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United Teen Equality Center
The United Teen Equality Center (UTEC), founded in 1999 and based in Lowell, was the result of an organizing movement driven by young people to develop their own teen center in response to gang violence. Today, nationally recognized as a model youth development agency, our mission and promise is to ignite and nurture the ambition of Lowell’s most disconnected youth to trade violence and poverty for social and economic success.
Contact: Kodi Semon, Culinary Program Manager: ksemon@utec-lowell.org
Website: United Teen Equality Center
Organizational Focus
Local Economy, Skills Training & Employment: UTEC provides workforce development training, including a culinary program, with the goal of teaching valuable skills and strengthening the local economy.
Youth Programs: Culinary skills training program that teaches young people how to cook at home and professionally.
Urban & Regional Farming: Culinary program sources produce from regional farmers to bring local produce into the hands-on cooking programs, and sells some value-added products at the Lowell Farmers’ Market. The skills training program also partners with Mill City Grows to run workshops on preserving the harvest.
Projects and Initatives
Coordinators of the culinary program are currently working on a curriculum focused on nutrition education, food justice and food access issues. In addition to the culinary training program and food preservation workshops, UTEC is increasing their food storage capacity and is working on future plans to open a community kitchen.
Partnerships
Mill City Grows
New Entry Sustainable Farming Project
Lowell Farmers’ Market
Tufts University
Networks
Local Farmers
Food Distributors
Restaurants
Institutional Buyers
Youth Programs
Volunteers
Geographic Scale:
Municipal
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