FISCAL YEAR 2020 ANNUAL REPORT Trading Violence and Poverty for Social and Economic Success

20 YEARS OF BREAKING BARRIERS TO YOUTH SUCCESS MISSION & VALUES UTEC’s mission and promise is to ignite and nurture the ambition of our most disconnected young people to trade violence and poverty for social and economic success. Today we serve Lowell, Lawrence, and Haverhill, and are nationally recognized as a model agency serving justice-involved young adults.

We are a family. UTEC is a catalyst.

We assume goodness behind We think big about what we can everyone’s actions. We show madd achieve. We continually chip away, love, unconditionally accepting demonstrating relentlessness in each person. We offer everyone our pursuit of positive change. a clean slate, never giving up. We plant seeds of peace and We carry out respectful curiosity, cultivate trust. We see beyond always seeking out moments to the mask, knowing there’s always connect. We are sponges, actively more beneath the surface. We seeking feedback. We embody ignite social justice. And we spark contagious passion in all we do. sustainability.

UTECINC.ORG 3 WHO WE ARE Our Young Adults Participants

Our Community In FY20, UTEC served 168 young adults in our intensive enrollment Our bold goal is to provide a program, and over 600 young 168 20.7 adults through Streetworker pathway for all proven-risk young Young Adults Average Age at Intake adults in the Merrimack Valley outreach

UTEC believes that poverty and prejudice are the Risk Factors Demographics primary forces that propel our young people to join “We’re human beings like gangs and engage in other risky and destructive Of our young adults, 91% had one or more Of our young adults, 78% are male and 22% are female. everyone else. We came here behaviors. Our wraparound program is designed to of these risk factors at intake and 64% had Enrolled young adults are from Lowell (65%), Lawrence (14%) three or more. and, Haverhill (14%). for help and encouragement.” build trusting relationships that never give up on young adults as they overcome personal, health, JOSE and institutional barriers to improving their lives. 54% 89% 75% criminal record gang involvement REDUCE RECIDIVISM 16% 14% of UTEC participants avoided 9% 8% arrest compared to the state 70% 36% 81% average of 49% without high school parent and/or Latino/a Multi- White Black Asian credentials expecting Racial

4 UTECINC.ORG 5 WHAT WE DO Streetworker Outreach and Peacemaking Streetworkers chip away at OUR THEORY OF CHANGE building trusting relationships with young adults in the streets Young adults ages 17-25 are the highest and correctional facilities risk, highest cost segment of the Massachusetts criminal justice system. Outreach UTEC’s Streetworkers meet young adults “where they’re at.” They chip away at building relationships Of this population, 52% will rearraigned with proven-risk young adults by providing personal within a year, and over 3 years, the and practical supports. recidivism rate rises up to 76%. Inreach Streetworkers go behind the walls of the jails, visiting young adults at least 3-6 months prior Our hypothesis states that if young to their release from state and county facilities. adults with serious gang or criminal On release day, Streetworkers pick up the young adults, take them for their first meal, and support involvement are productively engaged them in their transition back into the community.

in UTEC activities and supports for an Gang Peacemaking “This is what success extended period during the critical ages looks like.” The recruitment and relationship-building work sets the stage for Streetworkers to plant seeds of of 17-25, they will have the skills and GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER peace, conducting peacemaking work with leaders resilience they need to achieve social of local rival gangs. Streetworkers spread our belief that violence is not normal and have developed a and economic success. structured peacemaking process including Peace Trips, Peace Circles, and Peace Summits. UTEC’s unique insight is our long- term commitment that extends across

multiple years, chances, and pathways. PEOPLE SERVED

young adults served through Streetworker outreach and >600 inreach programs. (FY20)

6 UTECINC.ORG 7 WHAT WE DO Blended Education On-site preparation for a high school credential

As part of their participation in UTEC, young adults who do not have a high school degree can participate in classes to prepare them to take their HiSET (the high school equivalency exam). They are sponges, actively seeking knowledge and feedback. Small learning classes create trusting relationships where students feed off of teachers’ contagious passion. The curriculum uses a project-based learning framework and integrates social justice learning WHAT WE DO to encourage student engagement and emphasize the connection of these subjects to igniting social Transitional Coaches justice in their everyday lives. Show madd love as we mentor INCREASE EDUCATION young adults of UTEC participants Once enrolled, young adults are paired with a attempted and passed at Transitional Coach (TC), who serves as their 78% least one HiSET subject test primary support person. TCs build trusting relationships by seeing beyond the mask into the “When I first got out of jail, whole person and assuming goodness behind I had no car, no good job, every action. By providing wraparound supports no apartment, no good work to the young adults they work with, TCs help participants overcome barriers, set goals, and ethic—and now I have create work plans to accomplish those goals. all those things.” Madd Love in Action JAMES UTEC Graduate • Connect young adults to substance abuse/ mental health counseling • Provide wraparound supports based on young adults' goals and needs • Coordinate with other program staff for consistency in support • Provide 24/7 crisis intervention services

8 UTECINC.ORG 9 WHAT WE DO Workforce Development via Social Enterprises We give young adults a clean slate again and again to gain work experience and develop essential job and life skills

Mattress Recycling Every young adult starts in our mattress recycling facility where they are provided a job and build employment readiness skills like punctuality, consistency, and problem solving. They spark sustainability by diverting over 20,000* mattresses from the waste system (*FY20).

Woodworking Young adults think big by building high quality products from salvaged wood while learning how to take initiative, meet big deadlines, and skills that can be applied to other manufacturing trades. In December 2019, we signed a lease on the historic “Tower” building in downtown Lowell, which will allow us to expand our woodworking capabilities in this larger space to accommodate manufacturing, product finishing, and storage needs.

Food Services UTEC Food services program offers young adults broad skills across catering, food manufacturing, and Café UTEC while learning customer service and management skills.

Triple Bottom Line IMPROVE EMPLOYABILITY • Facilitate positive youth development through of UTEC participants paid work experiences received an industry 63% recognized certification • Generate earned revenue to support our mission • Support our communities' economic development

10 UTECINC.ORG 11 WHAT WE DO Organizing and Policymaking Ignite social justice from the streets to the State House

UTEC’s team embodies contagious passion for systemic change as they help young adults develop concrete skills through campaign planning: research, persuasive writing, project management, event planning, public speaking, and leadership.

Thanks to the advocacy of our young adults, additional expungement legislation was included in the recently passed Racial Justice and Policing Bill.

We hosted our bACkfirstTO SChOOL? ever candidateMARy TRUMP forums forAMERICA CityEAST Expertssay Tell-all book Conference millions won’t by president’s pulls plug on Council candidates in all three communities we MOSTLY be returning niecebreaks fall season SUNNY High: 92 in the fall sales record amid crisis Low: 67 nation »5A daily dish »14A Sports »9A serve, which live on our website utecvotes.org. »PAgE 2A

Teens Leading The Way (TLTW) WHAT WE DO Young adults haveT theHE option to igniteS socialUN justice “The support from UTEC is Saturday, July 18, 2020 $2.00faCeBook.CoM/lowellSun .CoM/lowellSunnewS lowellsun com

by participatingLOWELL’S ROURkE bRIdgE in Teens Leading The Way (TLTW). incredible, especially for my TLTW engages young people in research and daughter. She has learned Two Generations training$100M for real-worldea policyrmark worked andfo empowersrnew span Senate OKsbond billfor construction of a lot—she has improved her them topermane executent link over grassrootsMerrimackRiver campaigns. the Senate version will prevail in A whole family approach by nicole deFeudis conference.” knowledge, attitude, and [email protected] “By providing bond authoriza- LOWELL » Apermanent Rourke tion to constructthe four-lane Bridgemay —finally —bein permanent bridgeatanestimat- Lowell’sfuture. ed costof$100million, we will to youth work ATransportation Bond Bill guaranteethatthe construction social skills. She has become passed on Thursdaybythe state moneywill be available as soon Senate includes $100 million for as the alignment and design the construction of anew four- study is completed in 2022,” lane RourkeBridgetoreplace Kennedy said in anewsrelease. the temporaryone builtin1983. Thecurrent bridgehonors for- a bright little girl.” Thebill will pass through acon- mer Mayor Raymond Rourke ference committee before it and his son, stateRep.Timothy The 2Gen Early-Childhood Education Center shows landsonthe governor’s desk, Rourke. The$8million, two-lane stateSen.Edward Kennedy,a Bailey ponytruss bridgecon- LowellDemocrat,said. nects the Highlands and Paw- Kennedy told TheSun he is tucketvilleneighborhoods,and lowell Sun file Photo madd love to our young adults by breaking the Lowell Sun - 07/18/2020 » Page : A01 UTEC YOUNG ADULT “confidentthatthe languagein bRIdgE 8A Cars travel across the RourkeBridge in lowell in august 2011.

barrier of consistent, affordable education for RECORd ExPUngEMEnT ExPAnSIOn LOWELL those who are also young parents, helping to fight utec pushes forkids twocity generational poverty. With UTEC’s 2Gen Center, “We all make mistakes councilors professional, daily education is available for to have clean slate quitcti as a child. We shouldn't get board families free of charge. In FY20: Mercier and Elliott’s a life sentence for them.” vote on racism motion CHILDREN SERVED contrary to • We served 20 families in our 2Gen program, organization’s stance

with 26 children (ages 0-5) enrolled in our early by Elizabeth dobbins children served in MONEY GASTON [email protected] LOWELL » Veteran CityCoun- cilors RodneyElliottand Rita education center. UTEC Young Adult and Organizer Mercier said theywould step 2Gen infant through down from CommunityTeam- work Inc.’s board of directors af- ter voting againstamotiontode- preschool classrooms clareracismapublic health • Northwestern University completed a process crisisinLowell —adeclaration 26 CTIvocallysupported. “I thought it would be better if Iresigned and Icould not be an effective board member,” Elliott evaluation of our 2Gen Center. said. CTIChief Executive Officer Karen Frederick said she intends to reach out to the councilors andspeak to themdirectly. “I am grateful for the time they’vebeenonthe board and I respect their decision,”she said. Shesaidshe has not yetre- 12 JulUTECINC.ORGiaMalakie /lowell Sun ceived their official letters of res-13 Youth criminal record expungement organizersMoney Gaston of lowell, center,and Jose Pizzini of lawrence, right, at uteC, with uteCor- ignation. ganizing directorGeoff foster of lowell, left. Both Pizzzini and Gaston saythey have had trouble finding good jobs because of criminal re- CTIisaprominent Lowell cords, even though charges were dismissed. non-profit, which “mobilize(s) resources for low-income people, providing opportunities for Organization thathelps troubled youthsay unnecessary criminal recordsholdthemback them to achieve stability, self- However,theyquickly real- gible under anycircumstances, They relaunched the cam- sufficiencyand have an active by AlanaMelanson ized most of the population even if theyhadn’t been con- paign in January2019, working voice and participation in the de- [email protected] UTEC serves would not be eligi- victed,saidUTEC Director of with legislativesponsors to file cisions thataffecttheir lives,”ac- LOWELL » UTEC legislative ble, due to the interpretation of Organizing and Policymaking an updated bill to expand the ccording to CTI’swebsite. organizers rejoiced twoyears the lawasrestricting eligibility GeoffFoster. expungement law, he said. Elliottsaidhehas been onthe agowhen the initial lawthey to those with only one charge “None of the young people Those efforts led to the inclu- board for eight years. fought forto allowyouthful of- before the ageof21. Many also who worked on it at UTEC were sion of asignificant eligibility Mercier has been on the board fenders to petition to expunge had charges thatwereamong eligible under theexisting law,” expansion in the policereform 14 years. their criminalrecords was the150 —suchasassaultand Foster said. “So we setout to bill the stateSenate passed ear- CTIissued astatement in sup- passed. battery—thatwould not be eli- continue the effort.” UTEC » 8A RESIgn » 8A

� 2020 lowell sun. Please review new arbitration language here. 07/18/2020 July 19, 2020 11:47 am (GMT -4:00) Powered by TECNAVIA MASSAChUSETTS TEWkSbURy LOWELLSUn.COM Labor,faith leaders Cops arrest3alleged Today’sQuestion Yesterday’squestion results (295 votes) push forpolicereform drugged drivers will youbuy Mary trump’sbook? have yougained or lost weight during the pandemic? Religious and labor heads in the span of 11 hours, pushed forevengreater policenabbed three alleged YeSOrnO 59% 41% VOTe aT LOweLLSun.cOm measures. Page 2a drugged drivers. Page 3a gained LOST

Index Local ...... 3a, 6a Obituaries .... 4a Opinion ...... 7a Sports... 9a-11a Lifestyle.....12a TV ...... 14a comics ...... 15a 6 4009200075 7 WHAT WE DO Training Center for Excellence (TC4E) Addressing gun violence through a public health and racial equity lens

In 2019, UTEC was pleased to establish the Training Center for Excellence (TC4E). In its first year, the TC4E hosted 36 learning activities including trainings, technical assistance, and peer exchanges to its statewide coalition.

We continue to think big about how to best equip youthworkers, and the support of Massachusetts Department of Public Health and our partnership with Health Resources in Action (HRiA) have enabled us to continue expand our statewide trainings.

OUR IMPACT Goals and Results 94% of program graduates are still employed and/or enrolled in post-secondary education two years after leaving UTEC.

14 # 15 OUR IMPACT Madd Love at a Distance How UTEC adapted during the COVID-19 Global Pandemic

Our biggest goal has been to ensure that the COVID-19 crisis does not intensify the cycle of poverty and violence by continuing, adapting, and strengthening our services during these especially difficult times.

Fortunately, our strongest asset is our relationships with young people, and that is not confined to a building or program schedule.

We've been relentlessly creative in delivering programs and services for our young adults (YAs) in Lowell, Lawrence, and Haverhill, MA. Here's what that has looked like:

• Young adult wages have continued to be paid, no matter what • Meals, food, and other essentials have been delivered regularly to YAs and their children • Our mental health counselor has been available daily for virtual sessions • Diapers, wipes, and activity binders have been distributed to our 2Gen families • Additional laptops were purchased for young adults to continue learning remotely • Streetworkers have continued providing critical violence intervention services for any conflicts on the streets.

INCREASED CONNECTIONS

of young adults said they felt as closely connected—or even more!— 75% to UTEC during program closure as during regular programming

16 UTECINC.ORG 17 “When UTEC began as the United Teen Equality Center in 1999, it was a safe place where teenagers could go to engage in different activities after 20 YEARS OF school without worry about the gang violence that plagued the city. Two decades later, its numerous social enterprise and workforce development BREAKING BARRIERS components are vital pieces of a growing organization TO YOUTH SUCCESS that remains committed to the Merrimack Valley.”

The Lowell Sun, Editorial

18 UTECINC.ORG 19 • https://utecinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/UTEC-Gala-Grand-Finale.jpg

THE CELEBRATION 20th Anniversary Gala A night full of madd love and contagious passion

We have grown tremendously over the last 20 years, and we are proud to say that throughout this time, one of our most consistent messages MADD LOVE TO OUR SPONSORS has been that violence is not normal.

“It's time to stand up for Hosted by young adults, we joined over 400 what's right. It's time for courage. supporters, allies, and current and former young people, to celebrate the fight against gun violence We must stop gun violence.” the way UTEC young adults always have: with madd love and contagious passion. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS Congresswoman

OUR HONOREES Belinda Juran and Evan Schapiro We were proud to honor a group of leaders on the state and national level who have been advocates for gun violence prevention and criminal justice reform.

• Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords

• Governor Charlie Baker, Speaker Robert DeLeo, and Senate President Karen Spilka Affirmative Covanta The Empire Loan • The New England Patriots Investments Foundation Charitable United Way of Foundation • The Massachusetts Black and Brigham & Women’s Massachusetts Bay Cedar’s Latino Legislative Caucus Center for Trauma and Merrimack Valley Mediterranean Foods US Bank

Thanks to our sponsors and generosity of the attendees at our sold out event, Anstiss & Co Trinity Financial People’s United Bank Mintz we raised over $525,000 to support our Cintas Corporation WinnCompanies Tufts Health Plan TD Bank young adults. Jeanne D’Arc Credit Aspire Growth Advisors Vinfen Votze Butler Union To view more photos and a video recap Crown Special Events Cadence of the event, visit utecinc.org/20th Nobis Group LeadWell Partners Enterprise Bank

20 UTECINC.ORG 21 UTEC Board Members*

M. Scott Mellen, CHAIR Belinda Juran Tim Nichols President & Ceo, wTe Corporation Retired Partner, Wilmerhale Chief of Organizational Effectiveness, JuanCarlos Rivera Aviles Jonathan M. Kelly Ropes & Gray Llp Director of Operations, Portfolio Manager, Barb Vlacich Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell Fidelity Management and Research Vice President, Global Sales Ops & Gregg Croteau Lon Povich Chief Of Staff At Kronos Incorporated Chief Executive Officer, UTEC Counsel, Anderson & Kreiger Joseph (Jody) White, MBA, FACHE Sandyha S Douglas, CFA Former Chief Legal Counsel for the Office of CEO, Circle Health, and President, Senior Managing Director, the Governor of Massachusetts Lowell General Hospital THE DETAILS Wellington Management Company Neil Maniar, PhD, MPH Jonathan Dowst Professor Of Public Health Practice; MPH President, Pentucket Bank Program Director At Northeastern University Diana Frothingham Juana Matias Spark Sustainability Consultant, Leadwell Partners Chief Operating Officer, MassINC

In FY20, UTEC earned over $1.2 million in social enterprise revenue. We maintain over Adivsory Council Members* 50 annual grants and contracts that help sustain our organization, including our social David Ennis Mark Sylvia enterprises, and continue to grow contributions UTEC Advisory Council Members President, Affirmative Investments Managing Director, BlueWave Solar from both individual and corporate donors. Kelly Fitzsimmons Dan Wolf Founder and Managing Director, Project CEO, Cape Air Nish Acharya Evident FY20 by the Numbers CEO, Equal Innovation Consulting Michael Gallagher

Jennifer Aronson Founding Partner, Gallagher & Cavanaugh, Associate Vice President for Programs, LLP Ex-Officio Advisory The Boston Foundation James Geraghty Council Members Don Berwick Executive Director, Morgan Stanley President Emeritus, Institute for Private Wealth Management OVERALL REVENUE Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Rufus Gifford Kevin Coppinger Sheriff, Essex County,Sheriff’s Office Szifra Birke Former U.S. Ambassador to Government Grants & Contracts 44% Principal, Birke Consulting Philip Giudice Eileen Donoghue Former CEO and President, Ambri, Inc. Individual & Corporate Giving 27% Honorable Jay Blitzman City Manager, City of Lowell, MA Retired First Justice Tito Jackson James Fiorentini Social Enterprise Revenue 11% Middlesex County Juvenile Court Former City Councilor, City of Boston Mayor, City of Haverhill, MA Juliette Kayyem Private & Corporate Grants 17% Dinah Buechner-Vischer Lane Glenn Belfer Lecturer in International Security, President, Lookout Foundation President, Northern Essex Other Revenue 1% Harvard University Kennedy School Mary Burns Community College Principal, Splash Media Group Boston, LLC Jeff McCormick Total Revenue 100% & Capital Advertising, LLC Managing Partner, Saturn Partners Peter Koutoujian Sheriff, Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office Joann Chen Thaddeus Miles Director, Employment Technology Funds Director of Community Services, John Leahy JFF (Jobs for the Future) MassHousing Mayor, City of Lowell, MA Julie Chen Steven Panagiotakos James Mabry OVERALL EXPENSES Vice Chancellor for Research and Former State Senator President, Middlesex Community College Innovation, University of Massachusetts Chair of Senate Ways and Means Marian Ryan Lowell Committee Personnel Expense 59% District Attorney, Middlesex County General Expenses 15% Tom Clay Doug Rauch CEO, Xtalic Corporation Founder and President, Daily Table Kendrys Vasquez Mayor, City of Lawrence Youth Wages/Stipends 8% Fred Conover (Former President, Trader Joe’s) Occupancy 9% President, CTP Boston Elizabeth Reilinger Laura Derba Founder and Managing Partner, Program Expense 9% Former North Atlantic Regional President Leadwell Partners Whole Foods Market Bob Rivers Total Expenses 100% John DiGiovanni President, Eastern Bank President, Trinity Management, LLC Sally Sharp Lehman Nancy Donahue Principal, Sharp Lehman Consulting, LLC Philanthropist Richard Snyder Of Counsel, Duane Morris, LLP

22 * Members as of January 2021. UTECINC.ORG 23 WAYS TO SUPPORT

Support the UTEC mission of helping young adults create success and better futures for themselves and their families!

DONATE SHOP

To invest in young adults To shop products made by young and UTEC's many programs, adults in UTEC's social enterprises, visit UTECInc.org/donate visit UTECinc.org/shop

How to Reach Us

E-mail Social [email protected] facebook.com/UTECinc twitter.com/utec_inc Telephone instagram.com/utec_lowell +1 (978) 856-3902 linkedin.com/company/utecinc

Mailing Programs © Copyright 2021 UTEC P.O. Box 7066, Lowell, MA 01852 35 Warren St., Lowell, MA 01852