Empower graduated a class of 10 this year, intentionally smaller than normal. The group decided to try meeting in person, which was made possible by Christ Church United who let CBA and Lowell Alliance use their large Fellowship Hall space for the first three sessions. While the group intended to have our last two sessions in person, they changed course as coronavirus cases rose and virtual sessions felt safer.
As always, the group picked a project to work on together, and were able to complete it in time for the holidays! They collected holiday gifts of treats and self-care items for single moms and caregivers who have had to give so much to those around them. This was an excellent project and CBA is really proud of the group for being able to complete it under these circumstances.
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A holiday gift of treats and self-care items for caregivers who have given so much to those around them. Empower participants gathered donations and delivered items to women in Lowell as their leadership project. |
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Empower is CBA's leadership development workshop, intended to help potential leaders in Lowell learn more about the City, each other, and build various leadership skills. CBA will be offering a Spanish-language version of Empower in the coming months.
Contact Aurora at 978-856-6623
To learn more about the Spanish Empower program, contact
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Empower graduó a una clase de 10 personas este año, intencionalmente más pequeña de lo normal. El grupo decidió intentar reunirse en persona, lo que fue posible gracias a Christ Church United, que permitió que CBA y Lowell Alliance usaran su sala más grande, Fellowship Hall, durante las primeras tres sesiones. Si bien el grupo tenía la intención de tener nuestras últimas dos sesiones en persona, cambiaron de opinión a medida que aumentaron los casos de coronavirus y las sesiones virtuales se sintieron más seguras. El grupo era diverso desde el punto de vista étnico y geográfico, aunque era mucho más joven que en años anteriores.
Como siempre, el grupo eligió un proyecto para trabajar juntos, ¡y pudieron completarlo a tiempo para las vacaciones! Recolectaron obsequios navideños de golosinas y artículos de cuidado personal para madres solteras y cuidadores que han tenido que dar tanto a quienes los rodean, especialmente este año. Este fue un proyecto excelente y CBA está realmente orgulloso del grupo por poder completarlo en estas circunstancias.
Empower es el taller de desarrollo de liderazgo de CBA, destinado a ayudar a los líderes potenciales en Lowell a aprender más sobre la ciudad y desarrollar diversas habilidades de liderazgo. CBA ofrecerá una versión en español de Empower, Empoderar, en los próximos meses.
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CBA has received a generous offer from a local photographer who wants to provide free senior portraits for Lowell's Class of 2021!
The 2020-2021 school year is certainly memorable. CBA has an offer for local families of high school seniors, thanks to Geovana Carvalho, who can be found on Instagram @gcarvalhophotography.
Though the yearbook deadline has passed for many, CBA and Ms. Carvahlo are offering portrait sessions to any senior interested in commemorating this year with professional senior portraits. These free, professional portrait session includes 15 digital image files and will make for lasting mementos of an unforgettable year.
Priority for photo sessions will be given to high school seniors living in CBA properties and residents of the Acre and nearby neighborhoods. However, Ms. Carvalho is committed to providing as many senior portraits as she can in the coming months.
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El año escolar de 2020 2021 es sin dudas memorable. CBA ha recibido una propuesta para las familias de futuros egresados de nuestra comunidad, ofrecida por Geovana Carvalho, en el Instagram @gcarvalhophotography.
CBA ha recibido una generosa oferta de una fotógrafa de nuestra comunidad que quiere proveer con sesiones de fotos gratuitas para la clase 2021 de Lowell! Si su futuro egresado esta interesado en una sesión de fotos gratuitas con Geovana, comuníquese con nuestra coordinadora del Programa de Soporte para Latinoamericanos, Cecilia Gutiérrez Yapur al 978-856-6628 o a su email cecilia.gutierrezyapur@cbacre.org para reservar un turno.
Las sesiones están destinadas principalmente para los futuros graduados que viven en propiedades de la CBA y para residentes del Acre y barrios vecinos. Sin embardo, la Sra. Carvalho tiene como objetivo proveer fotos para todos los futuros graduados que pueda fotografiar en los próximos meses.
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2021 Living the Dream Award |
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CBA is proud to share community member and founder of Hope Dove, Inc., Carmen Bermudez, received the 2021 MLK Living the Dream Award, which recognizes individuals who perform “exemplary deeds of service” and “help the community through extraordinary acts”.
Ms. Bermudez was recognized for her tireless work to help anyone who needs it. Through both her church and Hope Dove, Inc., Carmen, along with her daughter Denisse Collazo and others in the community, supports about 400 families from Lowell in a variety of ways including creating a food pantry, providing pre-made jars of soups and other food essentials, masks, hand sanitizer, jackets, hats, gloves and other goods needed. When the pandemic hit, Carmen and her husband moved their church services online, doing virtual worshiping, and video calling when people needed connection. She found an extreme need for additional access to food and essentials such as clothes and jackets. At night, Carmen even goes out to the homeless camps to provide people with essential items like jackets and hats.
Her contributions were recognized at the virtual gathering of the Living the Dream Partners on Monday, January 18th. Ms. Bermudez is one of CBA’s board members and an Acre resident.
CBA also wants to share that the Merrimack Valley Food Bank was the organizational recipient of the Living the Dream Award. Their vital work has helped more organizations than ever to provide the community fresh and healthy food.
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Living the Dream Award winner Carmen Bermudez, left, with Loli Sierra, CBA's Community Engagement and Events Coordinator loading boxes of hand sanitizer for Ms. Bermudez to distribute through her work with Hope Dove, Inc.
Thanks to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell for supplying both CBA and Hope Dove, Inc. with hand sanitizer.
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CBA se enorgullece de anunciar que un miembro de nuestra comunidad y fundadora de Hope Dove, Inc., Carmen Bermudez, recibió el premio MLK Living the Dream 2021, que reconoce a las personas que realizan “obras de servicio ejemplares” y “ayudan a la comunidad a través de actos extraordinarios”.
La Sra. Bermudez fue reconocida por su incansable trabajo para ayudar a quien lo necesite. A través de su iglesia y Hope Dove, Inc., Carmen, junto con su hija Denisse Collazo y otras personas de la comunidad, apoya a unas 400 familias de Lowell de diversas formas, incluyendo con la creación de una despensa de alimentos, el suministro de frascos de sopas prefabricados y otros alimentos básicos, mascarillas, desinfectante de manos, chaquetas, gorros, guantes y otros artículos necesarios. Cuando llegó la pandemia, Carmen y su esposo llevaron sus servicios religiosos online, haciendo adoración virtual y videollamadas cuando la gente necesitaba conexión. Ella encontró una necesidad extrema para acceso adicional a alimentos y elementos esenciales como ropa y chaquetas. Por la noche, Carmen incluso va a los campamentos para personas sin hogar para proporcionarles artículos esenciales como chaquetas y sombreros.
Sus contribuciones fueron reconocidas en la reunión virtual de Living the Dream Partners el lunes 18 de enero. La Sra. Bermudez es uno de los miembros de la junta de CBA y residente del Acre.
La CBA también quiere compartir que Merrimack Valley Food Bank fue la organización receptora del premio Living the Dream. Su trabajo vital ha ayudado más que nunca a numerosas organizaciones para que puedan proporcionar a la comunidad alimentos frescos y saludables.
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CBA and Lowell Votes would like to share two training opportunities for potential candidates for public office.
Lowell Votes is excited to announce the Candidate Empowerment and Readiness Training program. Lowell Votes will offer this candidate training over 3 Saturdays in early Spring.
Sign up here if you are interested in receiving strategic and technical guidance on running a successful campaign for local office. This training is for first-time, non-traditional and diverse candidates and their campaign staff.
Participants will learn how to run a campaign, including campaign finances, base-building, successful media engagement and GOTV strategies. These trainings also help candidates identify and organize around issues affecting their community and constituents to help them govern once elected.
This program is being offered by Lowell Votes in partnership with MA Alliance and Commonwealth Seminar, as well as with resident advisors and previous and current candidates, officials and campaign staffers.
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Have you heard that Lowell is moving to a hybrid model of neighborhood and city-wide representation on our City Council and School Committee? That means there are more seats to fill and more chances for individuals interested in running for City Council or School Committee. |
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Register for CERT by February 18th at lowellvotes.org/CERTapply
Training dates are weekends, March 20th, March 27th, and April 3rd
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¿Estás interesado en ser candidato para el Consejo de la Cuidad o el Comité de la Escuela?
CBA junto con Lowell Votes quiere invitarte a participar de dos oportunidades de entrenamiento para potenciales candidatos.
Lowell Votes tiene el placer de anunciar el programa de Entrenamiento para Preparar y Empoderar Candidatos. Este programa se ofrecerá en el transcurso de 3 Sábados al principio de la primavera.
20 de Marzo, 27 de Marzo, y 3 de Abril.
Regístrate si estás interesado en recibir guías de estrategia y técnica para manejar una campaña de candidatura para oficinas públicas exitosa. Este entrenamiento está dirigido a candidatos que van a presentarse por primera vez, para candidatos no tradicionales y diversos, y equipos de soporte de estos candidatos.
Los participantes van a aprender como planear y ejecutar una campaña exitosa, incluyendo finanzas, reclutamiento, y estrategias para implementar campañas exitosas en medios sociales, y para incentivar a la gente para ir a votar. Estos entrenamientos también ayudan a los candidatos a identificar y organizar los problemas que afectan a la comunidad y sus habitantes para gobernar una vez que son elegidos.
Aplica a este programa hasta el 18 de Febrero en: lowellvotes.org/CERTapply
Este programa es ofrecido por Lowell Votes junto con MA Alliance and Commonwealth Seminar, con residentes consejeros, candidatos actuales y previos, y equipos de campañas electorales.
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CBA is seeking volunteers to help with our food pantry delivery. We are seeking individuals who can give an hour or two of their time doing the following tasks:
- Unloading and sorting food
- Loading food boxes and delivering them to doorsteps
The days and times we are most in need of volunteers are:
- Tuesday afternoons
- Wednesday mornings
- Thursday mornings
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Sign up to assist with CBA's food
and essential items pantry.
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CBA offers weekly delivery of food. Sign up by contacting Mitchy at
Stay home and receive supplemental food from CBA. We can deliver food in Lowell on a regular basis. Contact our Program Associate, Mitchy via phone or email to sign up and schedule a delivery.
Essential items are also available, though they are delivered less frequently than food packages.
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CBA está buscando voluntarios para ayudar con nuestro programa de entrega de alimentos. La búsqueda está enfocada en personas que puedan dedicarse una o dos horas por semana a hacer las siguientes tareas:
- Descargar y organizar alimentos
- Preparar cajas de alimentos y llevarlas a las casas de sus destinatarios
Los días y horarios en los que necesitamos más ayuda son:
- Martes a la tarde
- Miércoles a la mañana
- Jueves a la mañana
Complete este forma si está interesado en ser voluntario.
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Quédate en tu casa y recibe apoyo alimentario de la CBA. Nosotros podemos llevarte cajas con comida a tu casa en Lowell regularmente.
También tenemos alimentos esenciales, pero su distribución es menos frecuente que las cajas de comidas.
Por favor, comunícate con nuestra Asociada, Jasmine “Mitchy” Alberti vía email a jasmine.alberti@cbacre.org o 978-856-6625 para registrarte y coordinar los envíos.
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What is the Community Investment Tax Credit? |
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Learn more about how Community Development Corporations like CBA benefit from the CITC program c/o the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC). |
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Are you looking for a way to support housing and community revitalization? Double your impact with CITC!
When you make a gift to CBA of $1,000 or more, you can receive half of your donation BACK as a state tax credit - effectively doubling your contribution. We are thrilled to be able to provide a significant incentive to our CBA supporters and cheerleaders!
Your donation to Coalition for a Better Acre's Neighborhood Fund supports our programs, affordable housing development, and community engagement.
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The City of Lowell is conducting a comprehensive parking strategy in Downtown and its surrounding business districts.
They want to know more about your experience with parking in Lowell. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey, to help identify what has worked so far and how it can be improved.
Pre-register for the meeting on Facebook.
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Surveys for Caregivers of Lowell Public School Students |
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Lowell Public Schools are requesting caregivers complete some surveys on several topics. There are four surveys, but TWO are for ALL parents and guardians:
- District Satisfaction Survey (in multiple languages)
- Return to School Survey (English-only, more languages coming)
Two surveys are for specific groups of parents and guardians:
- Kindergarten Experience Survey (in multiple languages)
- School Site Council Survey (English-only)
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Vaccine Clinics for 75+
at Lowell Senior Center
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Lowell residents aged 75 and over can make an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at the Lowell Senior Center.
Appointments are available on Tuesdays and Saturdays and can be made online at https://www.maimmunizations.org/clinic/search (hint: enter "Lowell Senior Center" to Search by name of location).
You can also join the Senior Center's calling list for updated information on appointments.
Call (978) 674-4131 to be added to the Senior Center's vaccine update call list.
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Coalition for a Better Acre: Supporting our neighbors since 1982
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