GLCF Awards First Arts Elevate Equity Grant to IINE for Refugee Youth Mural Project
LOWELL, MA – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) has awarded its first Arts Elevate Equity Grant to the International Institute of New England (IINE) to support a collaborative mural project with refugee and immigrant youth in Lowell. The $5,000 grant will fund a partnership between IINE and local muralist Kit Collins to create an inspiring mobile mural highlighting youth cultures and creativity.
The project will engage participants in IINE’s Refugee Youth Mentoring and Youth Adjustment Services programs, which have supported 86 refugee and immigrant youth ages 13-22 in fiscal year 2025 to date. These young people, many experiencing isolation, culture shock, and family adjustment challenges, will have the opportunity to express their cultural identities and personal experiences through collaborative art-making.
“IINE is thrilled and grateful for the Greater Lowell Community Foundation’s investment in elevating the voices and creativity of refugee youth in Lowell,” said Jeffrey Thielman, President & CEO of IINE. “We feel very fortunate to have the GLCF as a partner in this important work.”
The three-phase project launched in June with planning and design sessions where youth sketch quilt tiles representing unique aspects of their cultures. Working alongside Collins during IINE’s Art Afternoons, participants are now bringing their designs to life through collaborative painting sessions. The finished mural will be displayed on panels at IINE’s office entrance and at community events, providing youth with a platform to share their stories with a broader audience.
In November, the next round of Arts Elevate Equity Grants program will be awarded with nine grants of $5,000 each to support nonprofit organizations partnering with artists to create projects that engage youth, reflect cultural identity, and promote mental, emotional, or physical well-being through the arts. Eligible nonprofits must serve one or more of GLCF’s 21 communities, and artist collaborators must reside within these communities.
“This project exemplifies the vision of Arts Elevate – using creative engagement to promote youth wellness while celebrating cultural identity,” said Jennifer Aradhya, GLCF’s Vice President of Marketing, Program and Strategy. “We’re excited to see IINE’s youth finding their voice through art and sharing their experiences with the Greater Lowell community.”
Arts Elevate is GLCF’s comprehensive initiative to improve youth wellness and strengthen communities through creative engagement across the Greater Lowell region. Developed through GLCF’s participation in the Barr Foundation’s Creative Commonwealth Initiative, the program includes embedded community artists, equity grants, and professional development opportunities for creatives.
The mural project will culminate later this fall with a public debut event showcasing the youth’s collaborative work and highlighting the creation process.
For more information about Arts Elevate, visit glcfoundation.org/arts-elevate.
About Greater Lowell Community Foundation
Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 450 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of over $70 million, GLCF annually awards grants and scholarships to hundreds of worthy nonprofits and students. It is powered by the winning combination of donor-directed giving, personal attention from Foundation staff, and an in-depth understanding of local needs. The generosity of our donors has enabled the Community Foundation to award more than $40 million to the Greater Lowell community.
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CAPTION: The GLCF team traveled to IINE in Lowell this month to witness young artists starting their work on the mobile mural with artist Kit Collins.
