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Greetings!
As I come up on my one-year anniversary as CEO and my sixteenth year at Community Teamwork, I took a moment to pause and reflect on the journey of this past year. The truth is, it was not the transition I imagined. It came with challenges that tested every part of who we are as an organization: our systems, our leadership, and most importantly, our values.
We entered a year where policies shifted dramatically, funding uncertainties deepened, and national conversations questioned what it means to serve the most vulnerable, even redefining who is considered “deserving” of support. These moments have felt, at times, like attacks on the heart of our mission. Yet they have also revealed something remarkable: the unshakable strength, creativity, and integrity of our team.
Rather than retreat, we leaned in. We chose to see every challenge as an opportunity, an opportunity to double down on our mission, to elevate our voices in advocacy, and to reaffirm what it means to Be a Catalyst for Change. We used these moments to tell the stories that matter, the stories of families who found stability, of individuals who regained dignity, and of staff who met every obstacle with compassion and professionalism.
Our team has been extraordinary. They have shown what it means to lead with heart and humility, to support one another through stress and uncertainty, and to continue showing up for the community when it needed them most. Every day, they live our values, not through grand gestures, but through consistent, quiet acts of service that make a difference in someone’s life. That is the true spirit of Community Action.
While the past year brought its share of turbulence, it also brought clarity. We know who we are. We know what we stand for. And we know that when adversity comes, we will not fracture — we will grow stronger, together.
To our funders, partners, and community supporters, thank you. Your trust allows us to continue doing this vital work. And to our incredible staff, thank you for your resilience, your grace, and your unwavering commitment to the people and families we serve.
As I look ahead to the next year, I do so with gratitude and hope, grounded in the knowledge that we are not only weathering the storm, but charting a brighter course because of it. Together, we are finding opportunities in challenge and building a stronger, more compassionate community for all.
With gratitude and determination,
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Carl Howell, CEO
Community Teamwork
| | CTI's Entrepreneurship Center Hosts a Growth and Opportunity Exchange | |
Thank you to everyone who joined the Entrepreneurship Center at CTI's Growth & Opportunity Exchange recently.
Big thanks to our partners for sharing their resources (tools, funding options, guidance) and making many great connections to help grow our community small businesses:
- Executive Office of the City of Lowell's Economic Development Office
- Lowell Department of Planning and Development
- U.S. Small Business Administration
- SCORE Mentors
- Rockland Trust
- Jeanne D'Arc Credit Union
- Mosaic Lowell
| | YouthBuild of Greater Lowell Graduation | | |
State Representative Tara Hong joined YouthBuild graduates and staff, their friends and family, and members of our community to celebrate the achievements of these young people.
Representative Hong shared, "The 2025 graduates of YouthBuild represent true perseverance, courage, and what it means to rise to the occasion and make the best of your circumstances. I wish them all great success on their next journey.
Thank you to the staff at YouthBuild for continuing their work supporting and uplifting our community’s young people."
Let’s Talk About What They've Done...
79 Individual HiSET Tests Passed….
10 Full HiSET Completions and Counting…
7 Culinary Arts OSHA-10 Certifications… 12 SERVSafe Manager Certifications… 1,843 Catered Meals Cooked and Served...
6,933 Student Lunches Cooked and Served… 5,875 Community Service Meals Cooked and Served…
4,558 Culinary Arts Community Service Hours...
22 Construction OSHA-10 Certifications…
9 Construction OSHA– 30 Certifications...
21 NCCER Core Construction Certifications… 12,082 Construction Community Service Hours…
16,640 Total Community Service Hours …
Thank You for All You’ve Accomplished
Remember, You Were a Part of Something
| | Chamber Chat with Carl Howell, CEO and Kayombo Kamawu, CPO | | |
Inside Lowell and Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce's President Danielle McFadden recently hosted this Chamber Chat podcast in the Wellpoint Studios with Carl Howell (CEO) and Kayombo Kamawu (Chief Program Officer) at Community Teamwork (CTI). They discussed some of the many programs and services CTI provides to the community and the importance of your feedback on the community needs assessment survey for planning future strategies. Please see the link in the article below to complete the survey.
Click the link to watch the podcast.
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We Need Your Help ~ Please Complete the Community Assessment Survey by
OCTOBER 31st
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Every three years, in its capacity as a Community Action Agency, Community Teamwork conducts a Community Needs Assessment to gather information on the causes and conditions of poverty directly from the communities we serve. We use this information to derive the greatest needs facing our community, which in turn drive our Strategic Plan.
Thank you for participating – Your input is invaluable!
Please click on the links below to start the 5 minute Survey:
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Only ONE Week Left to Visit the
Lowell Farmers' Market
Friday 1-5pm, 350A Dutton St. Lowell
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Mark your calendars! Join us this Friday, October 24th from 1–5 PM for our Harvest Festival. Our final Lowell Farmers' Market of the season!
We’re closing things out with:
- Pick & paint your own pumpkin
- $10 photo booth portraits
- Seasonal story time for kids
- Fall treats like apple cider donuts & pumpkin bread.
- Delicious bites from our local vendors
More than just a place to shop, the Lowell Farmers' Market is a true community gathering space where neighbors connect, kids play, and everyone can enjoy the best of local food and culture.
We feature fresh, locally grown produce, handmade goods, fun activities for kids, and a welcoming space for all. We proudly accept SNAP, WIC, and HIP, making fresh, healthy food more accessible to everyone in our community.
The Lowell Farmers' Market at Community Teamwork, is a place where local businesses can try out their ideas or showcase their products.
| | The Financial Literacy Academy is back! | | Join the Financial Literacy Academy and learn about budgeting, credit, identity theft, banking and more. | | |
EMERGENCY FUND
Every now and then an unexpected expense pops up, a flat tire, a broken appliance, a medical bill, the list can go on and on.
In those moments do you have funds that you can fall back on?
Budgeting a portion of money for an emergency fund is a great way to alleviate stress if an unexpected expense occurs.
You can start by saving up to $1000, then as time goes on it is important to try and have enough money to cover three months' worth of expenses.
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SMART GOALS
SMART Goals seems like a funny term!
SMART stands for S-specific, M-measurable, A-achievable, R-realistic and T-timely.
If you want to take a goal and make it a reality it is important that you add detail to that goal.
By making a regular goal into a SMART goal, you have more guidance to help you achieve this goal.
Let's make the goal of buying a car and make it a SMART Financial Goal.
S-specific: I want to buy a used SUV.
M-measurable: I will achieve this goal by saving $6000.
A-achievable: I have to put aside at least $300 a month.
R-realistic: It is realistic to save $300 a month as long as I can save $150 from each paycheck.
T-timely: I will be able to buy a used SUV in about 20 months by saving $300 every month.
If you would like some help building a budget in order to put aside money for an emergency fund or guidance on making your goals into SMART goals, reach out to one of our Senior Financial Literacy coordinators:
For English reach out to Brenda Jimenez at bjimenez@commteam.org
For Spanish reach out to Mildred Sena de Disla at msenadedisla@commteam.org
For more information about the Financial Education Center, visit: www.commteam.org/financial-education
| | | | Child & Family Services is Recruiting! | | Construction Has Started on Community Teamwork's New Women's Shelter | | |
Construction is underway in Community Teamwork’s new Women’s Shelter!
The old brush mill, home to the new 50-plus bed women’s shelter, has started its transformation. Many of the interior walls have come down over the last couple of weeks, and preparations are underway to begin the installation of the elevator shaft.
We thank all our supporters who have helped us raise the funds needed to get to this important milestone, but we still have a long way to go to close our funding gap.
| | The basement is being prepped for the elevator installation and what will become the new kitchen and dining room. | | The second floor of the building has been completely gutted and the space shown here will become a new multi-purpose room and community partner room. | | |
Since 2020, nearly 40 percent of the individuals served in Community Teamwork’s emergency shelter program have been women, and nearly half of those women were older than 45 years old.
We ask that you please consider making a gift to support this important project by clicking here.
They are mothers. They are sisters. They are aunts. They are friends. And they all need a second chance.
We invite you to watch this short video to learn more. Again, thank you if you have already donated.
| | Please watch the video above to learn more. | | |
Together we can ensure that the women in our community have a safe, temporary place to stay as they rebuild their lives.
For more information about how to support the Women's Shelter, please contact Margot Regan, Director of Development at maregan@commteam.org or at 978-654-5813.
Naming opportunities are still available.
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“Housing is a human right. There can be no fairness or justice in a society in which some live in homelessness, or in the shadow of that risk, while others cannot even imagine it.”
--John Flaherty
| | Child & Family Services Newsletters | | Home Modification Loan Program Updates | | Thank You to our 2025 Newsletter Sponsors | | There are ALWAYS Ways to Help | | If you find yourself in a position to help, your contribution will aid our efforts on every front as we work together to care for our clients and families in their hour of greatest need, and emerge stronger than ever. Please note, Donations of $1000 or more qualify for a 50% refund or credit under the Massachusetts Community Investment Tax Program (CITC). Contact Margot Regan, Director of Development, for more information at maregan@commteam.org, 978-654-5813 | | | | |
