G.L. Health Alliance Awarded $1.4M to Launch Youth-Led Initiative

Originally Published on Inside Lowell on February 17th, 2026

The Greater Lowell Health Alliance (GLHA) is proud to announce the launch of Healthy Youth & Parents Through Partnership & Empowerment (HYPPE), a new youth-driven initiative supported by an 18-month, $1.4 million implementation grant from the Atrius Health Equity Foundation.

The multi-year initiative aims to engage Lowell adolescents with programming that simultaneously improves health outcomes and links youth with career opportunities in healthcare and health-related fields. The project has the potential to bring up to $4.5 million to Lowell through 2030.

Designed with guidance from a Teen Planning Phase Steering Committee, HYPPE builds on Lowell’s first-ever Youth Community Health Improvement Plan, developed with input from 100 Lowell teens.

“This investment recognizes the leadership and insight of Lowell’s young people,” said Kerrie D’Entremont, Executive Director of the Greater Lowell Health Alliance. “HYPPE is about listening to youth, valuing their lived experiences, and creating real pathways for them to shape community health while exploring meaningful careers.”

The GLHA will oversee this initiative being implemented at several satellite sites: the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell, Girls Inc. Of Greater Lowell, Lowell High School, Butler Middle School, and Sullivan Middle School. Additional partnerships with Project LEARN and Tufts Medicine Lowell General Hospital will broaden opportunities and real-world experiences for HYPPE youth.

Emphasizing the role of the HYPPE partners, Project Coordinator Ella Harris shared, “HYPPE aligns with GLHA’s mission to create a strategic network of organizations committed to a common goal. Together, we are strengthening the future of Lowell’s young people and our city.”

HYPPE offers interactive and experiential opportunities, including mental health and wellness education, financial literacy for teens and parents, youth-led health initiatives, and real-world exposure to health careers through mentorships, internships, and experiences with local hospitals and health organizations.

Joe Hungler, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell, said, “HYPPE gives young people access to opportunities that can change the trajectory of their lives while improving the health of our community.”

HYPPE creates spaces where learning extends beyond the classroom and into the community. Local schools and community leaders see how this approach supports both students and families.

“HYPPE is a great opportunity for our students, it invests in youth leadership, mental health, and real-world skills, giving our students the tools they need to thrive both in and beyond the classroom,” said Liam Skinner, Superintendent of Lowell Public Schools.

HYPPE is unique in that it provides young people, as early as middle school, opportunities to explore health careers and develop leadership skills.

Sneha Patel, Director of Pathways & Partnership at Project LEARN, emphasized the role of community middle schools in HYPPE: “Community schools represent a powerful commitment to whole-child, whole-family support within the Lowell Public Schools system. By expanding HYPPE through the community schools’ model, we are deepening family engagement and strengthening schools as anchors in their neighborhoods.”

By introducing youth to health careers and uplifting youth’s voice, the initiative builds pathways toward a more accessible and representative health system. Reflecting on the importance of this work,”Bopha Malone, Executive Director of Girls Inc., said, “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to youth voice and health access and wellbeing for all. We are grateful to the Atrius Health Equity Foundation for making this work possible.”

Recognizing the strength of cross-sector collaboration and trusted community leadership, Nicole Champagne, Executive Board Chair of the Greater Lowell Health Alliance and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at University of Massachusetts Lowell, shared her perspective on the partnership: “We are proud to partner with GLHA, as their track record and reputation speak for themselves!”

Emphasizing the importance of early exposure and career pathways in healthcare, Cecelia Lynch from Lowell General Hospital and Tufts Medicine, who also serves as Vice Chair of the Greater Lowell Health Alliance, highlighted HYPPE’s impact on local youth.

HYPPE gives Lowell youth the tools and opportunities to explore health careers,” Lynch said.

Through strong cross-sector partnerships and youth leadership, HYPPE looks to reduce health inequities, expand access to opportunity, and build a healthier future for Lowell.