Natalyia Cruz Familys Story
Natalyia Cruz Familys Story

Natalyia Cruz Family’s Story

My name is Natalyia Cruz, and I’m 25 years old. I’m a proud mom of two amazing children: my 6-year-old daughter Annalise and my 9-month-old son Giovanni. They’re my pride and joy, and everything I do is for them. I started working for CTI in 2019. My daughter’s aunt encouraged me to apply because I was struggling to find a full-time job. I was young and had no real work experience, which made it hard to find stable employment. For a while, my daughter Annalise was being cared for by her grandmother, but eventually, she couldn’t anymore. I went to my boss, explained the situation, and within two weeks, my daughter was able to join the program.

Before joining Community Teamwork, life was really tough. I became a young mom at 19, and I had no experience. I was navigating being a single mom without much support from my daughter’s father, who was in and out of the picture. At the time, I didn’t have a steady job and relied on food stamps, but it wasn’t enough. I was just trying to survive, make the best of my situation, and be the best mom I could be. Living with my mom and three younger sisters provided some support, but looking back, it was very hard. It was a challenging time, but I’ve always been determined to make it through. My goals have always been to create a better life for my children. Now, I’m focused on going back to school and eventually buying a home for my kids. I want to give them everything I never had, and I’m determined to make that happen.

Community Teamwork has been incredibly supportive. It gave me the opportunity to secure a full-time job and provided childcare for both of my children, which allowed me to work. They also helped me when I was struggling to find an apartment. The program gave me the stability I needed to focus on my family’s future. My bosses, Kristin Hovey and Amanda Medeiros, have made a huge difference in both my work and parent life. They’re incredibly supportive and understanding. I feel comfortable going to them with anything, and their encouragement has meant the world to me. I also want to give a special shout out to my co-teacher, Natalie Luna. She’s been a joy to work with, and reconnecting with her—someone I’ve known since middle school—has made my work environment so much easier and more enjoyable.

My advice to parents in a similar situation is simple: there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Keep pushing and be the best for your babies because, at the end of the day, they’re all you’ve got, and the same goes for them. Never be afraid to ask for help when you’re struggling. And always speak up for your children—they need you to be their voice. Natalyia Cruz’s story is one of resilience, love, and the determination to build a better future for her children. With the support of those around her, she is breaking barriers and carving out a life filled with hope, strength, and endless possibilities.

Marleny fss
Marleny fss

Marleny’s Story

Marleny is a participant in our Family Self-Sufficiency Program. She has been working tirelessly
over the last few years to move herself forward in life, and closer to her dream to buy a home. To
that end, she reduced her work hours in order to go back to school.

We are happy to say that Marleny just completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a
concentration in mental health.

Congratulations to Marleny!

And right on the heels of graduation, she landed a job as a SNAPS worker at DTA.

We can’t wait to see where her journey brings her next.

testimonial
testimonial

A Family Flees Violence and Creates a New Life

Melissa, a U.S. Veteran and construction trade employee, has overcome domestic violence, homelessness and the temporary loss of her children. During one of her lowest points, she and her daughters were living in their car. Thankfully, she was able to open up to CTI’s Early Education and Care staff at the James Houlares Early Learning Center who linked Melissa to supports both within and outside of CTI including a Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing voucher and helped her find an apartment. Today, she and her daughters are still part of the CTI’s Early Education and Care program. “I would not have been able to do any of this without CTI,” says Melissa, who participates in the CTI Family Strengthening Project and Parenting Classes.

shelter
shelter

A Safe Place to Heal and Move On

Common Ground was instrumental in renovating CTI’s Milly’s Place family shelter, providing a safe and supportive haven for numerous families including Jennifer and her three children. “My children and I were traumatized from domestic abuse. Milly’s Place and its staff transformed our lives,” says Jennifer, noting that staff quickly entered her family into trauma counseling and helped her be trained and certified in Mental Health. “Milly’s Place taught me how to understand abuse and take care of myself and my kids. The staff encouraged me to believe in myself and know I have a positive view of myself and my family’s future.”

two women
two women

Homeless Family Finds Stability and a Future

Nichole T. received her license as an Aesthetician with the help of her Community Teamwork case manager and our Community Connections to Employment and training (CommCET) program. Nichole has been receiving HomeBASE Rental Assistance since October 2011. Prior to coming to Community Teamwork, Nichole and her daughter were living in a hotel. Since  moving into her new apartment, Nichole has worked hard to get her Aesthetics license re-instated, and is now employed, earning a salary plus 25% commission on all of her sales, and looking forward to a brighter future for her family!

 

Screenshot
Screenshot

Anthony’s Story

Before enrolling in YouthBuild of Greater Lowell, Anthony was a student at Greater Lowell High School. While he maintained “average” grades, his attendance was, to say the least, weak. He frequently skipped 2-3 days of school per week, and when he did attend, he was often very late. Though his grades allowed him to progress, passing his freshman and sophomore years, he began to struggle significantly in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, and schools were forced into remote learning. Attending school on Zoom proved challenging, as it did for many young adults during that time. By the beginning of his senior year, Anthony didn’t have enough credits to graduate and was presented with two options. He could either repeat his junior and senior years at Lowell High School, or he could enroll at YouthBuild, where he could take the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), learn a trade, serve his community, and earn a stipend for his work.

“I didn’t think twice, as I thought it was too good to be true. And now, two years after graduating, I’m confident that I am so much further in life with the support and connection from YouthBuild than I would have been if I had taken the other option.”

Anthony enrolled in YouthBuild in February of 2022, choosing Carpentry and Construction as his trade. He excelled in the education classroom, earning his HiSET before anyone else in his class and scoring well above average. He earned all of his construction certifications, including his OSHA-10 Hour, NCCER Core, and NCCER Site Safety. Anthony also completed 100 hours of community service for Habitat for Humanity and participated in many other community service projects. He was enrolled in Driver’s Education, where he earned his license on the first attempt. While attending YouthBuild, Anthony also worked 20+ hours per week at a part-time job at a local gas station.

After graduating, YouthBuild recommended Anthony for placement in the Youth Works Work Experience Program through MassHire of Lowell. He was placed with the Department of Public Works (DPW) as a garage helper. Due to his exemplary performance in the Work Experience Program, Anthony was offered a full-time position as a Maintenance Worker for the City of Lowell DPW. In April 2024, he was transferred to an MEO III position.

In November 2024, Anthony passed his Class A CDL test, and on Thanksgiving, the staff received this message:

“Hi! I just wanted to tell you that I passed my Class A CDL road test and I got my CDL! I never thought I’d be where I am today, and I truly can’t thank you and everyone at YouthBuild enough for setting me up for success and pushing me to be the best person I can be. Growing up, I knew I wanted to have a good life for myself and my future family, but I was never sure how I would be able to obtain and achieve that. I’m forever grateful that you and everyone at YouthBuild helped me every step of the way to accomplish so many things in my life to reach my goals!

Thank you for changing my life! Have a safe and happy turkey day—I’m forever thankful for you and YouthBuild!”

Anthony’s journey demonstrates the transformative power of YouthBuild in helping young adults overcome challenges and achieve their goals. With the support and guidance from the program, Anthony not only earned his HiSET and built a successful career but also gained the confidence and skills to secure a stable future. His story is a testament to how determination, hard work, and the right opportunities can change the course of one’s life.

ana m success story
ana m success story

Ana’s Story

Family Self Sufficiency Success 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.

Ana M graduated FSS in July 2018, and just purchased her first home in November 2019!

Ana works for Elder Services and completed her Bachelor’s Degree this year as well.

She bought a 2 family home in Methuen and will be renting the 2nd apartment soon.

Congratulations Ana!