Lowell Community Health Center’s after-school and summer Teen Building Leadership Opportunities in the Community (BLOCK) supports the healthy development of young people and empowers them to become leaders in the community. Teen BLOCK serves over 70 high-school-age youths. The program helps teens to make healthy choices, embrace civic engagement by advocating for policies and programs that improve public health, graduate high school and pursue post-secondary education and embrace the variety of cultures that make Lowell unique. In December, the health center’s Developing Leaders Council, a group of young professionals held a Winter Mixer social, raising $4,378 to support Teen BLOCK overnight youth retreats. These free retreats give urban teens the chance to experience nature, challenge themselves on ropes courses and climbing walls, and reflect on future dreams and goals.
“Many of the youth we serve never travel beyond Lowell,” noted Teen BLOCK Director Ruth Ogembo. “They can’t believe the stars at night or the fact that there are no streetlights. They really get to unplug and relax in a way they can’t do at home.”
For more information about Lowell CHC Teen BLOCK, visit http://www.lchealth.org/patients/connect-services/adolescent-health-services/teen-block-youth-programs.
The Developing Leaders Council is a group of young professionals who learn about nonprofit Board service while working to increase community awareness of and support for the health center. For information about joining the DLC, contact Clare Gunther at claregu@lchealth.org or 978.746.7891.
