SISU: A place of hope and renewal By Dalia Díaz

SISU: A place of hope and renewal

By Dalia Díaz
Lawrence is a small city full of pleasant surprises if you look around. Sometimes,
in the least expected places, you find talent, hard work, and success stories lifting your
heart to a sense of hope and admiration.
We walk by the old Lawrence Plate and Glass building at 417 Canal St. with a
single sign, SISU, and I bet that most people have no idea what has become of the old
store and what goes on inside. SISU’s YouthBuild Lawrence is a youth development
program established thirty years ago by former superintendent of the Lawrence Family
Development Charter School Ralph Carrero, who had a dream, and this is what it has
become.
Being invited to a Christmas celebration with staff and young members was a
privilege. The learning received filled me with pride that such a place exists in our
confines. After a brief rundown, you can appreciate the photos and better understand
what they create there.
It may seem like a recreation center or club for young people, but they must
adapt to many rules to attend. Depending on their behavior, they could earn benefits or
even money. One of those benefits is getting a haircut from a barber who comes once a
week to take care of their appearance.
They can play video games, play pool, create and record their music, and stay as
long as they want. These are young people who dropped out of school at a very early
age, some were involved in gangs, and others did a short stint in jail. SISU is keeping
them out of trouble and away from those negative influences in the streets.
Some of these members acquired their high school equivalent, and I met a young
man who attends Framingham State University, which is not an isolated case.
They learn about carpentry skills that are so important for future employment.
Many of them didn’t know the tools or even how to hold a hammer. Now, look at the
Adirondack chairs in the picture; all made by them. The goal is to train them for future
employment.
The Screen Printing Shop has a five-head printing press where they learn
valuable techniques. They print shirts for local groups like Greater Lawrence Technical
School and Lawrence Police Department. Also, the 8-head embroidery machine does a
professional job for local teams as well.

In the recording studio, they learn to write and program their creations, having an
opportunity to work with the latest recording technology, instilling in them the dreams
many at that age have of becoming famous.
They presented me with the reality of students who are homeless and were
having difficulties washing their clothes to be presentable at SISU. They created a
laundry room with several washers and dryers to avoid missing attendance.
During the pandemic, there was an emergency for some girls who had babies
and could not find formula. The staff spread the word and received formula donations
for their babies, cribs, car seats, and everything else. It grew to the point that it
continues to this day, and they have a room full of donations when needed.
SISU Basketball attracts many players, with 250 registered. Their practice occurs
at Lawrence Prospera’s gyms at 400 Haverhill St., and 580 Haverhill St. Local
basketball enthusiasts run the program: SISU’s Program Director, Dan Halloran, and
Program Coordinator Luis Perez.
The SISU Basketball Program staff is more than just coaches and officials. They
are mentors, role models, case managers, and outreach workers. They are trained in
the SISU Way, guiding players in strong decision-making both on and off the court. They
teach communication, conflict management, and time management. While they are not
clinicians, they know when to ask questions and when to listen; and they know that not
every issue begins and ends on the court.
They are trained to recognize when a player is acting or reacting in response to
trauma in their environment, and they are prepared to help that player manage their
emotions in a positive and pro-social manner. They do have a clinician on staff to
handle the psychological needs of the members.
A visit to the kitchen produced another surprise when they told me that they
serve over 6,000 daily meals to charter schools and other places.
Funded primarily by grants, the instructors follow a curriculum designed to teach
young people all facets of business and the soft skills that will help them succeed in
whatever job they choose.
There’s a lot to see at SISU, and I recommend researching our archives for
articles that have been published about them. But there’s no comparison with being
there. You may ask them to give you a tour of the building. You’ll be amazed!