CBA News Archives
2008
CBA Community News!
Thanks to everyone who made our annual trip to the lake a success!
On Saturday, August 9th, over 100 CBA board, community and staff members headed up to Kingston State Park for our annual lake trip. The weather was beautiful and everyone enjoyed relaxing at the park. We had a cookout (thanks grill masters!) and members were able to swim, sit in the sun and socialize. It was a great time and we're already looking forward to next year!
 Please join us in welcoming Suzanne Frechette to CBA!
We’re so excited to have Suzanne join the CBA staff as the Deputy Director! Suzanne is especially excited to work at CBA. She grew up in the Acre in North Common Village, has a great affinity for the Acre and its residents and sees this as an opportunity to give back to the neighborhood. As an alumnae, she is especially excited about the renovations of the St. Joseph Elementary school and High school, viewing these projects as a wonderful reuse that would make her French Canadian ancestors proud. Please stop by and say “hello” to Suzanne.
Congratulations to the Acre Youth Organization (AYO) Baseball League on a great season! 
The AYO Baseball League kicked off their first season with a bang! Opening Day was May 10th and the season lasted until June 27th. 60 Acre young people participated in the little league games. The Red Sox won the series and will be playing the winner of the City’s league later this summer. Many thanks to Maribel Aviles and Jesus “Charolo” Rivera (CBA Board Members), Maria Claudio and Keith Rudy for organizing this wonderful program.
 CBA’s Board President Elkin Montoya wins the 2008 Dorothy Richardson Award!
The Dorothy Richardson Award for Resident Leadership is an honor given annually in recognition of outstanding contributions by dedicated community leaders. The award acknowledges outstanding achievers in the field of affordable housing and community-based development, recognizing resident leaders whose energy, commitment and concern for their communities are vital to the success of their organizations which, like CBA, are part of the NeighborWorks Network. Elkin Montoya started contributing to CBA and the City of Lowell as teenage resident leader living in the North Canal Apartments during the fight to save it in the early 1980’s. In the 1990’s, he served on the Board for many years. Then, in 2007 Elkin stepped forward to recruit and organize a broad base of members to support a positive direction for CBA. As CBA Board President, Elkin has provided a stabilizing voice and vision for the organization. We are proud of Elkin’s accomplishments and fortunate to have his leadership. Elkin will receive this prestigious award at a ceremony in Washington, DC.
Annual Meeting Update!
The CBA annual meeting this year will be informative and fun. It will include food, entertainment and a look back at the year. One innovation that occurred this year was that board members were assigned terms ending in either 2009, 2010 or 2011, creating continuity and balance on the Board. This change allows one-third of the elected and appointed Board seats to be made available each year beginning with the October 2009 annual meeting. Another innovation allowed for one additional CBA tenant representative on the Board. Thus, this year’s meeting will include a single election for the new seat assigned to a CBA tenant not residing in the North Canal apartments. CBA tenants who live outside of North Canal will be meeting on August 21st 2008 to talk about the nomination process for this new seat on the Board. If you are a tenant residing in one of these buildings, you’ll be hearing from Robyn. To be eligible to vote, please submit your membership form to CBA so that you will be on our active member list prior to the October 29th meeting date. For more information, call Robyn at ext. 209 or Suzanne at ext. 801 or stop by the CBA office to see us!
Thanks to everyone who made our NeighborWorks® Week and other activities a success!
The Acre Clean Up & Community Cookout—Armed with brooms, rakes, plenty of trash bags, and a great attitude, 100 Acre residents, friends and supporters made a clean sweep Saturday, June 7th at the 21st Annual Acre Clean-Up Day. This year we focused on the Moody Street Playground, Dane Street, Decatur Alley, and the Western Canal. Everyone who participated received a CBA t-shirt and attended a community cook-out afterwards. The cook-out was a great time featuring music and dancing, face-painting, games and children’s activities, yummy food, and a raffle of tickets to the “A Taste of the Acre”. Joining in were Canalwater Cleaners and Community Gardens, who provided volunteers, equipment, plants and support.
 St. Joseph’s Ribbon Cutting & “A Taste of the Acre”—On Friday June 13th, we celebrated the completion of the St. Joseph’s School Apartments with a ribbon cutting. This project, a historic rehab that turned a former Catholic school into 15 units of affordable housing, is a shining example of how a majestic old building like the school can be put back into productive use with the right care and attention. Tenants will begin moving into the beautiful units at the end of July.
After the ribbon cutting, we held “A Taste of the Acre” a fundraiser to benefit the Moody Street Playground project. Guests got a sneak-peek at St. Joe’s, sampled tasty food from Acre restaurants and had a chance to bid on “art desks” reclaimed from the school, art quilts and an print of the school, all created by local artists. Through the event and sponsorships, we were able to raise over $8,000 to support the new playground. Thanks to all who contributed, but especially to our major sponsors: Enterprise Bank, Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, Northeast Interiors and Maloney Properties.
Membership Meeting—Thanks to everyone who attended our membership meeting on Saturday, June 14th. At the meeting, members discussed issues and programs and advised CBA on priorities for the coming months. Some of the ideas for initiatives included computer training, more affordable housing, crime and safety, and youth programs. Robyn Long-Navas, CBA’s Community Organizer, will be working with members over the summer on these ideas. If you’re interested in the planning work around any of these ideas or programs please contact Robyn at extension 809.
Khmer Forum— On July 3rd, CBA invited a group of Cambodians from Casey Family Services to come to CBA’s Home Preservation Coalition Lowell office and learn about CBA. More than 40 people attended, enjoying a light lunch while learning about CBA’s mission and services. Rasy An from CBA facilitated the event. Thanks to June Taing of Casey Family Services for helping make this possible.
NeighborWorks Week 2008
Saturday, June 7th 2008
The Acre Clean-Up and Community Cook Out!
Armed with brooms, rakes, plenty of trash bags, and a great attitude, 100 Acre residents, friends and supporters made a clean sweep Saturday, June 7th at the 21st Annual Acre Clean-Up Day.
The Acre Clean-Up is an opportunity for residents to come together on a warm (this year it was over 90, yikes!) Saturday morning to participate in direct action for neighborhood improvement. Participants met at CBA's office, received tools that Keep Lowell Beautiful lends to CBA, and headed out in crews to their assigned clean up sites.
This year we focused on the Moody Street Playground, Dane Street, Decatur Alley, and the Western Canal. Everyone who participated received a CBA t-shirt and attended a community cook-out afterwards.
The cook-out was a great time featuring music and dancing, face-painting, games and an activity hosted by Community Gardens Greenhouse for the kids, yummy food, and a raffle of tickets to the “A Taste of the Acre” fundraiser that will take place next Friday, June 13th.
We’d like to thank our other volunteers who helped us out with event – our community cleaning crews did a great job, Lowell Canalwaters Cleaners and Maloney Properties lent tools and muscle, Myriam Ercolani managed registration, our grill masters, Paul Johnson and Jim Harris, made certain we all had a lot of tasty food to eat, Myrna Carrasco beautifully painted lots of faces, and Janice Porkowski of Community Gardens Greenhouse led a fun children’s activity.
Upcoming NeighborWorks Week Events:
Friday, June 13th 2008
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Please join us on Friday June 13th from 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the St. Joseph's School Apartments, 511 Moody Street, Lowell, MA to celebrate the completion of the St. Joseph's School Apartments. CBA has rehabed this former Catholic grammar school into 15 units of affordable housing for the community. For more information, please contact Madeline Nash at 978/452-7523 ext. 805.
A Taste of the Acre
Join CBA and special guests The Honorable Niki Tsongas (United States House of Representatives), The Honorable Steven Panagiotakos (Massachusetts State Senate), The Honorable Kevin Murphy (Massachusetts House of Representatives), and George Duncan (Chairman of Enterprise Bank) on Friday evening at 5:30 p.m. at the St. Joseph's School Apartments, 511 Moody Street, Lowell, MA for "A Taste of the Acre" a fundraiser to benefit the Moody Street Playground Project. The event will offer our guests a first look at the newly renovated St. Joseph's Apartments and will feature food from the Acre neighborhood that represents the ethnic diversity of the area. Local artist and St. Joseph's alum Gary Destramp has donated a limited edition print of the school that will be avaliable at the event. Tickets cost $35. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact Marianne Gries at 978/452-7523 ext. 815.
Saturday, June 14th 2008
Membership Meeting
Please join us from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Mercier Center, 21 Salem Street, Lowell, MA for a membership meeting. Lunch will be served. For more information, please contact Robyn Long-Navas at 978/452-7523 ext. 809.
The days are getting longer, the ground is getting softer and buds are appearing on the trees—Happy Spring!
We have a lot of exciting things happening—please join us!
 Please join us in welcoming Rasy R. An to CBA!
We’re so excited to have Rasy join the CBA staff as a Foreclosure Prevention Coordinator! Rasy will oversee and assist the Foreclosure Mitigation Counselors in setting up efficient systems to ensure that all clients received proper and timely services. He believes that this is a great opportunity for him to use his experiences to help the community. Please stop by and say “hello” to Rasy.
The Home Preservation Coalition of the Merrimack Valley—Helping to prevent foreclosures in our communities!
Responding to the incredible need for foreclosure assistance, CBA has partnered with other organizations in the Merrimack Valley to create The Home Preservation Coalition (HPC) which serves the communities of the Merrimack Valley, with a particular focus on the cities of Lawrence and Lowell. The Lowell branch of the HPC will be opening soon at 450 Merrimack Street. The HPC will hold default clinics for homeowners facing foreclosure in addition to providing individualized counseling and help with loan modifications or refinancing. Stay tuned for more information about the Grand Opening of the HPC in Lowell.
If you are worried about your mortgage call the HOPE Hotline (1-888-995-HOPE) .
The Greater Lowell IDA Collaborative (GLIDAC) is pleased to announce a new asset development program!
CBA and community partners, including CTI, Casey Family Services and The Caleb Foundation, have come together to offer a new asset development program, including individual development accounts (IDA), to Lowell-area residents. As a part of the program, qualified participants will participate in a free seven-week Financial Literacy Academy (FLA) and be expected to save approximately $50 each month toward the purchase of a home, to start a business or to return to school. Qualified participants will then have an opportunity to have their savings matched on a 3:1 ratio. For every dollar you save, up to a maximum of $2,000, the program will be matched with $3. The next FLA will begin May 13, 2008, for more information about this exciting opportunity, please contact Christina Santos-Gordon at CTI. She can be reached at 978-654-5080 ext 23.
 Buy a brick to support the Moody Street Playground!
Please join with us in our efforts to make this playground a safe and fun space for everyone! CBA is selling bricks to raise money to help pay for improvements to the Moody Street Playground. The bricks will be placed on a retaining wall close to the basketball court. CBA has partnered with the City of Lowell, the Jericho Road Project, landscape architects from Sasaki and Associates, and local young people to create an exciting plan for the playground. Your support will help create a safe and fun place for our youth to play. If you are interested in helping out with the Buy-a-Brick campaign or want more information about the campaign, please contact Marianne Gries at ext. 815 or marianne.gries [at] cbacre.org.
Did you know that CBA is partnering with UMass Lowell to research housing stock?
We are! CBA staff and members are working with faculty and students at the university to conduct research on the amount and quality of Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units and reaching out to renters who live in rooming houses downtown. Our ultimate goal is to protect, preserve and possibly improve the quality and number of SRO units in the area. If you are interested in more information about this project or want to help, please contact Robyn Long-Navas at ext. 809 or robyn.long.navas [at] cbacre.org.
We hope you are enjoying the new year! We’ve been moving forward with many of our current projects and working with members and partners to create some new ones. Please join us to make 2008 great.
 Please join us in welcoming Robyn Long-Navas to CBA!
We’re so excited to have Robyn join the CBA staff as a Community Organizer! Robyn has eight years of experience as an outreach educator and community organizer. Robyn is fluent in Spanish, energetic, creative, and she’s looking forward to meeting, talking to and working with our members!
Progress continues on the Moody Street Playground Project!
Renovations will include new playground equipment an a new basketball court. Young people in the neighborhood are working with us to plan the renovations and help with fundraising. Children in the Citizen Schools program at the Robinson and Wang Middle Schools painted desks reclaimed from the St. Joseph’s Grammar School. The desks will be auctioned to raise money for the playground at a fundraiser in the Spring being planned by the alums of St. Joseph’s Grammar School. If you’re interested in getting involved in the playground process, please contact Katy at 978/452-7523 ext. 808. If you’re interested in helping plan the fundraiser, please contact Marianne at ext. 815. 
St. Joseph ’s Grammar School—once a school, soon to be 15 affordable units!
Construction is moving right along and we’re hoping to have the building occupied by the fall! Stay tuned for information on how to apply for one of the units in the building—we will be hosting an information session in February 2008.
 St. Joseph ’s High School!
CBA has entered into a purchase and sale agreement for the acquisition of the former St. Joseph’s High School located at 760 Merrimack Street. We are looking forward to working with residents and neighbors as we move forward with plans to develop this property into affordable housing!
Upper Merrimack Area (UMA) Improvements!
CBA partnered with MIT, the City of Lowell, residents, local businesses, and other community leaders on a planning study for improvements to the Upper Merrimack Area of the Acre neighborhood. The study was released by MIT in December 2007 and CBA and the City have applied for CDBG funding for intersection improvements at Aiken and Merrimack Streets. These improvements were suggested in the study and will be a demonstration project to spur further investment in the area. If you would like a copy of the study or have questions about the CDBG application, please contact Marianne at ext. 815. The full study, including process documents, is available as as a .pdf here.
2007
Thanks to everyone who joined us for CBA's 25th Annual Meeting!
Thanks to Theo Martey and the Akwaaba Ensemble and CBA's own drummers and dancers; Angel, Benjamin, Ruben, Anthony, Xiomara, Genesis, Sharializ, Amber, and Marilyn for their wonderful performance!
According to CBA's bylaws, nine seats (six for Acre residents and three at-large seats) are up for election at CBA's Annual Meeting. The Board also contains six appointed seats to represent different community interests. Please welcome CBA's new Board of Directors:
Acre Residents
Maribel Aviles
Carlos Gonzales
Jeanette Gonzales
Blanca Gotay
Valmond Leclerc
Cindy Reyes
At-Large Seats
Mark Goldman
Elkin Montoya
Jesus "Charolo" Rivera
Appointed Seats
Adam Baacke – City Representative
George Duncan – Business Community Representative
Myriam Ercolani – Acre Neighborhood Committee (ANC) Representative
Paul Johnson - Acre Neighborhood Committee (ANC) Representative
Annie Holmes - North Canal Tenant Council (NCTC) Representative
Fr. James Taggart, OMI – St. Patrick’s Parish Representative
Join Us for the
Acre Clean-Up !
Armed with brooms, rakes and plenty of trash bags, Acre residents, friends and supporters, will make a clean sweep Saturday, June 2 nd, kicking off a celebration of neighborhood preservation and revitalization.
“This isn’t just a neighborhood clean-up,” said Emily Rosenbaum, Executive Director of the Coalition for a Better Acre (CBA). “The Acre Clean-Up represents residents’ pride in their community and the strength of an organized neighborhood.”
The clean-up begins at 9:30 AM and will focus on the following six sites in the Acre:
- Moody Street Playground
- Ecumenical Plaza
- North Common Playground
- Decatur Avenue
- Western Canal at Lowell Community Health Center
- Olga Nieves Park
Following the clean-up there will be a community barbeque to celebrate our efforts.
Doors Open Lowell
Saturday, May 19th 2007
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
The Coalition for a Better Acre (CBA) participated in Doors Open Lowell on Saturday, May 19th. Both the 517 Moody Street Center (formerly St. Joseph's Convent) and St. Joseph's Elementary School were open for tours.
It was a great event and we'd like to thank everyone who joined us. Photos from the event can be found here.
CBA Awarded $94,311 Grant
Lowell , MA – The Coalition for a Better Acre (CBA), a member of the national NeighborWorks network, is receiving $94,311 in flexible grants from NeighborWorks America. Overall, NeighborWorks organizations throughout Massachusetts will receive $2.2 million in NeighborWorks America grants in this grant round. Working together, NeighborWorks organizations in Massachusetts will be responsible for leveraging $43.5 million reinvested in the community to create more economic development and affordable housing opportunities for Massachusetts citizens.
CBA will use this funding to produce and manage affordable, high-quality rental properties, empower consumers through financial literacy and homeownership education and counseling, stem the tide of foreclosures that threaten neighborhoods and local economies, and revitalize and strengthen our community.
"For every one dollar spent on affordable housing at least $20 are returned to the community in the form of increased equity to start new businesses and pay for higher education, job creation and stability, increased independence and tax revenue creation, and more engaged citizens,” said NeighborWorks America CEO Ken Wade.
Sparked by 1978 legislation, NeighborWorks America created the NeighborWorks network of community development nonprofits charged with closing the homeownership gap among whites and non-whites; improving financial literacy; rebuilding and repairing properties; developing affordable multifamily units; and, using community development strategies to improve safety and build wealth. As a result, the NeighborWorks network has been able to:
• Invest over $12 billion in America's urban, rural, and suburban communities in the last five years alone;
• Work towards investing $1 billion in affordable rental housing development and preservation by 2008;
• Develop, own and manage over 60,000 affordable, high quality rental units;
• Rehabilitate more than 25,000 housing and rental properties in the last year, using state-of-the-art methods, including green and healthy building techniques;
• Increase multifamily resident leadership so that 3,500 residents serve in leadership on properties or communities;
• Help minority families achieve homeownership at four times the rate of conventional lenders;
• Educate and counsel homeowners, reducing mortgage default rates by 30 percent;
• Create the nation's largest force of certified homeownership education counselors, educating more than 570,000 homebuyers;
• Forge private-sector partnerships that revitalize communities and provide affordable rental housing and development loans;
• Invest in rebuilding efforts in affected communities across the Gulf Coast; and
• Mobilize hundreds of thousands of volunteers to revitalize neighborhoods.
The need for NeighborWorks organizations like CBA has never been greater. High quality, affordable rental housing is needed to build healthy and sustainable communities. Personal debt is rising among consumers. Mortgages are becoming increasingly complex and risky, which means homeowners are becoming progressively more susceptible to foreclosure. And, stubborn wealth gaps persist.
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