobby Tugbiyele (2-B-L-AY) is the Founder and CEO of The Leap Network, LLC, a multi-specialty recruitment firm specializing in the staffing and placement of medical professionals and administrators. Prior to launching his firm in 2017, Bobby was the Recruiting Manager for Lowell Community Health Center and oversaw the career services and job development arm of Community Teamwork Inc.’s Workforce Development division.
He currently serves on the Board of Corporators for Lowell General Hospital, a board member for the Massachusetts Workforce Association, and is a member of the Middlesex 3 Coalition, which is focused on economic development, job growth and retention in Middlesex County. He is an advisory board member for UMass Lowell’s College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (FAHSS) as well the Entrepreneurship-For-All (EForAll) business accelerator program. He is a former Trustee of the Merrimack Repertory Theatre and former President of the Center City Committee, which advocated and spearheaded public-private collaborative projects for the betterment of the downtown area. He is a Co-Founder and organizer of The Foundation Mixer, a networking event series for ascending professionals to foster greater connections, engagement and collaboration.
In 2018, Bobby was awarded Young Professional of the Year by the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce. Bobby has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and minor in History from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Boston University.
Last year, Bobby was a first time City-Wide candidate for Lowell City Council who placed 4th place with over 4100 votes. He currently resides in Downtown Lowell with his wife, Aleksandra, and two sons, Samuel and Ellis.