Solidarity Lowell

Fall 2019 Community Swap
2019-11-09 10:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Twice a year the Coalition for a Better Acre e puts on a free Community Swap. It’s a rummage sale, but everything is free! The idea is that you bring stuff you don’t need anymore and take stuff you can use. It’s a great excuse to clear out your closet, or take home something fun.
It’s totally okay if you want to donate but not shop or the other way around. If you want to donate stuff in advance, or you have any questions, you can contact aurora.erickson@cbacre.org or call (978) 452-7523 X808

Progressive Mass 2019 General Member Meeting
2019-11-09 10:30 - 15:30
Please save the date! On November 9, join with other activists from across the state for the first Progressive Mass all-member meeting in several years. Together, we will reflect on our successes, hear from legislators and organizers at the cutting edge of progressive policy in the Commonwealth, and map a path forward to lead the nation by living up to our progressive reputation and passing legislation in line with our values.
WHO: You and other Progressive Mass members from around the state
WHEN: Saturday, November 9, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
WHERE: Congregational Church of Needham, 1154 Great Plain Ave, Needham, MA 02492
HOW TO GET THERE: The Congregational Church of Needham offers free parking but is also only a four-minute walk from the Needham Center stop on the Needham Line of the Commuter Rail.
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Join us to:
Celebrate our collective accomplishments since Progressive Mass was founded in 2013
Connect with groundbreaking legislators, experienced organizers, and fellow grassroots progressive activists from around the state
Learn how we can make the Massachusetts legislature more progressive, as well as how our state can influence national politics
Vote on new bylaws that reflect how our organization has grown
Vote for new board members to keep Progressive Mass moving forward!
Progressive Mass has grown a lot since our beginnings in 2013! Building power at the grassroots across the state, we’ve become a force to be reckoned with. Over the past year, chapter leaders and other PM activists have discussed how we can organize ourselves to better reflect how we’ve evolved and position us for even more success in the future. A volunteer-driven Governance Committee surveyed leaders from across Progressive Mass and drafted a new set of bylaws and slate of directors.
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Here’s the ticktock for the day. More details soon!
10:30 – 11:00 — Registration, coffee, and optional bylaws workshop
11:00 – 12:00 — Business
12:00 – 1:30 — Lunch/discussion groups
1:30 – 2:30 — First Afternoon Panel
2:30 – 3:30 — Second Afternoon Panel
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PLEASE RSVP AT https://www.progressivemass.com/2019-member-meeting.

Progressive Mass 2019 General Member Meeting
2019-11-09 10:30 - 15:30
ease save the date! On November 9, join with other activists from across the state for the first Progressive Mass all-member meeting in several years. Together, we will reflect on our successes, hear from legislators and organizers at the cutting edge of progressive policy in the Commonwealth, and map a path forward to lead the nation by living up to our progressive reputation and passing legislation in line with our values.
WHO: You and other Progressive Mass members from around the state
WHEN: Saturday, November 9, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
WHERE: Congregational Church of Needham, 1154 Great Plain Ave, Needham, MA 02492
HOW TO GET THERE: The Congregational Church of Needham offers free parking but is also only a four-minute walk from the Needham Center stop on the Needham Line of the Commuter Rail or a 20-minute bus ride (via the 57) from the Newton Highlands Green Line stop.
********************************************************************************************************************************************************
Join us to:
Celebrate our collective accomplishments since Progressive Mass was founded in 2013
Connect with groundbreaking legislators, experienced organizers, and fellow grassroots progressive activists from around the state
Learn how we can make the Massachusetts legislature more progressive, as well as how our state can influence national politics
Vote on new bylaws that reflect how our organization has grown
Vote for new board members to keep Progressive Mass moving forward!
Progressive Mass has grown a lot since our beginnings in 2013! Building power at the grassroots across the state, we’ve become a force to be reckoned with. Over the past year, chapter leaders and other PM activists have discussed how we can organize ourselves to better reflect how we’ve evolved and position us for even more success in the future. A volunteer-driven Governance Committee surveyed leaders from across Progressive Mass and drafted a new set of bylaws and slate of directors

International Festival, New England Justice for Our Neighbors
2019-11-09 17:30 - 20:00
For the past year, many hardy volunteers have been providing support for the attorneys who provide legal advice and counsel to the immigrants who have visited the Lawrence and Lowell clinics. I’m just home from the Lawrence clinic tonight where we saw four clients. Lawyers offered advice for women dealing with domestic violence, a teenager trying to find a new home, and others seeking asylum form a home county where they are on the wrong side of the current ruling authority. This work is critical to the many immigrants who visited our clinics this year.
Please help us continue this work into the new year, by supporting our fund raiser. Make your reservations now by emailing us at jfonlawlowclinic@gmail.com. Tables or individual reservations can be made.
Thank you,
Sharon Jones

Parker Lecture Series: Why They Marched
2019-11-17 14:00 - 15:00
The Parker Lecture Series continues with a presentation by Susan Ware titled “Why They Marched. Talk will be held at the Visitor Center theater on Sunday, November 17 at 2 p.m. The event is free and free parking is available in the nearby visitor center lot at 304 Dutton Street.
“Untold stories of the women who fought for the right to vote.” A celebrated feminist historian and biographer, Susan Ware is Honorary Women’s Suffrage Centennial Historian at the Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America. Ware is also serving as a historical consultant to the PBS program American Experience for a multipart documentary on suffrage and advising singer-songwriter Shaina Taub on a musical based on the life of Alice Paul. Ware tells her story through the lives of nineteen activists, most of whom have long been overlooked. Ware’s deeply moving stories provide a fresh account of one of the most significant moments of political mobilization in American history.

Nancy Selvage Public Lecture
2019-11-20 19:00 - 21:00
Hydro, the beautiful steel sculpture at the point of Utopia Park is the creation of Nancy Selvage. Hear the story of its inception, adoption and fabrication from the artist’s point of view. Open to all interested in the story behind this public art installation.

1st Greater Lowell Chapter Meeting -MassNOW
2019-12-03 17:00 - 19:00
JOIN US! We want to hear from you!
This will be the 1st GREATER LOWELL CHAPTER OF MASSNOW! We are looking to cultivate local activists to create progressive change in our community!
To learn more about MassNOW: http://www.massnow.org/

December CHOP Dinner
2019-12-04 17:30 - 19:30
It’s sad to say this will be our last CHOP of the year! We want to give a huge thanks to all who have attended one of our CHOP dinners in the past. Let’s make this last one the best one of the year with Elder Services of Merrimack Valley as our host!
¡Es triste decir que este será nuestro último CHOP del año! Queremos agradecer enormemente a todos los que han asistido a una de nuestras cenas CHOP en el pasado. ¡Hagamos este último cena el mejor del año con Elder Services of Merrimack Valley como nuestro anfitrión!
Table Topics:
CareRide:
New transportation pilot program for rides to non-emergency medical appointments
https://www.esmv.org/programs-services/careride-program-new/
Senior Medicare Patrol:
A program that helps individuals with medicare prevent and report fraud, abuse, and healthcare errors
https://www.smpresource.org/
Healthy Living Workshops:
Workshops that improve lives by managing diabetes, chronic pain, and healthy eating
https://www.esmv.org/programs-services/healthy-living-programs/
Caregiver Support:
Support groups for those providing care to elderly loved ones and for grandparents caring for grandchildren
https://www.esmv.org/programs-services/caregiver-support/caregiver-support-groups/
SHINE:
A programs that helps disabled individuals with Medicare navigate health insurance
https://www.esmv.org/programs-services/shine-program/
Volunteer Programs:
Volunteer opportunities with Elder Services for anyone 18 years +
https://www.esmv.org/get-involved/volunteer-program/
Cambodian American Literary Arts Association:
Nonprofit organization that preserves Cambodian and multicultural communities through literary development, story telling, intercultural, and intergenerational communication
https://www.calaalowell.org/

Northeast Recovery Learning Community’s Open House
2019-12-05 08:00 - 17:00
We are a Department of Mental Health funded entity within the Northeast Independent Living Program. We provide welcoming, safe, understanding, judgement-free spaces where individuals of diverse backgrounds can gather for healing and growth. We are non-clinical, yet we possess lived experiences that allow us to connect with people openly and honestly. We are a community of peers in recovery from mental health challenges, substance use and or traumatic life experiences. We offer peer run support groups, workshops and trainings such as Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), community social events, LGBTQIA Support groups, Hearing Voices Support groups, Addiction Recovery Support and support for families, Spanish Language Trainings, Advocacy, Certified Older Adult Peer Support, Community Bridging and a variety of other resources and supports.
We are holding the Open House so that we may better connect with community partners and create a space for dialogue, so that we may best assist the Greater Lowell area. I think at this point in time, we all know at least one individual who is either suffering from or succumb to addiction. Our hope is that we can smash the silos and invoke real change, while generating a support system for ALL individuals who are struggling, have been cast aside or are trapped by a seemingly hopeless state of mind.
Mike Berggren
Northeast Recovery Learning Community
35 John Street, Lowell – 978-687-4288 x 200
20 Ballard Road, Lawrence – 978-687-4288 x 140

Lowell Talks: Crimmigration
2019-12-08 14:00 - 15:30
This December, we will be joined by Professor Jose Jorge Mendoza for a discussion on immigration in the United States. We will focus our attention on crimmigration, the intersection and collapsing of
criminal and immigration law over the past forty or so years.
Professor Mendoza is a philosopher at UMass Lowell who specializes in Moral and Political Philosophy Philosophy of Race Latin American Philosophy.
This talk will be held around the 100th anniversary of the Palmer
Raids in Lowell. In addition to looking back at how radicals,
leftists, and immigrants groups have been targets of criminalization,
we will talk about contemporary issues and the future of immigration
in the United States. Talk is free and open to all.

City of Lowell Holiday Open House
2019-12-10 16:00 - 18:00
All are welcome! Meet City Hall employees from all departments, enjoy light refreshments, performances by the Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra and a special appearances by Santa Claus!
Please bring a non-perishable food item and/or unwrapped toy to
benefit the Merrimack Valley Food Bank and Toys for Tots.

Moody Street Mayhem cleanup
2020-05-16 09:00 - 12:00
Our second cleanup for 2020 will bring us back to one of our more frequent locations. The gate on Moody Street serves as an excellent catchpoint to prevent debris from going any further. Always plenty of cleanup opportunities here.

Food Drive
2020-05-23 09:00 - 16:00 | Cawley Stadium parking lot, 424 Douglas Rd, Lowell, MA, 01854, United States
One of our neighborhood letter carriers has organized a Food Drive in coordination with the Merrimack Valley Food Bank. Please consider dropping off some food staples at the Cawley Stadium parking lot, Douglas Road, on Saturday, May 23, 9 am to 4 pm.

Most Needed Items: Baked Beans, Cereal, Canned Chicken, Canned Ravioli, & Spaghetti, Fruit, Healthy Snacks, Pasta & Sauce, Soups & Stews, Tuna, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Mac & Cheese, RiceSupermarket gift cards and monetary donations welcome!
Please NO glass, opened packages or expired food!

Farm Market
2020-05-24 11:00 - 14:00 | 250 Jackson St, Lowell, MA, United States
Due to COVID-19 emergence, the market is held outside.

Lowell City Council Meeting
2020-06-23 18:30 - 20:00 | LTC Livestream or Local Access TV Channel 99
City Hall is closed to the public. Watch the meeting on LTC Channel 99 or Livestream.
Members wishing to speak regarding a specific agenda item shall register to speak in advance by sending an email to the City Clerk indicating the agenda item and a phone number to call so that they may be conferenced in to the meeting. Email address is MGEARY@LOWELLMA.GOV. If no access to email you may contact City Clerk at 978-674-4161.

Outdoor Art Market
2020-07-11 12:00 - 16:00 | Western Art Studios and Lofts, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, United States

Lowell: Declare Racism a Public Health Crisis
2020-07-14 16:30 - 18:00 | JFK Plaza
On Tuesday, July 14, 2020, the City Council will vote on a motion to declare racism a public health crisis in the City of Lowell. There is an alternate motion that commits to no actual change in business as usual.
Join the DE:I Consortium at 4:30pm to hear community members call on the city of Lowell to declare racism a public health crisis. Be heard!
Please wear masks and practice social distancing. Rain or shine.
For more information, please contact the DEI Consortium-Lowell at dei.lowell.ma@Gmail.com or 978-364-3738
bit.ly/RacismIsAHealthCrisis

City Council Meeting
2020-07-14 18:30 - 21:00 | LTC Livestream or Local Access TV Channel 99

March for Moses
2021-03-06 12:00 - 14:00
Saturday March 6, 12:00-2:00pm (rain or shine)
850 Lawrence Street, Lowell
March to Lowell Police Headquarters (JFK Plaza/Arcand Drive)
Demand justice for Moses Harris, who disappeared during an encounter with the police. No police report has been made public as of publication date.

City Council Meeting
2021-03-09 18:30 - 20:30 | Zoom
At the beginning of the emergency, the City Council voted to meet every 2 weeks to facilitate safe distancing. Watch the meeting on LTC (Channel 99 or https://www.ltc.org/watch/channel-99/). Members wishing to speak regarding a specific agenda item shall register to speak in advance by sending an email to the City Clerk indicating the agenda item and a phone number to call so that they may be issued a Zoom link into the meeting. Email address is MGEARY@LOWELLMA.GOV. If no access to email you may contact the City Clerk at 978-674-4161.
(Note: they will keep you in the waiting room until it’s your turn to speak, so in order to follow the meeting you need to listen on TV, but turn that off when you speak because there’s a delay on the speakers.)
The agenda will be posted at http://lowellma.gov/agendacenter by the Friday before, March 5. Look under City Council, look for the date of the meeting of interest, click on Download, and select the version (HTML, PDF, or packet, which includes background) you want to see.

LLAMA Housing Advocacy Meeting
2021-03-11 17:00 - 18:00
Thursday, March 11, 5pm (now meeting bi-weekly)
Concerned about the eviction crisis in Lowell? Would you like to join a group working on ways to address it? This is the group. Current plans include publication of a resource booklet, a simple flier with steps for folks facing eviction, and neighborhood organizing.
978-222-7877 lowellhousingaction@riseup.net
Watch for an announcement of the next meeting, with Zoom link at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2658623527701727/.

Citizens Advisory Council
2021-03-11 17:30 - 20:30
Members of the public wishing to speak regarding a specific agenda item shall register to speak in advance by sending an email to mmanzi@lowellma.gov indicating the agenda item and a primary/secondary (backup) phone number to call to be conferenced into the meeting. If no access to email, call 978-674-1903 to register to speak.
Meetings held second Thursday of the month. Agenda posted the Monday before.

Lowell Votes - Volunteer to Register and Educate Voters and Find Candidates
2021-03-16 14:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Now that we’ll actually have a more equitable electoral system in the city, we need to help voters understand that their vote will matter in this election, help them understand the system and register to vote.
Next meeting: March 16, 2pm

School Committee Meeting
2021-03-17 18:30 - 20:30
Wednesday, March 17, 6:30pm
Agenda due the Monday before (March 15)

Inspiration and Gratitude: Winter 2021 Experiences from Marius
2021-03-21 17:30 - 18:30
Inspiration and Gratitude: Winter 2021 Experiences from Marius
Sunday, March 21st, at 5:30pm
At this event, Marius will give an update about his harrowing visit to Arizona in January, where he was unexpectedly detained by ICE. He will also discuss an upcoming project and answer questions. Presented by The Merrimack Valley Interfaith Sanctuary Network (MVISN), Merrimack Valley Project, and Solidarity Lowell.
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inspiration-and-gratitude-winter-2021-experiences-with-marius-tickets-14623922846

Monthly Sustainability Council Meeting
2021-03-25 18:30 - 20:30
Monthly Sustainability Council Meeting
Thursday, March 25, 6:30pm Save the UMASS Lowell Labor Education Program
Over the years, the Merrimack Valley Project has been proud to work alongside an amazing team of labor leaders on multiple winning campaigns. Many of these labor leaders have been a product of the UMASS Lowell Labor Education Program, a program rooted in organizing principles designed to challenge the status quo. Many students and faculty members have been active MVP members and continue to participate to this day. It has been a mutually beneficial relationship that has enhanced real-world student learning by way of organizing campaigns throughout the Merrimack Valley.
Unfortunately, the program is now in serious jeopardy. The director of the program, Dr. Elizabeth Pellerito, has been furloughed since last August, meaning the program has ceased operations. Despite having more than adequate funding to restart the program, the administration at UMASS Lowell has refused to do so. This is unacceptable and shows exactly why the program is needed: to provide well-organization advocacy against a community injustice. Dr. Pellerito has started an online petition and MVP is asking its members to sign on as a gesture of solidarity. The petition can be found at:
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/save-the-umass-lowell-labor-education-program/

Housing Learning Collaborative: Eviction Prevention 2.0
2021-03-26 14:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
What is it? An opportunity to hear updated on the COVID-19 eviction moratorium, rental assistance, and housing resources for people with opioid use disorder. We will be joined by Judge Irene Bagdoian, the Tenancy Preservation Program, and regional housing agency representatives.
Who is it for? Anyone working directly with individuals who have a substance use disorder and housing needs. Please share among your networks in the Wave 1 HCS-MA communities.
Email Roxanne Anderson, HCS Housing and Community Benefits Specialist: roxanne.anderson@bmc.org.

Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
2021-04-08 09:00 - 10:30
The Series on Racial Equity and Inclusion: Part III, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

April 8, 2021 from 9:00 to 10:30 AM

Join us for a candid panel led conversation with community leaders while they discuss how their organizations have embraced diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Topics will include:

Creating policy and procedures to acknowledge and support diversity and inclusion
Thoughtfully building a more diverse employee population, board of directors, client/patient roster, and vendor network
Actions being taken to move forward on this subject
Changing culture top to bottom

Due to the nature and sensitivity of the discussion topics, this session will not be recorded.

https://www.enterprisebanking.com/inclusion/racial-equity-series

LLAMA Housing Advocacy Meeting
2021-04-08 17:00
Bi-Weekly LLAMA Housing Advocacy Meeting
Thursday, April 8, 5pm
Concerned about the eviction crisis in Lowell? Would you like to join a group working on ways to address it? This is the group. Current plans include publication of a resource booklet, a simple flier with steps for folks facing eviction, and neighborhood organizing.
978-222-7877 lowellhousingaction@riseup.net

Citizens Advisory Council
2021-04-08 17:30 | On line
Citizens Advisory Council
(second Thursday of each month)
Thursday, April 8, 5:30pm
Agenda: https://www.lowellma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03112021-1885
Members of the public wishing to speak regarding a specific agenda item shall register to speak in advance by sending an email to mmanzi@lowellma.gov indicating the agenda item and a primary/secondary (backup) phone number to call to be conferenced into the meeting. If no access to email, call 978-674-1903 to register to speak.
