March Alumni Donor Spotlight:
Shamir Rivera-Quintal
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Shamir Rivera-Quintal loves to love Lowell. Since she was a little girl, philanthropy has been ingrained into who Shamir is. She credits her mom, who has always been a dedicated member of the community, for inspiring her passion for helping others and for getting her involved in volunteerism. When she was growing up, Shamir’s family even participated in the Annual Acre Clean-Up hosted by Coalition for A Better Acre, where she currently serves as the Director of Operations. Shamir is also a former Project LEARN team member! During her time with us, Shamir focused on Programming & Alumni Relations and loved all things Boo
Growing up, Shamir attended the C.G. McDonogh Arts Magnet School in Downtown, and after graduating from Lowell High in 2006, Shamir attended Bowdoin College. A small liberal arts college in New Brunswick, Maine, where she majored in Africana Studies and Sociology and even studied abroad in South Africa.
This month, our Alumni & Programs Coordinator, Madelaine, Zoomed with Shamir to discuss what it was like going to a magnet school, how Lowell High students can get involved in their community today, and why small liberal arts colleges deserve some recognition!
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Click here to read Shamir & Madelaine's conversation.
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Project LEARN Board Members, along with Mayor Sokhary Chau,
and Executive Director, LZ Nunn, celebrate the Y-Space’s grand opening.
(From L or R: Siddhi Shah-Cheng, Vladimir Saldana, Jim Sullivan, Mayor Chau,
LZ Nunn, and Ellen Grondine).
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Earlier this month, our organization hosted a community-wide Open House to celebrate the launch of the Youth Innovation Space (Y-Space), an after-school college and career readiness programming center Downtown. This renovation and launch, which began in fall 2021, is the culmination of months of student, educator, and community input on how to expand youth learning opportunities and build a diverse talent pipeline for Lowell’s future.
Lowell elected officials like Mayor Sokhary Chau and Representatives Tom Golden and Vanna Howard were invited to the Y-Space to mark this new chapter for the organization. “I'm excited to transform Lowell into a great place for education– the kids in this city really are our future,” said Mayor Chau. “So many students have already been positively impacted and elevated by Project LEARN’s programs so that they can be competitive with students in nearby towns and cities.”
“We know that some of our students will go right off to college,” said Representative Tom Golden, a Lowell High Class of 1989 alum, “and we know that some of them need a little more assistance in figuring out their future plans. Project LEARN is their answer.”
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Students were a true highlight of the event, like Lowell High junior, Kylie Conlon, who showcased her award-winning science fair project to guests at the Open House, a 3D printer that converts plastic water bottles into a moldable filament for designs, and the many dedicated JROTC cadets who assisted the Project LEARN staff in helping the event run smoothly.
Kylie showcasing her 3D printer to Superintendent
Dr. Joel Boyd & Chief Equity & Engagement Officer,
Latifah Phillips.
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Educators from Lowell High were also invited to the Open House to see the Y-Space for the very first time. Dr. Joel Boyd, Superintendent of Schools and Project LEARN Board Member, mentioned how the organization has been a critical partner in supporting Lowell Public Schools. “This new space is a game-changer for after school enrichment and career readiness for our Lowell students,” said Dr. Boyd. “I know that we will see great results and positive outcomes for young people with this new programming center.”
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Later in the evening, Senator Edward Kennedy joined city officials to present a $200,000 check from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
“The Y-Space is going to be an important resource for students in Lowell going forward. We are happy to be your partners in this,” said Senator Kennedy on behalf of the Delegation.
L to R: Rep. Golden, Senator Kennedy, Rep. Howard, Middlesex
Community College President, Phillip Sisson, and LZ Nunn
presenting a $200,000 check from the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts.
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The Y-Space, which is within walking distance of Lowell High, UMass Lowell, and Middlesex Community College, is open Monday through Friday from 10am until 6pm, and will provide unique learning opportunities to students that support their transition after high school, such as Google Coursera certifications, paid internships, and life skills workshops on topics like financial aid, resume-building, and mock interviews, just to name a few of the many programs offered.
Our team at Project LEARN is ready for the Youth Innovation Space to be Lowell’s newest changemaker. This space is designed to be a collaborative center and a catalyst for more community partnerships. If you have an idea that will help support our students, come to us, we want to make it happen!
Click here to read the full Y-Space Open House article in the Lowell Sun.
Did you miss the Open House? Contact Jordan to schedule a tour at
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Career Speakers Share Their Stories |
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During the first week of March, professional volunteers were invited to come to Lowell High and speak with freshmen students about their educational and career paths, what their field is like today, and steps that students can take to get on a similar path and reach their own goals.
"It was great to hear from someone working in the career field I'm interested in. I liked being able to ask questions and have an open conversation about their experiences," said a participating student.
Thanks to the dedication of 27 professional volunteers, Career Speaker Week 2022 impacted 400+ students in the Freshmen Class across 16 classrooms!
Emily Donovan, a Park Ranger at Lowell National Historical Park, was excited to have been a part of this initiative for students, "Going to Lowell High to be a Career Speaker not only gave me a chance to talk with students but also gave me a chance to reflect on my own journey, too," said Donovan. "I love being able to share about my field while getting to hear about students' own experiences and learning from their questions with respect to career readiness!"
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Lincoln Elementary's Future Engineers |
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3rd & 4th-grade students at Lincoln Elementary School have been busy learning all about robotics! Using LEGO WeDo Robotics, a hardware and software platform made specifically to help elementary-aged youth get hands-on experience with programming in the classroom, these students have had the chance to build their very own moving robots.
This fun and educational after-school programming is facilitated by Lincoln Elementary's Andrea Regina, a 3rd-grade educator who's been with the school since 2010. Ms. Regina has been involved with elementary robotics for many years and is excited to have more students each year who are excited about STEAM learning!
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Lowell Hosts Its Very First Civics Day! |
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On Monday, April 4th, from 10 am - 2 pm, Lowell Public Schools is hosting the city's first-ever Lowell Civics Day Fair at the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center! The Lowell City Council recently approved a resolution to designate April 4th officially as "Lowell Civics Day."
At the Fair, eighth- and eleventh-grade students will be invited to showcase their own action-civics projects and tentative implementation plans to a panel of judges made up of active community members and dedicated educators from across Lowell. Students were tasked with identifying a local issue that they cared about, researching the topic, and then engaging with community members and changemakers in Lowell who could help them bring systemic change into the city.
Click here if you're interested in being a judge for the Civics Day Fair!
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Follow the LHS Alumni Association on Facebook to receive the latest news and updates!
Visit our website to learn more about Project LEARN and the Alumni Association.
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ABOUT US
From mentors, advisors, guest speakers, tutors and more, Lowell High Alumni are valuable resources for current students. The Lowell High Alumni Association is a collaboration between Project LEARN and the Lowell Public School district. The mission of the Alumni Association is to help alumni connect with each other, to engage with the school, community and to inspire future generations of Lowell High students through mentoring, advising and tutoring. We invite alumni to connect and find ways to work on new and existing programs within the schools to better the academics and the lives of all Lowell Public School students.
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