By: Dariana D. Guerrero

In Lawrence, the Ayer Mill Clock Tower stands over the Merrimack River, guardian of time, symbol of industry, the clock tower reminds Lawrencians of our roots both in the industrial revolution and in the labor movement. If we imagine the currents of change in Lawrence as a heartbeat, the pulse of creative ingenuity and political action will never end, it is what keeps us alive. Lawrence’s history as a major stakeholder in the industrial revolution made it also susceptible to the scourge of industrial pollutants that trickled their way into our soil, our waterways, and our air. It is a hard truth we must acknowledge, rectify, and heal. When GWL was first founded in 1999, championing the health and wellness of every resident in Lawrence was not just an aspirational goal but a systemic necessity as we worked to mitigate almost 200 years of environmental consequences. Since 2007, through the Calles Verde/Green Streets Program, Groundwork Lawrence has planted 6,123 trees– these are roots of liberation and justice that create a healthier city, healthier residents, and healthier soil.

Defining why changing systems is necessary, Alejandra Juárez-Díaz, Community Engagement Manager, articulates, “The system does not serve everyone that is affected by it. Not everyone can benefit from it […] how do we move from a system of equality to a system of equity?” While the Groundwork Trusts have facilitated systemic change in our respective communities, it was in 2018 that the organizational tagline “Changing places, Changing lives” received a new addition “Changing systems.” As Executive Director Lesly Melendez notes, “[…] it was important to name something we already do. By naming and calling out who we are, we hold ourselves accountable to all of our stakeholders and the very people who we serve in our community.”

When asked for just a singular moment that exemplifies this systemic change, Lesly had this to say, “We’ve been working with partners across the state since 2012 to implement HIP as part of the state legislature and budget.” HIP is the Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Program which puts money back on your EBT card when you use SNAP to buy healthy, local fruits and vegetables from HIP farm vendors [1]. The program aimed at making healthier foods like fruits and vegetables more accessible to residents who are already enrolled in SNAP benefits to incentivize them to spend their money at vendors like farmers markets, farm stands, mobile markets, and community-supported agriculture farm share programs who participate in the program. The GWL Farmers Markets are one place where residents can use their HIP benefits to stretch their dollars and buy fresh produce from local farmers highlighting their businesses, enhancing their healthy living, and supporting the local economy. Lesly adds an important note about this systemic change stating, “Just because we’ve made this change doesn’t mean we stop the fight. If we become complacent the change goes away. National change doesn’t happen without local action.”

Lesly’s words remind me of something I read by our featured “Changing Systems” author Angela Davis, liberationist and professor emerita at the University of California, Santa Cruz. In “Freedom is a Constant Struggle,” Angela Davis reminds her audience that freedom has never been attained individually but as a collective, as she states, “We will have to go to great lengths. We cannot go on as usual. We cannot pivot the center. We cannot be moderate. We will have to be willing to stand up and say no with our combined spirits, our collective intellects, and our many bodies.” (Davis, 2016). Davis’ words call us to the vanguard of change, the repetition of “We” bringing all of us together united–that is the power of collective action, that is the power of changing systems; Davis reminds us that to achieve freedom, we will have to act using our collective power–our spirits, our intellects, our bodies to achieve liberation from oppression.

Lesly believes we all can make changes in our communities, and no action is too small or too big to start making a difference locally. She offers some words of advice for folks who want to act but do not know where to start noting, “Find folks who have served on boards, who understand the history of their city. Start with the resources at hand. Talk with us. Ask the tough questions. There are folks who will help guide you. It’s ok to feel all of our feelings but don’t stay there. Learn from them. The system is designed to tear us apart, so let’s tear it up. We shall rise.”

Every month in the GWL newsletter, we highlight a book recommendation or a key figure under our “Changing Systems” feature. We’ve offered this resource to the community with over 24 issues of the newsletter to inspire the next generation of system changers in the City of Lawrence and beyond. With over 4,000 supporters subscribed to our newsletter, every month, our community receives a curated list of resources inspired by the movements of our time, the fight to end oppression and systemic injustices, and the fight to live as our most authentic selves.

“Changing systems” holds relevance beyond GWL and all the Groundwork Trusts, it is a promise that the injustices of our institutions and current systems can be ameliorated and mended to include the voices and visions of everyone who lives in this diverse, multicultural, and multilingual nation.

[1] https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-healthy-incentives-program-hip-frequently-asked-questions