Youth Innovation Space

Project LEARN believes that Lowell’s young people deserve learning spaces that inspire and motivate, that communicate they are valued and cared for, and that stimulate their interests, hopes, and ambitions. Located at 58 Prescott Street in downtown Lowell, Project LEARN’s Youth Innovation Space was launched in 2022 to provide students with a welcoming and supportive community space.

Our Youth Innovation Space creates opportunities for Lowell youth to imagine, design, and build new learning opportunities. Youth will genuinely lead, not just learn about leadership from adults, and our programs will be driven by youth-led proposals, votes, and decisions, with adults serving as facilitators, advisors, and advocates.

More specifically, our Youth Innovation Space programs provide:

  1. Real-world career exploration, skill-building, and work experiences, including job shadowing, career credentialing, and paid internship and apprenticeship opportunities.

  2. College, career, and life planning experiences for both youth and their families, including workshops on interview preparation, financial aid, and financial literacy.

  3. Meaningful connections to college and career professionals who can offer references, referrals, or pathways to higher education and employment.

  4. Authentic youth-leadership experiences that help students develop confidence, self-understanding, and practical skills that will empower them in all areas of work and life.

For more information about Project LEARN’s Youth Innovation Space, contact Mira Bookman: mbookman@projectlearninc.org.

 

Creative Placemaking

Founded in 2013, ArtUp Lowell is a creative-placemaking initiative that brings together Lowell’s diverse community of young people, artists, educators, and social entrepreneurs to create visual and performing arts that enhance public spaces throughout the city. ArtUp Lowell grew out of the innovative ArtUp program at Lowell Community Health Center, which featured dynamic artwork created by local artists.

Since Project LEARN began coordinating ArtUp Lowell in 2019, we have engaged more than 2,000 students, local artists, educators, and community members from around Lowell in ArtUp projects and events.

What Is Creative Placemaking?

Creative placemaking is a collaborative process in which artists, designers, musicians, educators, planners, organizers, entrepreneurs, cultural leaders, youth, and other community members from diverse backgrounds create artistic, cultural, or architectural works, installations, and events that reimagine and reshape the physical and social character of a neighborhood, town, city, or region. The purpose of creative placemaking is to improve the built environment, rejuvenate public spaces, promote economic development, engage residents in social change, and help communities come together, work together, and thrive together.

ArtUp Lowell Frequently Asked Questions

  • ArtUp Lowell is a community based placemaking initiative that funds, enhances, and leverages the artistic, creative and cultural assets of Lowell through permanent, place-based mural installations that enhance public spaces throughout the city.

    Since the summer of 2021, ArtUp Lowell has collaborated with local youth, community-based organizations, artists, and the Massachusetts based placemaking agency, Beyond Walls, to bring 10 permanent large-scale murals to 4 neighborhoods across the city that celebrate cultural diversity. .

  • ArtUp was originally created in 2015 by the Lowell Community Health Center as an innovative program to support local artists who wanted to share & sell their work throughout the community.

    In 2019, ArtUp expanded into the city-wide initiative, ArtUp Lowell, and was officially launched through the Jack's Flags installation at Kerouac Park. The exhibit engaged 12 art teachers across 8 Lowell schools. Over 800 students in grades 3 through 8 created their own fabric designs, which were inspired by Tibetan prayer flags.

  • Otro Rumbo by David Zayas – Athenian Corner Restaurant, 207 Market Street

    Sonido de mi Patria by Angurria – CTI Opportunity Center, 167 Dutton Street

    Healing by Bryan Beyung – Eliot Church, 6 Favor Street

    UMass Lowell Locations

    Chrome Cobito by Bikismo – Pinanski Hall, 205 Riverside Street

    MESA by Sophy Tuttle – Mahoney Hall, 870 Broadway Street

    Middlesex Community College Locations

    Dream, Hunt, Make by FONKi – 33 Kearney Square

    Apsara by Mattaya Fitts – 66 Middle Street

    I Am Woman by Quest Nine – 66 Middle Street

    El Otro Yo / La Otra Yo by ERA – 66 Middle Street

    Rayo Feliz by Golden305 – 24 Howe Street

  • While Project LEARN performs a leadership and support role, projects are cooperatively organized and managed, and decision-making is inclusive and participatory.

    2022 Partners:

    Project LEARN – City of Lowell – Department of Planning & Development – MassDevelopment TDI Initiative – Office of Cultural Affairs and Special Events – Curation 250 – Mosaic Lowell – Lowell Public Schools – Middlesex Community College – University of Massachusetts Lowell – Community Teamwork, Inc. – Eliot Church – Coalition for a Better Acre – Lowell Housing Authority – Nancy L. Donahue – BRM Productions – Gallagher & Cavanaugh, LLP – Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce – Greater Lowell Community Foundation – Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell – Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union – Beyond Walls – Lowell Community Health Center The Lowell Sun – The Luna Theater – Marte Media – Mill No. 5 – Refuge Lowell – Theodore Edson Parker Foundation – Western Avenue Studios – Arts League of Lowell – Lowell National Historical Park

  • This summer, ArtUp Lowell is taking a more student focused approach to our programming. In partnership with Lowell High School and Refuge Lowell, will be procuring two medium-sized permanent murals by students in the Acre/Upper Merrimack Street area.

  • During Winter/Spring 2024, Project LEARN plans to roll out a Call for Projects to support local artists and creators with creative placemaking ideas that will beautify neighborhoods, celebrate diversity, and bring pride to Lowell.

  • We are currently accepting proposals for small-scale projects that involve students. Email your concept idea and budget to Autumn Kleiner at Project LEARN, akleiner@projectlearninc.org.

  • Send an introductory email to Autumn Kleiner at Project LEARN, akleiner@projectlearninc.org with your building’s location, a phone number you can be reached at, and a rough estimate of your project budget.

  • Student art engagement is linked to increased school engagement and higher achievement, increased empathy and social-emotional intelligence, and civic engagement. Our young people will benefit from the opportunity to engage with professional artists who bring visibility to Lowell’s underrepresented cultural and ethnic communities and through paid, hands-on, internships that build practical and problem-solving skills and community connections.

  • With this project, we aim to increase awareness of Lowell’s cultural vitality, create new ways for our community members to experience underutilized public spaces, and spur increased foot traffic and local spending at restaurants and small businesses near mural sites.

  • You can use this link to donate, or if you’re interested in becoming an ArtUp Lowell sponsor, send an email to Autumn Kleiner at Project LEARN, akleiner@projectlearninc.org.

  • During Winter/Spring 2024, Project LEARN plans to roll out a Call for Projects to support local artists and creators with creative placemaking ideas that will beautify neighborhoods, celebrate diversity, and bring pride to Lowell. Special Priority will be given to projects that involve students.

  • We will be recruiting for the ArtUp Lowell Review Committee in Winter 2023-24. Use this link to fill out the interest form.


Recent ArtUp Lowell Projects

 

Downtown Murals (2021)

In 2021, Project LEARN played an instrumental role in the creation of two large-scale murals in downtown Lowell. The project resulted from a collaboration with Beyond Walls, Community Teamwork, and the artists David Zayas and Evaristo Angurria. The murals aim to showcase Lowell’s history, creativity, diversity, and cultural vitality in high-visibility public spaces that have been underutilized by the community in recent years, while also increasing foot traffic and spending at local restaurants and small businesses.

The mural by David Zayas is located at 207 Market Street and overlooks the Athenian Corner parking lot. The mural celebrates Lowell’s vibrant Puerto Rican community, the city’s largest Latino population with more than 12,000 residents, as well as the resilience of women worldwide. Traditional Puerto Rican symbols, such as the rooster, which represents strength, are featured in the mural. Located in the Gates Block Garden located at 167 Dutton Street, adjacent to Community Teamwork’s Youth Opportunity Center, the mural by Dominican artist Evaristo Angurria honors the history of Mechanic's Hall, an abolitionist site recently recognized by the National Park Service.

College & Career Readiness

Kids Who Code

 Kids Who Code is an afterschool program for teenage youth ages 11–16 offered in collaboration with Lowell Public Schools and Girls Who Code, a national nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in technology. During the 12-week program, participating youth develop knowledge, skills, and proficiencies they can apply throughout their lives, such as problem-solving strategies or how to work productively in a team. Students also learn foundational concepts in computer science—such as loops, variables, conditionals, and functions—and they are introduced to some of the most widely used programming languages, including Scratch, Python, and Javascript.

Subscribers can read more about the project in The Lowell Sun.

 
 
 

IDEA Camp

IDEA Camp is a hands-on summer learning program for middle-school students that focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM). During weeklong workshops, students in grades 5–9 engage in fun, interactive learning experiences in fields such as robotics, architecture, coding, computer-aided design, or crime science, for example. 

In July 2020, nearly 300 Lowell Public School students participated in IDEA Camp, despite the need to conduct the workshops remotely due to COVID-19. Participating students were able to safely pick up necessary supplies to ensure they would be well-equipped working from home. The virtual format also helped students acquire and practice new skills, including virtual group collaboration and online project management. In addition, several workshops featured career speakers, including engineers, drone operators, photographers, and forensic scientists who work in the community.

 
 

Commencement 2 Careers

Commencement 2 Careers is a summer internship program that provides real-world, project-based work experience to Lowell High School students and recent graduates.

Since our pilot year in 2020, we have placed over 250 student-interns at a wide range of organizations and industries, including technology, healthcare, non-profit, education and more.

During the six-week internship, students complete real projects under the guidance and mentorship of local professionals, and they receive a financial stipend to compensate them for their time.

At the end of the internship, students have acquired real-world work experience, strengthened their resumes, developed new skills, and earned recommendations or career connections from host sites.

Subscribers can read more about the project in The Lowell Sun.

 

Do you own a local business?

 • Are you looking to grow and diversify your workforce?

 • Do you want to give back to your community?

 • Do you want to change a young person’s life?

 Consider hosting a student intern in 2023!

 
 

Early College Lowell

Early College Lowell is a dual-enrollment partnership with Middlesex Community College that lets Lowell High School students take enriching college-level courses while enrolled in high school, earn college credit, and get an early start on their post-secondary education and career—at no cost to them or their families. In the last two years, hundreds of students have earned early 4,500 credits through the program, which has saved them and their families more than $1.1 million in tuition costs.

Here’s how it works:

  • Early college courses give Lowell High School students a headstart on their college education while helping to build the aspirations, skills, and confidence that will help them succeed after graduation.

  • The courses offered through Early College Lowell are completely free to students enrolled in Lowell High School—all costs are paid by local funding, state programs, and private grants.

  • Participating students earn credit from both Lowell High School and Middlesex Community College—in other words, students earn double credit for every course they successfully complete.

  • Early college credits are real college credits and can be transferred to colleges or universities throughout the United States.

  • All early college students and their families receive personalized advice and mentoring from a support staff that will guide them through every step of the process.

  • Early college students are not only able to take classes at Middlesex Community College’s downtown campus, but they can also participate in on-campus programs and activities just like full-time college students.

 
Visit the Early College Lowell website to learn more about the program.

“Through Early College Lowell, I have been able to take six classes that have earned me 19 college credits and saved me over $4,000. I’ve already earned enough credits to be able to skip a semester in college!”

Diogo de Souza, Lowell High School Class of 2021 (Harvard Class of 2025)

 
 

Portrait of a Graduate

 In 2020, Lowell Public Schools received a grant from the Barr Foundation to support a yearlong community-engagement process that involved hundreds of students, families, and community members in the exploration of knowledge, skills, values, and mindsets that Lowell students need to be successful in all areas of adult life. The project culminated in a community-developed Portrait of a Graduate that articulated what high school graduates need to know and be able to do to thrive as learners, workers, and leaders in the 21st century.

Check out the final Portrait of a Graduate below!

 

Four core principles shaped the project:

  1. Engaged Community: Community involvement, expertise, and passion are instrumental to the success of every student, and our educators, parents, and community members know best what our graduates need to succeed.

  2. Shared Values: We’re in this together. As a community, we are all deeply invested in the success of our graduates. Together, we can create a new vision for learning that truly represents our community’s values.

  3. New Priorities: New challenges and new jobs require new priorities. As our economy and communities change, we must adapt to ensure that every student graduates from high school prepared for success in life.

  4. Innovative Learning: Our students don’t just learn in school—they learn at home, in the community, and in the workplace. We want our students to graduate with the imagination, skillsets, and adaptability that will help them thrive as creators, entrepreneurs, and leaders in today’s complex world.

 

Early Learning 

Lowell Loves to Learn promotes increased enrollment in early education programs and stronger kindergarten readiness throughout the city of Lowell. One program, BookNooks, has helped to distribute more than 39,000 free books to children in Lowell since 2017 using well-stocked bookshelves located in family-friendly locations across the city. Research has shown that having books at home can improve a child’s reading achievement and long-term academic success, and learning to read at an early age can help foster a lifelong love of learning. Each year, Project LEARN raises funding to purchase new books, organizes book-donation drives, and helps coordinate the distribution of BookNooks books.

Youth Leadership

 

Students Making Change is a youth-led initiative that pairs adult mentors with Lowell High School students to learn about the history and social dynamics of race and racism in America, and then design and deliver antiracism workshops and presentations to peer groups, community members, and school faculty and staff.

Project LEARN recognizes that helping all students—and especially our students of color—recognize, name, understand, and challenge racial bias, prejudice, and discrimination must be central to their educational experience.

Antiracist literacy is no longer optional for our young people; it must be considered as essential as reading or writing.

 

Students Making Change:

  • Involves youth in every step of the process—from planning and organizing to advocacy and action—by providing training, mentorship, and real opportunities to lead, not just learn about leadership from adults.

  • Utilizes developmentally appropriate, research-based approaches to mentorship that help students analyze, understand, and constructively navigate and challenge racism and other forms of prejudice and discrimination.

  • Fosters a culture of dialogue, listening, and reflection that helps build stronger relationships, mutual understanding, and trust between young people and adults.

Alumni Relations 

Project LEARN amplifies the work and reach of the Lowell High School Alumni Association by providing opportunities for alumni to network and connect alumni to current students, and by promoting ways that Lowell High School alumni can create a legacy through philanthropy and volunteerism. We are always seeking ideas from our alumni and learning more about how to connect them meaningfully with Lowell High students.

Lowell High School Distinguished Alumni Award

The Alumni Association also honors individuals who have attended or graduated from Lowell High School and have distinguished themselves through personal or professional accomplishments and contributions to their community or country. To learn more about the award or nominate an alumnus for consideration, visit the Lowell High School website.

If you want to get involved or learn more: