Lawrence Partnership

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Lawrence Partnership

Nonprofit organization focused on creating an inclusive economy for the Lawrence residents.

The City of Lawrence is fortunate to have many individuals and organizations doing important and effective work to improve education, address poverty and hunger, and preserve and promote the city’s environment, rich history, and culture. Still, no single leader, company, school, or community organization can do everything that’s needed to attract more businesses into the city, support and grow the

ones that are already here, create more jobs, and plan and implement the kinds of improvement to our infrastructure that will make Lawrence the most vibrant and successful community in the Merrimack Valley—and in the northeast. That’s why a little over a year ago a group of presidents, CEOs and executive directors of banks, mills, businesses, schools, and community organizations in Lawrence, along with elected officials, came together to create a new private-public sector collaboration, modeled after similarly successful ventures in Lowell, Salem, and other cities that have experienced significant revitalization. The Lawrence Partnership is focused on economic development and improving the quality of life in the city, with an emphasis on generating ideas, investment, and action.

05/27/2026

TOMORROW / MAÑANA [bilingual message/mensaje bilingüe] 🗓️ Acompáñenos el jueves 28 de mayo, de 5-7pm, en el edificio Dimitry del Essex Community College (45 Franklin Street), donde hablaremos sobre la Educación en Lawrence como parte de la serie "Conozca su Ciudad," con:

🗣️ Joanna de Peña, M.Ed - Fundadora y Directora Ejecutiva de Top Notch Scholars

Agregue a su calendario: bit.ly/4eYlOZU

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🗓️ Join us on Thursday, May 28th from 5-7pm at Northern Essex Community College's Dimitry Building (45 Franklin Street) as we discuss Education in Lawrence as part of the "Know Your City" series with:

🗣️ Joanna de Peña, M.Ed - Founder & CEO, Top Notch Scholars

Add to your calendar: bit.ly/4eYlOZU

05/26/2026

Last Call for Sponsors! (If you want to be included in print materials) 🗓 PRINTING DEADLINE: May 31st

In 2026, we're doubling down on our commitment to make Lawrence a model of economic opportunity and vibrant community life. Our mission remains the same: to create lasting employment opportunities and pathways to upward mobility for our residents.

This year, we’re focused on three strategic priorities:
🔹 Workforce Development – Aligning training programs with industry needs to create direct career pathways.
🔹 Educational Attainment – Expanding early college access and supporting student achievement.
🔹 Community Engagement – Deepening connections among residents, businesses, and civic leaders.

We’ve made great strides—but there’s still more to accomplish. Join us at our Annual Meeting to celebrate progress and help shape what’s next. Your sponsorship fuels real change—let’s build the future of Lawrence, together.

Warm regards,

The Lawrence Partnership Annual Meeting Subcommittee
Socrates De La Cruz
Gary Sidell
Lesly Melendez

05/22/2026

Looking for your next career opportunity? Several organizations represented on the Lawrence Partnership Board are currently hiring across a variety of industries and experience levels. From nonprofit and education to healthcare, finance, and community development, there are exciting opportunities to grow your career while making an impact in our community.

Take a look at the open positions and share with someone who may be searching for their next step: lawrencepartnership.org/localjobs

05/13/2026

Announcing our 2026 Rising Star Awardees 💫 LP Annual Meeting: bit.ly/LPAnnualMtg26

Pati Fernández is a fundraising leader with more than 17 years of experience advancing mission-driven organizations across education and the nonprofit sector. She has held development roles at Belmont Day School, The Pike School, Elder Services of the Merrimack (now AgeSpan), and Wediko Children’s Services, where she built a strong foundation in cultivating philanthropic partnerships and driving sustainable growth.

As Chief Development Officer at Esperanza Academy,, a tuition-free, all-girls independent school in Lawrence, MA, Pati leads strategy at the intersection of philanthropy, equity, and organizational growth. In partnership with school leadership, she has helped advance key fundraising milestones and support the school’s expansion, including a new building project that will increase access for students and families this fall.

Known for her strategic mindset and relationship-driven approach, Pati is a bridge-builder who brings together individuals, institutions, and the community to invest in long-term change. She is especially passionate about ensuring that growth is matched by deep, sustained support for underserved communities. Her future focus includes expanding educational opportunities and fostering community resilience through strategic partnerships.

A proud Lawrence native and first-generation Dominican-American, Pati is deeply committed to the community that shaped her. She extends her impact through board and advisory roles over the years with organizations including Community InRoads, Lawrence Family Charter School, Greater Lawrence Technical School, Groundwork Lawrence, Essex County Habitat for Humanity, Northern Essex Community College, The Children’s Room, and Raising a Reader Massachusetts.

05/12/2026

Announcing our 2026 Rising Star Awardees 💫 LP Annual Meeting: bit.ly/LPAnnualMtg26

Michael Bastien is the Founder & CEO of Brothers in Arms Men’s Support Circle, a community-rooted organization advancing men’s mental health, restorative practices, and generational transformation. Since 2022, the organization has served over 250 men and youth in-person through circles, leadership development, and community-based programming.

Under his leadership, Brothers in Arms has grown from $36,000 to over a quarter million in one year, expanding its reach, programs, and impact. He is also Co-Founder of the Juneteenth Arts & Awareness Festival, which draws over 1,000 attendees annually.

Michael leads organizational strategy, partnerships, and program development, with a focus on building sustainable systems that drive long-term community impact. A key initiative is the Fatherhood Relief Fund, where he is currently leading a crowdfunding effort with over $10,000 raised to support fathers facing financial hardship—paired with financial literacy, life skills, and long-term empowerment. His philosophy is simple: teach fathers how to fish, not just feed them.

He is currently a LEADS Fellow and has completed Tier 1 & 2 Restorative Justice Training at Suffolk University. Michael is also a graduate of Northern Essex Community College and the Institute for Nonprofit Practice’s Core Certificate Program.

Looking ahead, he is exploring ways to integrate technology with in-person programming to expand access while maintaining a strong, community-centered approach, with a long-term vision to reach one million men nationwide.

05/11/2026

Announcing our 2026 Rising Star Awardees 💫 LP Annual Meeting: bit.ly/LPAnnualMtg26

Niorka Mendez-Almonte is the Deputy Administrator at Merrimack Valley Transit (MeVa), where she supports the work of a fare-free regional public transportation system serving 16 municipalities across the Merrimack Valley. In her role, she works with agency leadership on operations, communications, and projects focused on improving service for riders throughout the region.

She began her career at MeVa in 2014 as a bus operator, an experience that gave her a strong understanding of the day-to-day realities of public transit and the needs of the people it serves. Over the years, she has grown within the organization through a series of leadership roles in marketing and communications before becoming Deputy Administrator in 2024. She is the first Latina to serve in that position.

Throughout her time at MeVa, Niorka has had the opportunity to contribute to several important initiatives, including the agency’s bilingual rebrand, its transition to fare-free service, and efforts to improve access and communication for riders. She also wrote two MassDOT grants that funded the installation of 34 bus shelters in Lawrence, Amesbury, Groveland, Haverhill, North Andover, and Salisbury.

In addition to her work at MeVa, Niorka serves as a board member of Latinos In Transit - LIT, an organization that supports leadership development and professional growth in the transit industry.

Originally from the Dominican Republic and now living in Lawrence, Niorka is bilingual in English and Spanish. She is grateful for the opportunities she has had to grow through public transportation and remains committed to work that helps connect people to opportunity, services, and community.

05/08/2026

Did you receive our April-May Newsletter? 📰 Be the first to receive updates from the Lawrence Partnership along with exclusive opportunities by signing up for our newsletter today! 📲 lawrencepartnership.org/updates

05/04/2026

[mensaje bilingüe/bilingual message] 🗓️ Join us on Thursday, May 28th from 5-7pm at Northern Essex Community College's Dimitry Building (45 Franklin Street) as we discuss Education in Lawrence as part of the "Know Your City" series with:

🗣️ Joanna de Peña, M.Ed - Founder & CEO, Top Notch Scholars

Add to your calendar: bit.ly/4eYlOZU

----------------------

🗓️ Acompáñenos el jueves 28 de mayo, de 5-7pm, en el edificio Dimitry del Northern Essex Community College (45 Franklin Street), donde hablaremos sobre la Educación en Lawrence como parte de la serie "Conozca su Ciudad," con:

🗣️ Joanna de Peña, M.Ed - Fundadora y Directora Ejecutiva de Top Notch Scholars

Agregue a su calendario: bit.ly/4eYlOZU

04/16/2026

Chet Szablak is a Merrimack Valley native. He has enjoyed a banking career that has spanned over 40 years. During the early years of his career, Chet worked as a credit analyst, credit manager, commercial lender, and commercial lending team leader. Over the course of his career, Chet has successfully loaned hundreds of millions of dollars to Massachusetts and New Hampshire businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals.

Chet joined Enterprise Bank in 1998 with the task of building a sales culture. Over a 27-year period, Chet was part of the Enterprise team that grew the bank from 6 branches and $300 million in assets to 27 branches and over $6 billion in assets under management. As the bank’s Executive Vice President, Chief Sales, Community and Customer Experience Officer, Chet oversaw the bank’s sales, marketing, corporate communications, brand management, customer experience, philanthropy, and community volunteerism. He was a member of the bank’s executive management team and was responsible for several key client relationships.

With the combination of Enterprise Bank and Rockland Trust, Chet has remained active as a market executive, assisting Rockland Trust with community and client relationships post-merger.

📲 Read more on our website: bit.ly/LPAnnualMtg26

2026 LP Annual Meeting
Tuesday, June 16, 10:30am-1:30pm
Central Catholic High School

REGISTER 🔹 SPONSOR 🔹 DONATE: bit.ly/LPAnnualMtg26

04/09/2026

We’re grateful to Central Catholic High School for generously serving as our location host for the 2026 Lawrence Partnership Annual Meeting on June 16th!

Your support helps bring our community together to celebrate progress, collaboration, and the work ahead. Thank you for opening your doors and being such an important partner in this event!

2026 LP Annual Meeting
Tuesday, June 16, 10:30am-1:30pm
Central Catholic High School

REGISTER 🔹 SPONSOR 🔹 DONATE: bit.ly/LPAnnualMtg26

Address

420 Common Street
Lawrence, MA
01840

Telephone

(978) 655-5824

Website

http://lawrencepartnership.org/

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