Groundwork Lawrence is a nonprofit organization devoted to bringing about “the sustained regeneration, improvement and management of the physical environment by developing community-based partnerships which empower people, businesses and other organizations to promote environmental, economic and social well-being,” as our mission statement proclaims. To this end, we strive to spread the word of our many events and programs.
Community and Volunteer Events – 2010 Calendar
May 1-Fiesta de Salud
Come to the Lawrence Senior Center on Haverhill Street from 10 am-2 pm for a family-friendly health fair sponsored by the Diabetes Coalition. Fun activities, healthy snacks, screenings, information, and more. Groundwork Lawrence will be present–so come learn about our many community programs!
May 12-Community Screening and Discussion of FRESH The Movie
Interested in what you can do to change our country’s current food system? Come view this “fresh” new film which is packed with helpful ideas of how to take action-at Chester’s (60 Island Street, Lawrence) from 6-8 pm. Refreshments served, discussion to follow the film. Suggested donation is $10 and all proceeds will benefit Groundwork Lawrence’s Share-a-Share Program, which subsidizes the cost of CSA shares for those with financial need, providing fresh healthy food to those who need it the most.
May 15, 1:00 – 3:00 PM – The Mighty Merrimack
Lawrence Heritage State Park , 1 Jackson Street, Lawrence, MA
Step out this spring! Join Essex Heritage for a walk along Lawrence’s North canal with DCR interpreter, Jim Beauchesne. Discover the power potential of the Merrimack River, historic textile mills, and the formative history of the industrial revolution that lives on through thoughtfully assembled interpretive exhibits and preserved artifacts. We begin at the restored boardinghouse, now home to the Lawrence Heritage State Park Visitor Center. Follow Jim’s lead along the esplanade of a nineteenth-century canal, past giant mills, in the footsteps of the Bread & Roses strikers, to the base of the Great Stone Dam. See this 19th-century engineering wonder from a new and not often visited perspective. A ~1 mile round trip, all within a National Historic Register district! For more info and to register for the event, see: http://www.essexheritage.org/explorers/index.shtml
June 1- CSA Registration Deadline
June 5- Community Gardens Opening Day
Community gardeners gather to celebrate the opening of GWL-managed community gardens and the beginning of the growing season with workshops and seedling-plantings.
June 12- Kite Festival, 11am – 3pm
The Kite Festival hosted in partnership with Lawrence Heritage State Park and Lawrence Summer Meals Program, is a family-friendly event that includes free kite-making and kite-flying (with Archie Stewart of Kite Education) at Pemberton Park, located on the banks of the Merrimack River. The event features lunch courtesy of the Summer Meals Program, face-painting, music and free trolley rides. Youth volunteers are needed to help with kite-making.
June 28 – Green Team Summer Begins
June 15 – October 26: Regular CSA Season Pick Up (tentative dates)
2010 CSA Members receive their first share from Farmer Dave (Dracut, MA). Pick-up location at 60 Island Street from 3:00 – 7:00 PM; continues every Tuesday through October 26.
July 7- October 27: Farmers Market
The Lawrence Downtown Farmers Market will open on July 7 and continue every Wednesday through October 27. Market hours are 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Location: Appleton Way between Essex and Common Streets, near City Hall, which is located at 200 Common Street.
August 2-3: National Night Out
GWL participates in National Night Out activities.
September 11 – 9th Annual Spicket River Greenway Cleanup
In partnership with the City of Lawrence and local schools, community groups, and businesses, this annual event brings together hundreds of volunteers to remove trash, debris and invasive plants from the banks of the Spicket River and the developing Greenway.
October 16 – World Food Day USA
October Community Gardens Closing Day
Community gardeners gather at GWL-managed community gardens to celebrate the season’s harvest and memories with a potluck and begin to clean up gardens for the season.
Nov.- Dec: Winter CSA Season Pick Up
November 8 – Eco- Art Submissions for Glow Gala are due
November 18 – Glow Gala and Annual Fundraiser (6:30-10:00)
Help us celebrate another year of successful projects, partnerships, and programs. Support Groundwork Lawrence while dancing, bidding on eco-art by local artists and youth, and entering to win fantastic raffle prizes at Chester’s, 60 Island St., Lawrence, MA.
For more information, please visit the Groundwork Lawrence website.