Engagement and Empowerment Program

CBA’s Engagement and Empowerment Program is dedicated to equipping residents of CBA properties, Acre neighborhood residents, and the broader Lowell community with the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to actively participate in civic, economic, and social initiatives. The program focuses on amplifying resident voices, building local leadership, and empowering individuals to engage in decision-making processes that directly impact their neighborhoods. Through workshops, training sessions, and community-led projects, CBA fosters a collaborative environment where residents can strengthen their influence in areas such as local governance, economic development, and social justice.

Annual Events include:

Volunteer Appreciation

This event is focused on celebrating our volunteers and their unwavering support for our organization. Together we celebrate and honor them.

Annual Acre Cleanup

This event is focused on bringing the community together to clean up a part of the Acre area of Lowell. Event participation is open to all and encourages volunteers from community members and local community partners.

Acre Fest

In collaboration with NeighborWorks and other community partners, Acre Fest provides community members with access to a variety of resources in the city of Lowell. It is open to all Acre residents and the broader Lowell community.

National Night Out

In collaboration with Lowell Housing Authority and local neighborhood group ACTION (Acre Coming Together to Improve Our Neighborhood), this national event aims to build connections between the community and first responders. It is open to all Acre residents and the Lowell community.

Annual Meeting

Collaboratively planned by Acre community members and CBA staff, this meeting brings together the CBA Board and members to conduct the year end board meeting, hold elections, and share the year’s successes.

CHOP

The Community Health Outreach Program (CHOP) is a free community event aimed at fostering connections, providing resources, and promoting health awareness. Hosted by CBA, in collaboration with local partners, CHOP invites individuals and families from all walks of life to come together and celebrate the richness of our diverse community and features a variety of resource providers who will share information about health services, wellness programs, and other valuable community support systems. Translation services are always available.

Community Swap

This bi-annual event is an opportunity for the Acre community to both donate new or lightly used clothes, household items, etc., and bring home any items that they need.

Our Most Popular Events

Resident Support:

Resident outreach is another a core piece of CBA’s Community Outreach programming, to identify and address community needs, elevating community voice, and provide basic walk-in services in English, Spanish, and Khmer.

Basic walk-in services include

Referrals to other local resources and organizations

Registration assistance with social services. Examples: SNAP, Mass Health, etc.

Translation support for immigrant community members

Key Program Components:

Latin Empowerment

Assistance for non-English speakers to navigate:

Registry of Motor Vehicles
Social Security

Department of Transitional Assistance

MassHealth/Medicaid

Programs for Seniors

Getting involved:

CBA Membership

Open to anyone who works or lives in the Merrimack Valley, CBA membership includes various social mini events throughout the year and discounts at 8 local small businesses.

Check out our membership program here

CBA Ambassador Program

This year-round program consists of eight team members who act as the eyes, ears, and voice of the community and CBA, bridging the gap between the two.

Get involved here

Community organizing and mobilizing around community needs

Annual NeighborWorks Community Leadership Institute trip for community leaders.

The Annual NeighborWorks Community Leadership Institute (CLI) is a training event that aims to strengthen the voices and skills of community, resident, and volunteer leaders from coast to coast. Participants attend in teams of eight members and each participating team will create a community project to effectively bring their newly gained skills and knowledge to effect sustainable positive change where they live, work, play and worship.

Voter education and mobilization

Voter education and engagement activities occur annually in English and Spanish to be made accessible for those historically underrepresented in local leadership and decision-making.
Annual participation in MACDC Lobby Day and Doughnuts with Delegates
CBA is a member of the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC) learn more about the organization and Lobby Day here.
Members of Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) to support newcomers and immigrants in Lowell, MA. Learn more about MIRA here.
Empower and Empoderados Leadership Trainings
A 9-week resident leadership program offered in English and Spanish. Empower is implemented in partnership with Lowell Alliance and Empoderados is led by CBA. Both training series gather budding and established community leaders of diverse backgrounds to enrich community bonds, build engagement in the Acre, and run two annual graduate-led community programs. Topics covered include interacting with local government, running meetings, and inclusion methods.
Community outreach and education
Designed to actively engage and educate the Acre and larger Lowell community with knowledge, resources, tools and support to foster awareness, growth and collective action around topics and issues informed by community input and need.