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The Lowell Summer Music Festival has put together a stellar line-up the upcoming months and season passes are on sale now. There are 24 events, including The Indigo Girls, The Neville Brothers and one of my favorite singer/songwriters, Lucinda Williams, plus lots more.  The deal is $270 for the whole season, more than 50% off the individual ticket prices with an additional $10 off if ordered by May 31. Sure, I remember when they were free, too, but they didn’t get these kinds of performers, and you certainly can’t beat the venue, under the stars at Boarding House Park!

THe MRT has had a great season, with several stand-out plays, such as “2 Pianos 4 Hands” and “The Pursuit of Happiness.”  My favorite was “Tunney/Shakespeare,” but, overall, subscribers who have struggled to stay loyal in recent years were rewarded with a quality line-up of well-directed offerings for the MRT’s 29th season.  That made it easier for us to go inside yesterday afternoon for the matinee performance of “The Four of Us,” the last play of the season, and fortunately, it is well-written, funny and thought-provoking.  The material is somewhat slight, it is the story of a friendship and the tensions that develop over time between two would-be writers, one with a best-selling novel and movie, the other a struggling playwright. There are no depths plumbed, but the surfaces are teased – the differences between the two and the history they share are examined and re-examined through clever use of of flashbacks and a play-within-a-play motif. I especially like the sprinkling of references to the past that are dropped into the dialogue only to be fleshed out later on in the flashback scenes.  It’s a hook for the viewer and also builds a realistic sense of their shared memories.  The playwright, Dave, as played by Joel Orlemann, has a goofy, boyish charm and carries the play in the beginning, when the cooler, more cerebral and distanced novelist, Benjamin, mostly repels. A careful build-up of impressions generates more sympathy for Benjamin and insights into their friendship.  I expected more from the ending, some hints that were dropped were not fulfilled; however, on the whole, we all liked the play. (Through May 11, call the box office 978-654-4678).

I am an activist: I actively work to promote positive change in our world. Often those efforts tend to be on a local level, but not always. Last week, I travelled to Boston to ask my state delegation to support election-day registration (see earlier post). Tomorrow, I’ll return to the State House with a busload of folks from the Lowell chapter of Stand for Children as well as members from 40 other communities to advocate for increased state funds for education.  In particular, the Stand group will ask legislators to close corporate tax loopholes without providing corporate “give backs” through phased-in tax cuts. Among other concerns, Stand’s position is to take revenue from closing tax loopholes and put an additional $108 million into education, as well as use the balance for property tax assistance for low-income residents. According to their Fact Sheet: Corporations are contributing less in state revenue (in 1960s corporate taxes accounted for 30% of state revenue—currently it’s about 12%); in 41 other states, corporations pay a greater percentage in state and local taxes (Ernst & Young study); and closing corporate tax loopholes levels playing field for small businesses. In addition, studies by the Mass. Budget and Policy Center and the Economic Institute indicate that investing in education and infrastructure is the way to promote economic growth, NOT cutting revenue desperately needed for public services.

Stand’s Day on the Hill tomorrow will include members speaking with 39 senators and 48 representatives and their staff. In addition, the group will hear from Paul Reville, chair of the board of education and education secretary; Senator Augustus, vice chair of the senate education committee; Chris Gabrieli, chair of Mass. 2020; and Senator Creem, chair o f senate revenue committee. It’s not too late to join us; we’ll register at the State House Gardner Auditorium 9:30-10:15. There’s also room on the bus from Lowell, which leaves from Showcase Cinemas, 32 Reiss Avenue, at 8:45.

Lowell City Manager Bernie Lynch has an op-ed in today’s Sun regarding the efforts of the advisory board formed to combat youth violence, particularly issues involving gangs. In the article, Lynch points out that the multi-disciplinary board has expanded its scope to look at a broader set of issues around youth development. This expanded focus is not because the gang issue has been solved: ironically, last week’s shooting occurred almost simultaneously to the board’s community forum on combating youth violence. What the board’s expanded focus demonstrates, rather, is an understanding of the complexity of the problem.  As a member of the advisory board, I concur with Lynch that although discussions have centered on police presence, court convictions, use of inspectional services to close gang houses, and weapons removal—all key factors in gang suppression—the board has also increased strategic planning and efforts around preventing youngsters from gang involvement in the first place. The prevention piece requires more, earlier, and better youth service programs and interventions, increased educational and job opportunities, expanded partnerships between all stakeholders, and buy-in from the community—all factors focusing on youth development. Clearly, there is much work to be done.

Last week’s forum on preventing youth violence, which brought together a substantial number of concerned people, was another step on that path. I was encouraged to see residents from neighborhood groups, church affiliates, and business owners join in the discussion as well as the usual players of nonprofit youth providers and the schools. Many people who live, work and recreate in Lowell—with or without children in our schools—must become part of the solution. As the board continues to develop strategies to improve opportunities for our youth, we will look for community input and partnership. Youth violence in our city is a reflection of societal, economic and cultural pressures; it will not be resolved in one quick fix, but only through sustained focus and community support.

All I only know about it is what’s in today’s Boston Globe, but it sure seems like a great business, government, and nonprofit partnership ripe with winners for the City of Lawrence. (How can we do it in Lowell?) The article, entitled “Employer eases path to citizenship” explains a partnership where a businessman—Salvatore Lupoli of Lupoli’s chain of pizzerias—earmarked company funds to pay attorney and application fees for his employees to apply for citizenship while area nonprofits provide English and citizenship classes. Also sponsored by the City of Lawrence, the plan helps legal immigrants prevail over a citizenship process that can often be mired in bureaucracy and expensive fees. This pilot initiative is expected to impact 10 immigrants to start, but the plan is that as more businesses that rely heavily on immigrant employees see the impact in terms of turnover and staffing, it will grow. Can’t you just imagine such a partnership here in Lowell between employers, our Adult Education program, which is the largest and most respected in the state, and the many nonprofit groups in the area? This model would provide yet another way to build on already successful citizenship programs.

If you’re like me, you probably know several women who have battled breast cancer. I have seen up close how this disease has wreaked havoc in the lives of dear friends and family members, from young mothers in their thirties to women in their seventies and all ages in between. Yet today, thousands of Massachusetts women are not getting the breast screening services they need because of access and funding gaps in our healthcare system. This Friday, April 11, starting at 11 a.m. in the Great Hall of the State House, the Massachusetts Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure invites you to attend a legislative luncheon and policy forum on closing the gap in care, featuring former State Treasurer Shannon O’Brien, Senator Dianne Wilkerson, and Dr. Jane Mendez, as well as breast cancer survivors, advocates, community leaders, and healthcare providers.

While Massachusetts has made strides in ensuring healthcare for all, important work remains. You can get involved and add your voice to others in support of making sure all women have an equal chance at beating breast cancer: Attend the luncheon (ok, perhaps not feasible for most of us), but you can easily send an email to state legislative leaders as a show of support…and even connect to your Congressional representatives with information provided here. (Hey, we’re not asking you to walk 20 miles or write a check, although that could be arranged!)

No doubt you were as horrified as I was to learn two teens allegedly traded a gun for money in a bathroom at Lowell High School last week. The question is, what are you going to do about it? Like reacting to the weather, it may seem there is nothing you can do, or perhaps you’ve convinced yourself it’s someone else’s problem—the police, the schools, or the parents of the gang-involved children. The reality is more hopeful and more challenging: Gangs and youth violence are our problem. It is a problem that belongs to the people who work, visit and live in Lowell, and whose children, like mine, attend its educational, recreational and cultural offerings. Regardless of the neighborhood you live in, the size of your paycheck, or the sheltered existence of your own family: youth violence in our city impacts us all. We need the entire community, we need you, coming together to discuss the issue and help us develop solutions.

So join us tomorrow night, Thursday, April 10, 5-7 p.m., at the Boys & Girls Club, 657 Middlesex Street, and find out what the City Manager’s Gang Advisory Board has been doing, learn about programs to support young people, and more importantly, help us prioritize the city’s actions going forward and express your concerns and ideas. Please join the City of Lowell, the Lowell Public Schools, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, MCC, UML, UTEC, and many other youth programs for this important community discussion. 

Last night’s CPC meeting in collaboration with Stand for Children, One Lowell and the Mary Bacigalupo Educational Program showed the great value of partnerships and reinforced why we must try to communicate and work together.  We learned about the CPC model of parent engagement and their mission to inform and empower parents; about Stand for Children’s advocacy at the state and local level, mainly around increased funding for education; and One Lowell’s work with marginalized refugee and immigrant children and families.  Phala Chea, director of Lowell’s Parent Information Center, gave an overview of their work, often as the first point-of-contact between a family and the school system as well as between a family and the city.  Sheila Kirschbaum, who joined the CPC 18 years ago when her son was in kindergarden, shared with others the influence of Mary Bacigalupo in encouraging parents to get engaged with the schools and believe in themselves as leaders.  Many of us continue to be involved simply because of Mary’s example and inspiration. The Mary Bacigalupo Educational Program, formed by her friends as a living tribute in her memory, has had two successful forums thusfar and is planning another for the fall.  An action group created at the forum studied data that showed a correlation between attendance in middle school and success at the high school, other action groups continue to partner with schools and the community to help students succeed.

After the more formal presentations, which will be broadcast on LET Channel 22, the conversation began.   It was great to have people whose children had already graduated from the high school share experiences with younger parents newly-involved in the schools.  Many people were interested in joining Stand for Children members on April 15 for a ‘Day on the Hill’ to talk to legislators about funding concerns and the outlook for this year’s Chapter 70 funds.  (There is a bus leaving from the Lowell Showcase Cinemas at 8:45 am, register online today!).  Other issues of concern besides funding included the need to improve technology, more sharing of reports and data with the public, more and better parent conferences with an emphasis on positive contact between parents and teachers, and a way for parents to learn about different levels of involvement and to network with other parents across the city. Concerns about attendance and Lowell’s drop-out rate were raised as possible focus issues.  Finally, the meeting had to end at 9:00 pm, but many lingered in the hallway and parking lot to continue the conversation, a conversation that we hope has just begun.

The Citywide Parent Council has invited other groups that are concerned with the future of the Lowell Public Schools to meet and discuss issues and options tonight, 7 pm, in the Little Theatre at LHS.  This first-ever collaborative meeting will bring together four organizations, Stand for Children, the Mary Bacigalupo Edcuational Program (website will be coming soon), One Lowell and the CPC, all of whom share a common goal of supporting Lowell schools and students.  The first part of the meeting will feature summary presentations from each group about their goals, recent activities and current concerns, which will be televised, followed by untelevised small group discussion and networking.  The hope is to identify some focus points for collaboration.  The entire school committee has been invited along with PTOs from individual schools.  There are so many issues facing the school district, with budget concerns topping the list; it’s vital to pool talents and resources, to communicate and collaborate and to look ahead to identify the next challenge.  Tonight’s meeting should be a great first step.

There are several activities this week to celebrate Marty Meehan’s inauguration as UML chancellor, many which interest me. For instance, yesterday I attended a breakfast on Achieving Excellence Through Partnerships.  Most would agree that partnerships are important for Lowell’s continued progress, especially during these fiscally challenging times, and it was interesting to learn more about connections between the university, businesses, and the communities of both Lowell and Lawrence. As someone committed to expanding more partnerships with our public schools, I know how difficult it can be. That’s why when I learned about the simple, yet effective tobacco-prevention initiative with Lowell fifth graders, it resonated.  Under the Greater Lowell Health Alliance, a partnership developed that included UML, Saints Memorial, Lowell General, the Community Health Center, and the Lowell Public Schools. As with most good partners, they had a specific goal and target group: educating youngsters about the dangers of smoking cigarettes.

Public school staff, using curriculum developed before state funding for tobacco prevention was depleted, trained healthcare volunteers (many of whom are nurses) on the curriculum and how to present the material in an engaging, informative way to fifth-grade students across the district. By the end of this school year, the program, which is already underway,  will educate 46 fifth-grade classes on the health risks associated with smoking cigarettes, peer pressure, and other aspects of tobacco prevention. The sad reality is that our public schools do not have the resources to do comprehensive health education k-12 around nutrition; fitness; drugs, alcohol and substance abuse; as well as other areas that would benefit our students. The fact that this partnership is helping to fill the gap provides some comfort.