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City program wins $700,000 grant to assist troubled youth

By LORI GIGUERE, Sun Correspondent
Lowell Sun

LOWELL -- For Stephen Frost, YouthBuild is about more than just learning a trade.

"I wanted to do something with my life," Frost said of his life before joining YouthBuild. "I was in an out of lockup. It wasn't fun."

Frost is now working toward his GED and plans to attend Middlesex Community College to pursue a degree in art or architecture.

"Now I'm studying every day," he said. "YouthBuild is a safe place for me to go, and it keeps me out of trouble."

Frost was one of more than a dozen YouthBuild students on hand Wednesday to accept a check for $700,000 for the program from U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan and Mayor Bill Martin. The grant will continue to fund YouthBuild, which provides education, counseling and job training for low-income youth, many of whom have not completed high school.

The grant will also help to fund training and education for 65 new students and to build a new duplex home in Lowell.

"The YouthBuild program here in Lowell is a model for other programs around the country," said Meehan.

Not only does YouthBuild provide educational opportunities, it also provides affordable housing for low-income families.

Students and officials gathered at the site of YouthBuild's most recent community service project at 205 Worthen St. Students completed the demolition work on the former rooming house, which will be converted into three affordable condo units for low-income families.

In Lowell, YouthBuild is overseen by Community Teamwork Inc., the area's largest and most diverse antipoverty agency. Karen Frederick, CTI executive director, said in its previous life, 205 Worthen St. used to be a hot spot for police. But that's about to change.

"I couldn't be happier," said Martin. "Those of you who haven't been around here or looked around here lately will see a lot of changes."

"It is not enough to appropriate money," said Meehan. "You need to go out and see the partnerships working."

Meanwhile, other YouthBuild members said the program is working. Carl Gianelli has been with YouthBuild since January. Now 22, Gianelli, dropped out of high school at 17, but he took his first GED test Saturday.

"I think it went pretty good," he said. "You can apply (what you learn). And someone always helps you in the areas you need the most help."