Some news from DIY Lowell:

The DIY Lowell Advisory Committee selected downtown resident Jack Moynihan and the Lowell Litter Krewe among more than a dozen nominees for its annual awards to be given at the fourth annual “Community Chill Night Chili and Stew Contest,” on March 25, 2022. The event honors those who volunteer and improve Lowell’s public spaces while raising funds for DIY Lowell, a grassroots community group that helps community members how make fun and transformative projects and events happen together. The event will happen at Mill No. 5, and include chili and stew sampling, a DIY sundae bar, a DJ-it-Yourself station at which a volunteer will teach participants how to spin records, and other activities.

Mr. Moynihan was chosen as Volunteer of the Year to recognize his dedication to community service. For years, Jack has served the Lowell community as a board member of Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Whistler House Museum of Art, Lowell Canalwater Cleaners, Mill City Grows, and Lowell Downtown Neighborhood Association (LDNA). He also volunteers with many groups including the Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust, Lowell National Historical Park, and the Litter Krewe. In addition, he’s been a supporter of many DIY Lowell projects including Points of Light Lantern Celebration, Midsummer Dream Festival, and the Restroom Feasibility Study. Mr. Moynihan will receive a certificate and a gift card.

The Community Transformation Award is given to a community group that improved or creatively used indoor or outdoor public space. The Lowell Litter Krewe received more nominations for this award than any other group in DIY Lowell’s history and will be honored with a certificate and ten pro-bono volunteer hours from DIY Lowell Committee members. Lowell Litter Krewe is committed to the creation of volunteer opportunities, staying flexible to meet community needs, and providing the tools necessary to get the job done. Together, in 2021, 450 friends, neighbors and community partners removed over 120,000 pounds of trash from the City of Lowell, constructed a community garden and donated more than 4,000 hours to the beautification of our city.

Both Mr. Moynihan and the Lowell Litter Krewe will receive a citation from Mayor Sokhary Chau.

Aurora Erickson, co-founder of DIY Lowell, stated, “We’re so happy for both the awardees this year! We don’t just appreciate Jack’s community-mindedness, but also his (and his wife Carolyn’s) friendliness, dedication, humor, and cheer. And the Lowell Litter Krewe has transformed community service in Lowell, creating a can-do spirit for all our public spaces.”

In addition to an award ceremony, the Community Chill Night will feature over a dozen chili and stews from community members, nonprofits, and restaurants from many cultures, giving this chili cookoff a uniquely Lowell flair. Participants vote on their favorite chilis, and the top amateur and professional will receive prizes. It will also include activities open to all ages such as cornhole and mural-sized coloring sheets and a DJ-it-Yourself station in which participants can bring their own records and learn how to spin. Most importantly, the Chill Night is accessible to the community, with only a $5 suggested donation and no minimum donation.

For more information, check out the DIY Lowell website.

About DIY Lowell: Do-it-Yourself Lowell is a grassroots group dedicated to helping community members make small-scale projects and events happen together. It connects people with ideas to funding, technical assistance, and most importantly to one another. DIY Lowell is supported by the Theodore Edson Parker Foundation, local sponsors, and by its fiscal sponsor, Coalition for a Better Acre. The organization collects ideas on their website, and to submit an idea or learn more, visit DIYLowell.org.