UTEC reunion celebrates 25 years of transforming lives and unity

LOWELL — Standing at the entrance of UTEC on Warren Street on Friday evening, CEO Gregg Croteau reflects on the nonprofit’s 25th anniversary. What began in 1999 as a space for teens at St. Anne’s Church on Kirk Street, envisioned by a few young adults seeking refuge from gang violence, has now become a cornerstone of Lowell’s identity, transforming countless young lives.

Croteau, who was hired by the original young adults in early 2000, smiles as he recalls their humble beginnings with just a $40,000 city grant. Today, UTEC boasts an $18 million budget, a testament to the organization’s profound impact and growth.

“Twenty-five years is a huge milestone for us,” Croteau said. Before he can continue, his thoughts are momentarily interrupted as he affectionately greets a familiar face walking through the door.

“How are you?” Croteau asks, beaming. “You look the same.”

“Living my best life,” the individual responds.

Croteau continues to greet several more familiar faces, all arriving on this Friday evening to celebrate UTEC’s 25-year milestone with a reunion of former young adults who became part of the nonprofit. A press release highlights the organization’s dedication to developing life skills, emphasizing that the event is a celebration of growth, community, and the powerful journey that began at UTEC over the past quarter-century.

Croteau said he expected about 150 people to attend Friday’s celebration.

“This reunion is not just about celebrating where we’ve been, but also recognizing where we’re going,” Croteau said.

The event, filled with music from UTEC alumnus DJ Money, plenty of food and laughs, showcased the attendees as one big family.

Among those in the crowd was Jocelyn Rosado, who was 14 years old in 2004 and a student at Lowell High School when she began attending UTEC. She recalled facing challenges at home, having been placed with her grandparents after her mother went away. It was a life-changing event.

“I was so close to my mom,” Rosado said. “I was a really quiet individual, really shy, so being separated from my mom changed my whole world. I felt so alone.”

This feeling of isolation sparked a desire to become more social. She found solace at UTEC, where she met people who she discovered could relate to her situation.

“I kinda felt like I was the only one until I was with young adults from UTEC,” she said. “We all related to each other, we all understood each other, we mirrored each other.”

Rosado now serves as a transitional coach for UTEC, a role dedicated to helping young people access essential resources. Rosado points out, “I’m giving them what I found here.”

Melinda Tejeda, who also joined UTEC at the age of 14 during its inaugural year, found the same sense of unity she had been searching for at UTEC.

Tejeda was just 11 years old when her mother passed away. Placed with a family member who she said was more interested in the financial benefits of raising her, Tejeda felt anger toward the world, often lashing out and getting into trouble at school.

“I think coming here gave me that sense of unity, the sense of family I was looking for,” Tejeda said. “It was a pivotal moment in my life where I could have taken the wrong path.”

UTEC also opened doors to experiences Rosado might not have pursued otherwise. She recalled a memorable visit to Lowell City Hall, where she helped advocate for a grant and delivered her first public speech. UTEC additionally introduced her to creative writing and what she said was the Young Women’s Group Project, which helped her forge connections with other females.

Now at 40 years old, Tejeda states, “I have a good life.” She has been a general manager for a storage company for the past eight years, a testament to the positive impact UTEC had on her life, said Tejada, a mother of a 19-year-old daughter.

Among the original young adults who set the wheels in motion in creating UTEC all those years ago, JuanCarlos Rivera, now the vice president of the organization’s Board of Directors, stands with a sense of pride 25 years later. When asked if he expected the organization to achieve such growth, he said, “I always hoped it would.”

“The idea for us is to ensure that after I’m gone and Gregg is gone, there’s always a place for young people to go,” Rivera added. “It’s important to remember that every decade, young people have continued to make this happen.”

Next on UTEC’s agenda is the 25th Anniversary Gala, set to take place on Nov. 20 at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. For more details about the event, visit utecinc.org/25thgala.

Follow Aaron Curtis on X, formerly known as Twitter, @aselahcurtis