LOWELL: Led by the Office of Civic & Service-Learning, Middlesex Community College helps spark students’ interest in their constitutional rights, voting and other issues. Middlesex will host a Constitution Day event on September 19 with a presentation from Traci Griffith, Racial Justice Program Coordinator at the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. The presentation and Q&A will take place from 11am-1pm in-person in the Lowell Cowan Center Cafeteria or on Zoom. Email Bowes at bowesk@middlesex.mass.edu for more information and to RSVP.

MCC Paralegal Studies student Oriana Lara, of Lawrence, is looking forward to attending this year’s Constitution Day event to learn more about how others interpret what constitution means to them. In going to these events, Lara can combine classroom learning with real-life issues.

“As I continue to navigate the legal system, I want to participate in more events that will educate me and provide me with the knowledge to help others who are in the shadows,” Lara said. “It is easy to govern a country with people who are ignored in the decisions being made on ‘their
behalf.’”

During the event, Griffith will discuss first amendment rights and the impact recent SCOTUS decisions will have on the future. Bringing Griffith to campus is the result of previous successful panels enjoyed by the community, according Kelly Bowes, MCC’s Coordinator of Civic & Service-Learning.

“As a community, MCC has been grappling with a number of discussion topics, including free speech, racial justice and the recent SCOTUS decisions, and Traci’s expertise and experience will be welcomed by our campus community as we learn from her and from each other,” Bowes said. “It’s the perfect event to kick off our year of civic learning and  engagement, that will culminate in a historic presidential election next fall.”

A lawyer, journalist, academic and advocate, Griffith most recently served as an Associate Professor in the Communications Department at Simmons University and previously was Chair of Media Studies at St. Michael’s College in Vermont. Her areas of research focus have included First Amendment law and ethics, as well as Race and Gender representation in media. Griffith is a former correspondent and national editor for the Associated Press and holds a JD from Notre Dame, M.S. in Journalism from Florida A&M, and BA in Political Science from DePaul. Her most recent work includes a well-received four-part series with New England News Collaborative on racism in New England.

During the past eight years, Griffith served on the Executive Committee of the National ACLU Board of Directors, and served as the National Board Secretary. Before joining the National ACLU Board as the Vermont representative in 2014, she served the Vermont board as its Vice-President and as a member of the Executive and Nominating Committees.

CHELMSFORD: Chelmsford Stamp Club will be holding their annual stamp show, CHELMPEX 2023, on September 23 from 9am-3pm at Trinity Lutheran Church 170 Old Westford Road. There will be multiple dealers, Fish Bowl, door prizes & more. For collectors of US & World Wide postage stamps, Postal History, Postal Stationery & First Day Covers, supplies & ephemera. Free admission & free parking. For additional information, contact Linda Gilmore at (978) 256-2256 or linda.gilmore47@gmail.com.

LOWELL: The Women Working Wonders (WWW) Fund, a permanently endowed fund of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, has announced the recipients of $60,000 in grants to support local nonprofit programs that empower women and girls in the community.
 
“Women Working Wonders is proud to support these six outstanding organizations in their work to effect positive change in the lives of women and girls in Greater Lowell,” said Marcia Cassidy, Women Working Wonders board president. “Every year the need grows for funding of programs to support women and girls, and every year Women Working Wonders answers that call.”   
 
Recipients of the 2023 WWW grants (each for $10,000): 

• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell for “Within Reach" to empower the girls served at Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell to develop aspirational goals
• Challenge Unlimited for Equine Assisted Therapeutic Programs for Female First Responders
• Community Teamwork for Financial Foundations for Women

• Greater Lowell Health Alliance for It Takes a Village: The Breastfeeding-Friendly Communities Project
• International Institute of New England for IINE-Lowell Family Literacy Class – English and Empowerment for Refugee Women
• Mill City Grows for Merrimack Valley Growers' Aid to provide access to land, training, and technical assistance to growers who identify as women

 
Women Working Wonders, an all-volunteer group of women dedicated to effecting positive change, provides annual grants in three key areas: assisting women in transition, providing leadership development in girls and women, and/or contributing to the beautification of the environment to benefit women and girls. Founded in 2004 by a small group of women coming together to form a collective giving organization that focused on women’s issues, the fund has made more than $370,000 in grants to organizations supporting women and girls in the Greater Lowell area. 
 
One of the 2023 grant recipients, Mill City Grows, received funding for their Merrimack Valley Growers' Aid project. This program will provide access to land, training, and technical assistance to 12 growers who identify as women.


"To ensure that people have food to eat, we need to make sure that farmers have land and tools to grow that food. We are excited to provide training, support, and land access to BIPOC women farmers who are providing food for our community," said Jessica Wilson, executive director, Mill City Grows.
 
The Women Working Wonders Fund’s Power of the Purse 2023 event, which raises funds to support the annual grants, is scheduled for October 19. For information about WWW Fund and the upcoming event, visit www.womenworkingwondersfund.com.

PHOTO: Mill City Grows received a $10,000 Women Working Wonders Fund grant for their Merrimack Valley Growers' Aid. This program will provide access to land, training, and technical assistance to 12 growers who identify as women. Taking a break from constructing a high tunnel for winter growing for local farmers. An example of technical assistance provided through the Merrimack Valley Growers Aid Program. From left to right, K Cardenas, Seona Ban Ngufor, Gabriella Batista, Grace McKay, Randy Violette, and Brian Mariano.

LOWELL: Girls Inc. of Greater Lowell will launch its newest program on August 31 for the upcoming 2023-24 school year. The Thinking SMART program focuses on STEM learning (science, technology, engineering, and math) and leadership development in order to make stable, well-paid jobs in STEM fields an attainable option for young women in Lowell. Thinking SMART is free for all Lowell-area families, and is currently accepting applications for rising 7th graders to join its inaugural cohort.

After having provided STEM outreach programs in Lowell schools over the past several years, Girls Inc. is proud to be able to host the Thinking SMART program in its own downtown center, located at 220 Worthen Street. In fact, Girls Inc. is currently wrapping up a multi-year capital campaign and is in the process of expanding its facilities with construction on a neighboring property.

A well-known gender disparity among STEM graduates and professionals is behind the desire to create more opportunities in the field for young women. The Thinking SMART program involves connecting girls and young women with professional role models in these careers in order to provide exposure to relatable role models. “We know that there’s a need to create more opportunities for women in STEM, and there’s also a need to create more opportunities for young women, especially women of color, here in Lowell. Thinking SMART aims to not only help correct some of the gender disparity in STEM, but do so by creating paths for our girls here in Lowell to pursue their dreams and interests.” says Bopha Malone, Executive Director of Girls Inc. of Greater Lowell and alumna of Girls Inc. of Lynn. “The connections I made through Girls Inc. led me to where I am today, and we’ve designed this program to help create those kinds of opportunities for the next generation of Girls Inc. members.”

According to Thinking SMART Program Coordinator Jon Tuttle, “Thinking SMART is designed to help girls grow into confident, curious, and competent young women. By providing high-quality science learning, leadership development, social support, and help with academic and career planning, Thinking SMART equips girls with the tools they need to blaze their own trails in life.”

In order to meet this ambitious goal, the program involves long-term support for girls as they grow. Starting with an after-school program for 7th and 8th graders, Thinking SMART transitions to summer camps as girls enter the 9th and 10th grades, and culminates in paid STEM internships for 11th and 12th grade girls.

“This long-term commitment,” says Tuttle, “ allows girls the time and space to grow intellectually, socially, and personally. It also allows us to meet their evolving needs as they navigate a critical time in their lives. A 7th grader might need help on their homework, while a 12th grader might need guidance in applying for financial aid for college. Every step along the way is equally critical in making possible a career that can provide young women with personal fulfillment and financial independence.”

About Girls Inc.: Girls Inc. of Greater Lowell is a youth-serving non-profit organization founded in 1917. As it has evolved and grown over the years, Girls Inc. remains focused on inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. So far in 2023, the organization has served over 200 Lowell girls in pursuit of that mission.

CHELMSFORD: When Franklin Radgowski saw that the entrance to his church was not accessible to people with disabilities, he took action—not only for himself, but also for his neighbor’s son. The 42-year-old Radgowski, who likes to be called Frankie, uses a wheelchair and so does his friend’s young son.

“My friend is in a wheelchair and (before the ramp was there) his Dad was lifting him up and down the stairs. I was also using the stairs with a 200-pound wheelchair. We used a portable ramp over the stairs and I rode up and down the stairs which I don’t think is safe,” Frankie said recalling the situation in 2022. He called it “an accident waiting to happen.” But once Frankie started speaking up about how the church needed an ADA-accessible ramp, he said, church leaders listened. “The process began right away once I brought it to their attention,” he said. “The squeaky wheel gets the oil.”

"Securing the church ramp is just one example of how Frankie continues to make a difference in the lives of others," said Christopher Starnes of The Edinburg Center in Bedford, a nonprofit agency that serves persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, co-occurring disorders, autism and brain injuries. Frankie has cerebral palsy. “[Frankie] has a history of advocacy work for his community in Chelmsford,” said Starnes, who met Frankie through Edinburg’s Meaningful Whole Life (MWL) program—Edinburg’s new twist on traditional day services for people with disabilities. Frankie lives at a group home operated by Edinburg, and takes part in MWL during the day. Starnes is a counselor assigned to Frankie as his “champion,” helping him work towards his personal goals.

Frankie has lived with his housemates at the Edinburg house in Chelmsford for over three years. During that time, he has become a member of the Chelmsford Commission for Disabilities. Recently, he went to a Town Meeting and spoke against building a hauling site for trucks, at Mill Street and Turnpike Road, which is near another group home. He and his neighbors successfully stopped the initiative.

“Just by nature, he is an advocate,” said Lori Harrington, team lead for the Meaningful Whole Life Team program at The Edinburg Center. “He is happy at this group home; it is a small family for him. He is friendly and outgoing.”

“I like that I have 24/7 care, I get to go out in the community and hang around cool people. I just like to mingle and be [myself] and interact with people,” Frankie said. “Let the world know, ‘I’m Frankie and this is my disability.’”

Harrington, who has been helping Frankie assemble his autobiography, believes his outgoing, get-it-done approach has set a great example for other residents at the group home. “We talk about speaking up for yourself. You deserve to be heard as much as anyone,” she said. “We encourage people to see themselves as a wonderful person.”

When asked about his civic involvement, Frankie admits he has always been “the kind of person who likes to get involved,” adding, “I’m just advocating for people that can’t do it themselves,” he said. His advocacy work is also aimed at creating greater understanding and respect from the public regarding people with disabilities. Even as he encourages people to advocate for themselves, he also recognizes that people need to come together to help one another. “It’s not difficult,” he said. “People don’t take the time… Think if that was you, how would that make you feel? That’s what I always tell people. Think about how you would feel if you were in that person’s position.”

During Disability Awareness Month in March, Frankie was a guest speaker at The Edinburg Center’s main office in Bedford. “I talked about my disability and my book and what I had done for the church and I feel really happy for myself,” he said.

Having successfully secured the new ramp at his church, Frankie is setting his sights on helping Chelmsford improve its ADA-accessible sidewalks and crossings. “People rely on [me] to do that. At the end of the day, I feel really good when I do something like this. I like making a big difference for anybody that is in need of help,” Frankie said.

LOWELL: The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) announced at its annual meeting on June 7 that it established a new field of interest fund to support the local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & queer (LGBTQ) community in Greater Lowell. While the foundation is comprised of more than 500 charitable funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns, this is the first GLCF fund specifically dedicated to nonprofits serving LGBTQ individuals. 

“For more than 25 years, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation has pooled and invested charitable donations from generous donors for the benefit of the local communities we serve,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF President and CEO. “We are proud to launch this new field of interest fund to support the LGBTQ community. It’s our hope that for years to come it will continue to grow and assist members of this often over-looked and under-served community.”

Two pioneering Asian-American women, life-partners for more than 30 years, have started this new GLCF fund as a way to give back to the local LGBTQ community. Julie Chen, Chancellor of UMass Lowell, and her spouse, marketing executive Susu Wong, donated $25,000 to start the fund. 

“We have seen the great work that GLCF has done and wanted to support the foundation by opening our own fund,” explained Chen. “When we started considering what should be the focus of our fund, once we were made aware that an LGBTQ fund did not exist, we thought it was a great idea to support a group that is underserved.”

“We also wanted to plant a seed and hope others will come forward and contribute, too,” added Wong. GLCF’s board of directors unanimously voted in June to match the initial fund donation.

“Our field of interest funds encourage donor activism,” explained Jennifer Aradhya, GLCF’s Vice President of Marketing, Programs & Strategy. “Field of interest funds support specific areas of interest, such as the arts, environment or education, rather than an individual nonprofit organization. In this case, Julie and Susu wanted to focus their support on the LGBTQ community and create a fund that would serve the community in perpetuity.

“In the future, GLCF will award grants from this fund to support nonprofit organizations working to improve the quality of life for the LGBTQ community in Greater Lowell by providing legal, health, education, advocacy, or other high-demand services/program,” said Aradhya. “We work with our donors to help them increase the impact and outreach of their generosity through our variety of fund options that match their goals and interests.”

Chen and Wong are particularly focused on helping the LGBTQ community flourish in the GLCF service area, which includes Acton, Ashby, Ayer, Bedford, Billerica, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Lowell, Littleton, Pepperell, Shirley, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsboro, Westford and Wilmington.  “We think it’s a good thing to help the LGBTQ community in Lowell and surrounding suburbs,” said Wong. “There is not always a lot of support for our community in this geographic area.

“It’s our hope that the LGBTQ community will become more visible. Ideally, as more people recognize that our community is out there, more people within the community will feel safe about identifying as LGBTQ.”

“There can be challenges for all ages -- whether it’s a youth whose family is not supportive of them coming out as LGBTQ, or a senior citizen whose kids are not supportive,” added Chen.  “Susu and I know how important it is to have an inclusive support network for the LGBTQ community.

“We didn’t want to prescribe too strictly how the fund could be used,” Chen stressed. “We’re open to innovative new ideas and can’t wait to see what comes.”

The Wilmington couple is active in academic, business and LGBTQ circles. Wong is CEO and founder of Tomo360, a marketing agency, which is a state-certified LGBT Business Enterprise. She helped launch the Massachusetts LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, and is on the board of OUTbio Boston, the biotech industry’s largest LGBTQ professionals group. She is also co-founder of Women Accelerators, a grassroots organization that helps women advance their careers.

Chen is the UMass system’s first LGBTQ chancellor. A mechanical engineer who earned Ph.D., master’s and bachelor’s degrees from MIT, she is a recognized leader in research, STEM and economic development. Appointed UMass Lowell’s fourth chancellor in 2022, Chen previously served as UML’s vice chancellor for research & economic development. She joined the UML faculty in 1997; has been an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion at the university; and has led efforts to support and elevate female faculty in STEM disciplines.

Chen and Wong - who were married in 2006 - have been open about their committed relationship for years. However, Chen’s new position as UML chancellor has put them in a brighter spotlight. “We were out before,” said Chen, “but not as out, I guess. The difference is now people know about me being LGBTQ before they know me.

“However, I think it’s important for people to see there are so many different types of identity that make up a person - and a leader,” she said.

Chen is especially energized by the opportunity to influence future generations. “When I talk with students, they are excited to know the head of their university is a woman, and that there is an LGBTQ person in this role. They have told me it gives them inspiration.”

Wong is also keeping an eye on the future. “One reason we have set up this fund is because we know if we’re not active and supportive of our rights, things can go backwards again,” she said.

“Over the years, we have gained a lot of rights. But if we get complacent, we can lose ground. You have to stay vigilant,” said Wong. “Julie and I will help jumpstart this fund. This GLCF fund is a good opportunity for other people to jump in and donate to help promote positive change in our communities. After all, it takes a community to build the momentum.”

For further information about donating to the Greater Lowell Community Foundation LGBTQ Fund, visit https://glcfoundation.info/3Bd8Dzn.

PHOTO: At the GLCF Annual Meeting on June 7 featuring Attorney General Andrea Campbell, the Foundation announced the establishment of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation LGBTQ Fund. From l-r: GLCF’s president and CEO Jay Linnehan, GLCF’s VP of Marketing, Programs & Strategy Jennifer Aradhya, Attorney General Andrea Campbell, GLCF Board Chair Chet Szablak and Greater Lowell Community Foundation LGBTQ Fund founders Susu Wong, Tomo360 owner and her spouse, Julie Chen, Chancellor of UMass Lowell.