american heart month
american heart month

Feel the Love – Take Care of Your Heart

heart monthThe staff of Community Teamwork’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition program have a special message of love for you.

February, the month of love, chocolate, roses, teddy bears, and fancy dinners is upon us. Yes, this is a great distraction from our very busy, hectic lives which we all need sometimes. However, what we need now more than ever is a healthy heart. Eating up all of those caramel and peanut butter filled chococlate hearts will not get you there. February is National Heart Health Month! So you wonder, how can we keep our heart in great shape so that our lives are longer and more fulfilling. There are many ways. So look in to your heart and think about what you eat, how often you exercise, and what you are putting in to your body. Your choices may be doing more damage than you realize.

Be more mindful of the food choices you make. Food can be medicine. Get back to the basics and eat real food- the foods we were meant to eat and digest. Eat less prepackaged and processed foods like frozen meals, hot dogs, deli meats and fast foods, and sugary drinks and snacks. Eat more fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and WHOLE grains.

Exercise regularly. Exercise can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, reduce cancer and diabetes risk, build healthy bones, muscles and joints. All of which can lower your risk for heart disease.

Don’t smoke. Smoking greatly increases your risk, as well as those who ingest your smoke, for heart disease. When you smoke you are inhaling toxic metals, cancer causing chemicals and poisonous gases.

Keep your heart in the best shape you can so that you can give your loved ones many more special Valentines days to come.

piggy bank
piggy bank

FinanciallyHers Seminar, a Program of the Financial Education Center, Boasts Great, Free Workshops

iStock Medium

In Honor of Women’s Month

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.

 

SEATING IS LIMITED – YOU MUST REGISTER  ~ REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

 

 

rsvp logo
rsvp logo

Senior Volunteer Program Receives Over $50K

Senior Corps Volunteer and ChildCommunity Teamwork Receives $52,631  in New Funding for  Senior Volunteers

Community Teamwork announced today that it was awarded a $52,631 grant to support senior volunteer activities from the Corporation of National and Community Service (CNCS).

These funds were part of a competitive grant process for Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP), one of three Senior Corps programs administered by CNCS. Established in 1971, RSVP engages older Americans in volunteer opportunities across the country. These volunteers have been a critical resource for nationwide response efforts—in everything from hunger prevention to natural disasters including Hurricane Sandy.

Karen Frederick, Community Teamwork Executive Director Karen Frederick said, “Community Teamwork has managed a Senior Volunteer Program for over 35 years. This funding will allow us to continue to provide much needed services across Greater Lowell. Our volunteers have helped children develop necessary skills to advance, supported local non-profits, led Bone Builder exercise classes and served as companions to a homebound elder. Their service is incomparable and has enhanced our community. ”

“By working with students, providing job training, and helping veterans transition into civilian life, volunteers age 55 and over are helping to transform the lives of the people they serve, ” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “Our communities need the talents and skills of all Americans as we continue moving this nation forward. The dedication of RSVP volunteers shows that service benefits not only organizations, but those who serve as well.”

This grant is one of 175 RSVP awards provided to volunteer organizations across the country to support senior volunteer activities in areas including education and veterans and military families.

Senior Corps is a program of the Corporation of National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages more than four million American of all ages and backgrounds in service each year through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Social Innovation Fund programs and leads President Obama’s call to service, United We Serve. For more information, visit nationalservice.gov.

woman speaking
woman speaking

Community Teamwork Salutes Family Advocates & Launches Free Tax Program

Dec Jan Feb Pix scaledCommunity Teamwork paid tribute to five elected officials for their success in advocating for essential programs and supports for families and children. It also launched its Free Tax Preparation Program that includes helping qualified families obtain the Earned Income Tax Credit.

U.S. Representative John Tierney, State Senator Eileen Donoghue, and State Representatives Dave Nangle, Kevin Murphy and Thomas Golden received awards for “Helping All Families Achieve Self Sufficiency.”  Echoing the sentiments of all those being honored, Congressman Tierney noted that this “team always works together and it never stops. We’re all working toward the same goals for our residents.” Photo left to right: (l-r) State Rep. Thomas Golden, State Senator Eileen Donoghue, State Rep. Kevin Murphy, U.S. Rep. John Tierney, CTI Executive Director Karen Frederick, State Rep. David Nangle, Head Start parent Jessica Lima and Community Teamwork Early Learning Director Christopher Hunt. Below: Head Start parent Jessica Lima.

Frederick thanked the entire delegation including  Niki Tsongas, who was unable to attend, for  their  tireless commitment to families and people in need.  “CommunDec Jan Feb Pix scaledity Teamwork couldn’t have a better team to advocate for all of us.” Early Learning Director Chris Hunt noted that this extraordinary team has helped us  achieve a 2.3% rate increase for the Head Start program, so needed to help us deliver quality services to as many families as possible.”

Parent Jessica Lima testified to the value of their work and that of Community Teamwork: “I’m a full-time mother and a full-time worker. It would be impossible for me to afford regular child care without the Head Start program. For a few years, my father was always there to provide that care. But he passed. I’m so grateful to everyone, to Community Teamwork and Head Start.” State Senator Donoghue noted that Jessica’s story brings to life the need: “instead of a budget line item, today when we listen to Jessica’s story we realize that it’s real people who are affected by these important programs.”

Tierney and the delegation praised Community Teamwork’s central role in providing Free Tax Preparation through the federally-funded Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, including its Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). IRS Tax Advocate Joel Zarella said that the EITC program “helps many families stretch their annual income for essentials including food, heat, bills and so much more. The program also saves families a great deal of money on tax preparation services.”

Frederick thanked CTI’s partners Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, Mills42 Federal Credit Union and UMass Lowell for providing qualified volunteers and expanded hours and locations for people to get their taxes completed. Frederick also noted that Community Teamwork has expanded the tax program to include homeless families and individuals living in local shelters as well as hotels and motels. “Homelessness is at an all time high, with well over 2,000 people living in shelters, hotels and motels at this time. Our outreach to these families will help when it counts most. For all qualified families, the VITA and the Earned Income Tax Credit programs put much needed money back into the hands of hard-working community members who are struggling to make ends meet.”

To learn more about the VITA Free Tax Preparation Program and EITC contact Gail Fortes at 978 654-5640 or gfortes@commteam.org.

 

 

 

 

keys
keys

Apartment Search/SMART Tenant Workshops

Housing Consumer Education Center – Financial Assistance / Apartment Search / SMART Tenant Workshops

Are you homeless and need financial assistance to be rehoused? Do you need some help finding an apartment? This workshop will provide a brief overview of services offered by Community Teamwork, discuss eligibility for financial assistance, review housing search, tenancy preservation, eviction prevention, Fair Housing, Tenant Right’s and termination of tenancies.

iStock Medium**Pre-registration is NOT required**

ONE HOURWORKSHOPS:  Monday through Friday 12pm-1pm and Wednesday’s 5pm-6pm

WORKSHOPS LOCATED AT:  Community Teamwork, 17 Kirk Street, Lowell MA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The purpose of this workshop is to provide housing education on tenancy, from housing search, maintaining tenancies, Fair Housing, reporting code violations, eviction prevention and exiting a tenancy appropriately. Pre-registration is not required for this workshop. If you have questions about this workshop, call 978-459-0551.

 

 

Free Tax Help Button
Free Tax Help Button

Free Tax Return Preparation

Free Tax Help ButtonCommunity Teamwork’s VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program is accepting appointments immediately for the 2013 tax filing season. This free service is available to anyone who qualifies for the Earned Income Tax Credit or who earns less than $51,000 and files a basic return.

Click here for more information about this free tax return preparation service including a schedule of dates, times and locations and contact information: http://VITA Flyer 2013 Tax Season.

RenewUI x F
RenewUI x F

Emergency Unemployment Passes Senate

RenewUI x FA critical three-month extension of federal unemployment benefits for 1.3 million jobless Americans, including nearly 60,000 Massachusetts residents, won a key procedural vote in the Senate today. The 60-37 vote has given supporters hope that the House will next move to pass the Emergency Unemployment Compensation.

As we wait for the House vote, thousands of families and individuals are already feeling the full impact of having lost their benefits as of December 29th, 2013. This means they are going without some or many of the basics including food, medications, heat and shelter.

We encourage you to contact your federal representatives to extend the Emergency Unemployment Compenstion (EUC) program as soon as possible.

To find your U.S. Congressman:

http://www.house.gov/representatives

 

Facing Foreclosure? Contact the HomeCorps Program.

Community Teamwork along with the Massachusetts Association for Community Action and sponsored by the Attorney General’s Office announce the HomeCorps Borrower Initiative program.

HomeCorps’ goal is to help distressed borrowers in Massachusetts who are facing foreclosure.

Services include:

  • Free legal consultation if you are facing foreclosure
  • Free advocacy to help you access affordable housing, maximize your income and offer financial counseling
  • Some funding is available for rental assistance.

How do you qualify?

There are no income quaifications, however you must be facing foreclsoure or have gone through the foreclosure process and need help accessing housing.

To contact the HomeCorps program, first call the Attorney General’s Office and then go online to fill out the referral applications:

Hotline: 617-573-5333    TTY;  617-727-4765

www.eform.ago.state.ma.us/ago_eforms/forms/hc_ecomplaint.action

Community Teamwork’s HomeCorps Coordinator can help you with the referral application: call Gail Fortes Veloz at 978-654-5676.

 

 

 

unemploymentSTILL
unemploymentSTILL

Help Extend Emergency Unemployment Compensation

unemploymentSTILLNearly 60,000 Massachusetts residents are among the 1.3 million people in the U.S. who lost their unemployment benefits when the federal extension program expired on December 29th, 2013.

Congress is back in Washington this week and has begun the debate over the emergency program’s future.

Here at Community Teamwork and at other Community Action agencies across the commonwealth, we are starting to hear the real-life stories of everyday people affected by this cut as they and their families brace for severe hardship in the months ahead, should Congress refuse to reinstate these benefits.

The Boston Globe also has reported the total economic impact to the state could be a loss of $750 million to $900 million over the year, largely due to reduced consumer spending.

We are encouraging you to contact your federal representatives to extend the Emergency Unemployment Compenstion (EUC) program as soon as possible.

To find your U.S. Congressman:

http://www.house.gov/representatives

Workers struggle as real wages decline

Read the new report from Mass Budget and Policy Center:

 The State of Working Massachusetts

 2013 is coming to a close, and while our state economy has continued to grow, the poverty rate remains stubbornly high and wages are still lower than they were before the “Great Recession.” MassBudget’s new online version of “The State of Working Massachusetts” presents a snapshot of economic conditions currently facing workers in Massachusetts and across the nation, along with some longer-term trends.

 

We find, in particular, that: 

 

·        Even now, four years after the end of the recession, the poverty rate has not begun to decline

 

·        Since 2007, the statewide poverty rate has increased from 9.9% to 11.9%

 

·        Over 1 in every 7 children across the state is currently living in poverty

 

In addition to covering issues of poverty, the various sections of “The State of Working Massachusetts” discuss the jobs situation in our state along with the declining value of the minimum wage, changes in household income, and the important role education plays in all of these. We invite you to read more about any of these areas, and to check back periodically as materials get updated.

 

Read about THE STATE OF WORKING MASSACHUSETTS