A Lowell Police officer and a cadet share a laugh with a young man during Youth Outreach Day last year, which was partially funded by Shannon Community Safety Initiative funds. (Courtesy Lowell Police Department) 
Shannon Community Safety Initiative Funding provides major support to a program that offers swimming lessons to city youth. (Courtesy Lowell Police Department) 
Grant funding from the Shannon Community Safety Initiative provides major support to a riding program for at-risk youth at Ironstone Farm each year. (Courtesy Lowell Police Department) Shannon Community Safety Initiative grant funds are used to support Lowell Police Youth Services and the Lowell Police Department’s boxing gym.
LOWELL — Acting Superintendent Barry Golner reports that the Lowell Police Department received $739,150 from the Shannon Community Safety Initiative, marking the 17th year Lowell has received support from the Executive Office of Public Safety for implementing a comprehensive anti-gang and youth violence prevention strategy.
In Lowell, Shannon Grant funding is used to pay for proactive neighborhood patrols in areas identified as youth and gang violence hot spots, part of two crime analyst positions, overtime for youth outreach officers, and to support community organizations that support city youth. The funding enables Lowell Police to continue a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy for preventing gang and youth violence.
Among the community organizations receiving support from Shannon Grant funds are:
- Lowell Public Schools: Grant funds will support a before and after school tutoring program.
- Lowell Recreation Department: Grant funds will support 13 Summer Program staff members and seven supervisors.
- MassHire: MassHire will place 35 youth in jobs that provide employment skills, experience, and career readiness.
- Lowell Community Health Center Teen Block: Lowell Community Health Center’s Teen BLOCK program will serve 15 youth and focus on strengthening coping skills.
- Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association: CMAA’s Rising Stars program will serve about 100 Cambodian youth through an exciting summer camp focused on developing leadership skills and staying away from drugs and gangs.
- Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell: The BGC will serve approximately 350 youth with educational support, after school activities, and a Teen Night program.
- YWCA: The YWCA will provide after school programming for about 10 DCF-involved youth.
- UTEC, Inc.: UTEC will fund a HiSET Program and Drop-in Enrichment Program to serve 95 youth.
Shannon Community Safety Initiative funds will also support Lowell Police Youth Services, and several individual programs operated under the LPYS umbrella.
Programs that receive support from Shannon Grant funds include:
- A horse-riding program for at-risk youth at Ironstone Farm
- Funding for a swimming lesson program offered in the summer in Lowell
- Supporting the Lowell Police Summer Student Police Academy for students in grades 5-8
- Covering overtime for School Resource Officers to attend after-school events
- Covering overtime for Lowell Police Youth Services events
- Covering overtime for proactive patrols focusing on gang activity, investigations and critical incident response
- Portions of two crime analyst positions, a program manager and a research analyst
“The support the Lowell Police Department has received from the Shannon Community Safety Initiative over the past 17 years has proven to be transformational,” said Acting Superintendent Barry Golner. “This funding has enabled Lowell Police to become a leader in youth interaction and social intervention via programs like our Youth Police Academy and Lowell Police Youth Services, while also focusing proactive patrols in youth and gang violence hot spots utilizing data provided by the crime analysts in a multi-pronged approach to battling gangs and youth violence in our community. We are extremely grateful to the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for the continued, effective and vital support.”
About the Shannon Community Safety Initiative:
Since 2006, the Massachusetts Legislature has appropriated funds to support the Massachusetts Shannon Community Safety Initiative in an effort to reduce gang violence across the Commonwealth. The Shannon Community Safety Initiative provides funding to communities throughout Massachusetts to address their gang and youth violence problems. In these communities, public institutions such as police and school departments and community organizations undertake multi-pronged efforts directed at five strategy areas: Social intervention, Suppression, Opportunity Provision, Organizational Change, and Community Mobilization. To learn more, click here.