Lawrence Pa'lante | The Resident Task Force

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About Us


We are a group of residents, urban planners, and designers working to re-imagine how residents move around the city by identifying frequently travelled routes and important destinations and creating accessible and safe transportation options to get there. We recognize that urban planning and design decisions have made residents more vulnerable health risks and negatively impacted our quality of life.  

As a team of community leaders, advocates, and planners we are implementing Lawrence Pa’lante to identify extreme heat risks and plan for cool corridors across the city. We hope to work with residents to identify pilot projects to implement a corridor vision that promotes active and public transportation and keeps residents cool in extreme heat.

Pa'lante

[pah-lahn-te]

Verb: foward; go ahead

 


Meet the Resident Task Force Team


HM headshot prof.jpgEvelyn Y. Rodriguez
Evelyn is the Lawrence/Methuen Community Coalition's Drug-Free Communities Coordinator in Lawrence, Massachusetts. She is a 20-year veteran of the human service field, with the last nearly seven years spent in prevention. She recently earned a certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Tufts University's Institute for Nonprofit Practice and the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life. She is currently studying for her bachelor's and master's degrees in Youth Development at IDEA.

Martha Leavitt
Martha has been a resident of Lawrence for over 30 years and brings over 20 years of professional public sector experience at the state and municipal levels, in government relations, operations management, and advocacy.  She holds a BA in Political Science, a graduate certificate in Women and Politics from Boston College, and a certificate in Social Media Marketing.  She has served as a volunteer on the Citizens Advisory Committee of the Lawrence Redevelopment Authority and on the Parent Advisory Board of the Community Day Charter Public School.  Martha and her husband, Robert O’Koniewski live on Prospect Hill with their sons Thomas and Tait. She is a lifelong resident of the Merrimack Valley.

 

Anthony Curtis
Anthony is a lifelong Lawrencian with a strong passion for creativity and social change. Anthony has joined Lawrence Pa'Lante to be an advocate for his community and be an agent of change in Lawrence. A graduate of Lawrence Catholic Academy and Central Catholic High school, Anthony is currently pursuing his undergraduate degree at UMass Lowell where he is studying Economics and Philosophy. He ultimately hopes that he can give back to the community all that it gave to him. Outside of the classroom and his work with Lawrence Pa'Lante, Anthony enjoys working on music and getting his body moving through yoga, hiking, and other fitness activities.

Destiny Gonzalez

Destiny Gonzalez
Destiny is a lifelong Lawrencian who is fueled by her passion for social advocacy. In her youth, she attended Community Day Charter Public School and was deeply involved in the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence. She has previously worked for the Lawrence government and residents in her roles at the Lawrence District Court and in the Mayor’s Office. She currently is a student at Boston College where she majors in Political Science and minors in Managing for Social Impact and the Greater Good and Dance. She hopes to attend law school and create generational wealth for her family. She believes her role as a Lawrence Pa’Lante member is integral to create a voice for the youth and to give back to her community. She believes that Lawrence is a testament to the woman she is becoming and will always advocate for what’s right for her city.

 

 

How are we engaging the community?

GWL and CLF are working with a Resident Task Force to develop a community vision for Lawrence Pa’lante. This taskforce was established in early 2021 and is made up of residents who live in Lawrence and are passionate about solving the city’s challenges when it comes to climate, health, and equity.

Through Participatory Research, the Resident Taskforce developed a resident survey and data collection tool that will be used to collect information and feedback from residents in Lawrence. With the help of the Resident Task Force and feedback from Lawrence residents, we will identify critical routes and community assets to inform a corridor map. The map will also include information about the City’s tree canopy and other green infrastructure that is important for keeping residents cool in extreme heat.


Join the Resident Task Force Team


Taskforce members will also participate in key meetings, help disseminate information to the community, review and provide feedback on information and strategies, provide recommendations to the project team on key actions, and will be engaged throughout the implementation phase.

How can you help?

  1. We are looking for residents interested in joining the Resident Task Force. To learn more about this part time paid position click here.
  2. Complete the Lawrence Pa’lante survey.