HAVERHILL — Gov. Charlie Baker stopped by UTEC's new office and drop-in center in Haverhill on Monday, where he met privately with a group of young men and women with past, serious criminal involvement. He wanted to learn how a pro- gram like UTEC is helping them turn their lives around. They shared their past chal- lenges with the Republican gov- ernor, as well as their hopes for the future, and how they are working closely with the pro- Attending a roundtable discussion at UTEC’s new Haverhill offices, are, from left, Essex gram's street outreach workers, County Sheriff Kevin Coppinger, state Rep. , D-Methuen, state Rep. UTEC officials said. , D-Haverhill, state Rep. Christina Minicucchi, D-North Andover, UTEC street "A lot of them feel like they've worker Mao Kang, and Police Chief Alan DeNaro. MIKE LABELLA/Staff photo been let down by most of the adults in their life," Baker said grand opening is planned for on lifestyle changes. Handcuffs after his private meeting. "They June 4. don't work for the majority." don't feel like that's going to hap- In addition to Gov. Baker, also DeNaro said it will be a few pen here." taking part in the discussion were years before the city sees measur- The governor was referring to Mayor James Fiorentini, Police able results as it takes time for a young adults who are working Chief Alan DeNaro, Deputy Chief program such as UTEC to work. with UTEC and can be assured Anthony Haugh, Essex County Edison Mejia, 34, a transporta- the program won't give up on Sheriff Kevin Coppinger, tion assistant with UTEC, told them, even if they are incarcer- state Reps. Andy Vargas, D- officials that he wishes the pro- ated again, UTEC officials said. Haverhill, Linda Dean Campbell, gram was around when he was in "It's very clear that the team at D-Methuen, Christina Minicucci, his teens. UTEC sticks with them, stays D-North Andover, , "I did 10 years in the system with them, supports them and R-West Newbury, and state Sen. and now I want to help younger helps them figure out a better Diana DiZoglio, D-Methuen. individuals not go down the path path," Baker added. "Some of DeNaro said the answer to I went down," he said. "You've these kids were telling me about combating gang activity is not got to curb it when you're young, what they were up to before they necessarily putting more officers like 17, 18 and 19, as that's when became part of this organization on the street, but rather, focusing you get into a criminal lifestyle. and what they're up to now. It's a on rehabilitation and lifestyle al- This program does work, and it night and day thing and it's ternatives and not incarceration. gives them hope." working. It's special and it de- "We're an information conduit Eric Cruz, 25, a UTEC street serves out support." for UTEC rather than a pipeline worker, said he reached out UTEC's new drop-in space at to jail," DeNaro said. "If we can to UTEC after a friend was killed 241 Winter St. opened informally keep them out of the jail system, due to gun violence. about six months ago and a which doesn't work, we can focus "I didn't want it to happen no more in my city," Cruz said. "I Youth Initiative (SSYI), led by the made it my duty to stop it and Executive Office of Health and eight months, two weeks in, a lot Human Services. of the gun violence decreased. I Since taking office, the Baker couldn't be happier to be part of administration has allocated a the UTEC family. They showed total of $27.9 million for cities to me what a family really is." implement SSYI. The gover- Campbell joked that in the leg- nor’s 2020 budget recommends islature, "everybody knows how funding SSYI at $10 million, $1.9 to say UTEC now." million above 2019, an increase "We have to sell what we want of 23% to help expand the pro- to spend based on results," From left, state Rep. Linda Dean Camp- gram to young women, according Campbell said about the fight to bell, D-Methuen, state Rep. Andy Var- to the governor's office. double the grant money in the gas, D-Haverhill, Mayor James Fioren- A women’s pilot program is cur- house budget that would fund tini and Gov. Charlie Baker listen to rently being implemented in UTEC. "You do the one-on-one, Gregg Croteau, CEO of UTEC, discuss his Haverhill, Fall River, Lawrence the person-to-person that gets program which helps prevent young men and Lowell — all of which were results. It was so easy to sell and women from continuing with gang prepared to begin serving young this." and criminal activity. women in 2019. All sites will UTEC received $400,000 last MIKE LABELLA/Staff photo begin serving women in 2020. year from the Safe and Successful

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