LOWELL — When UTEC began as the United Teen Equality Center in 1999, it was a safe place where teenagers could go to engage in different activities after school without worry about the gang violence that plagued the city.
Two decades later, its numerous social enterprise and workforce development components are vital pieces of a growing organization that remains committed to the Merrimack Valley.
On Wednesday night, roughly 400 people gathered at UTEC’s main program center in downtown Lowell to celebrate the organization’s 20th anniversary.
Among those honored during the anniversary gala were a group of individuals who helped UTEC get off the ground in 1999, known as “Club 99.” Among them was JuanCarlos Rivera, who now serves as director of operations for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell.
Rivera remembered the day the community center first opened in 1999, and 300 kids were at the door. Rivera points out, with a laugh, all they had was one basketball. To address the overwhelming scenario, organizers had the kids break up into groups to talk about what they wanted UTEC to be.
“Throughout the whole history of UTEC, it has always been about making sure young people can provide feedback on what they want UTEC to be,” Rivera said.
“I think we always hoped UTEC would someday have the impact it has today, but I don’t think anybody ever really imagined it would become what it turned into,” he added.
During Wednesday night’s anniversary gala, UTEC honored a group of leaders on the state and national level who reinforced their message that violence is not normal by serving as advocates for gun violence prevention and criminal justice reform.
Wednesday night’s keynote speaker was former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who represented the 8th District of Arizona from 2006-2012. While in a meeting in 2011 in her hometown of Tucson, she survived an assassination attempt where six people died and 13 were severely injured, including herself.
The Giffords Organization was established and is considered a catalyst in the growing campaign against gun violence.
“Like UTEC, (Giffords) is no stranger to perseverance,” said U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, who addressed gala attendees Wednesday night. “She has channeled her adversity into a full-fledged movement to make our communities safer from the scourge of gun violence, and she has inspired our nation along the way.”
Gov. Charlie Baker, Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Robert DeLeo were also honored for their work to create a new $10 million Neighborhood-Based Gun Violence Prevention line item in the state budget.
“(UTEC) has been an incredible partner with us up at the Statehouse as we have tackled gun safety, criminal justice reform and so many other issues that face this commonwealth,” DeLeo said. “Together, we have made Massachusetts a safer place to live and work by closing loopholes, enhancing school safety and improving access to criminal mental health services.”
Local groups were also honored during the event, including the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, which has served as a leading advocate for criminal justice reform, expungement and young-adult justice.
“I’m proud to say that throughout these years, one of our most consistent messages has been that violence is not normal,” said Gregg Croteau, who has served as CEO of UTEC for close to 20 years.
Croteau was hired in early 2000 by the original group of youths who came together to create UTEC. The organization began with a $40,000 grant from the city. Today, it has an $8 million annual budget.
Partnerships have been key throughout UTEC’s history. In the beginning, Croteau said Community Teamwork Inc. provided free fiscal management for the first five years, and Saint Anne’s Episcopal Church donated space before UTEC took on the project of renovating and adding onto the former St. Paul’s Methodist Church, which remains its headquarters.
Neighborhood leaders like the late Steve Pearlswig and Kathy Muldoon also stepped forward to provide their support and lead the board of directors, Croteau said.
Streetworkers, first employed by the city, did outreach work and gang peacemaking, and the drop-in center was a safe haven for the youth.
About 10 years in, UTEC reassessed and decided it would focus on young adults ages 17-25. Reducing recidivism and helping young adults on their journey for education and employment became the key goals, necessitating a full-day program.
Since then, UTEC has opened three social enterprises which provide training and job opportunities for young adults with criminal records and others who have difficulties entering the workforce. In the fiscal year that ended June 30, these enterprises earned $1 million in revenue, Croteau said.
The long-term recidivism rate of UTEC-enrolled young adults averages less than 15 percent. At the state level, 52 percent of young adults (ages 18-24) from jails and 56 percent from state prisons will be arraigned on new charges within one year of release.
Of the young adults enrolled in UTEC programming in fiscal 2018, 97 percent had no new convictions or technical violations; 88 percent had no new arrests; and 63 percent earned at least one industry certification.
UTEC is currently working on a young adult probation pilot with the state and has recently launched a statewide Center for Excellence focused on advancing violence prevention efforts.
Follow Aaron Curtis on Twitter @aselahcurtis
