Group of people wearing yellow helmets, orange life jackets, blue jackets, and black gloves posing outdoors on a brick pavement, in front of a building with large windows and a brick wall.

Connecting Leaders.

Building Community.

Public Matters

Operated in partnership with the Lowell National Historical Park, Public Matters is the Lowell Plan’s experiential learning program focused on leadership development at the intersection of economic prosperity, social capital, urban renewal, and civic engagement in the city of Lowell. The six-month training, skill-building, and mentoring program is open to Lowell residents, professionals, and leaders who want to make a lasting contribution to the city and its residents.

Applications for the program open each fall, accepted applicants are notified in December, and weekly classes are held January–June.

QUESTIONS

For more information about the Lowell Plan’s Public Matters program:

MELISSA SURPRENANT
Administrative Director
Lowell Plan
melissa@lowellplan.org

The application process for the 2027 Public Matters cohort will be announced in October 2026.

Group of diverse people smiling and holding framed certificates in a room with wooden walls. A presentation screen is visible above them.
Group of diverse people smiling and holding framed certificates in a room with wooden walls. A presentation screen is visible above them.

First Row Kneeling (left to right)
Diandra Silk, Jordana Shaw, Brianna Martinez, Dai Kim, Ainslee Moorehead

Second Row
Eric Diaz, Jenna Guilbeault, Autumn Kleiner, Erica Pierce, Christine Speciale, Milissa Duncan

Third Row
Frank Clark (Program Advisor), John Heng, Nick Schonberger, Sophia Boucher, Joelynn Folger, Marci DeCarli, John Bachelder, Lyzzie Bo, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Joseph Bahn (Program Director)

Not Pictured
Alexa Carter, Ken Michienzi

2026 Graduating Class

The Experience

The Public Matters program is designed to:

  • Nurture a self-sustaining network of new, emerging, and existing leaders working to make Lowell a better place for every resident, organization, and business.

  • Provide a forum for local leaders to work toward a common vision of economic, cultural, and community development that benefits everyone in the city.

  • Develop a stronger understanding of and appreciation for Lowell’s history, cultural diversity, local resources, and future potential.

  • Encourage collaboration, new partnerships, and the development of social capital and shared resources among individuals and organizations.

  • Strengthen the capacity of the city’s public and private sectors by developing new skills, fostering connections, and supporting leadership diversity

Public Matters participants observe, analyze, and practice leadership skills in different settings across the city. Learning experiences will include a variety of formats and activities, such as presentations, group discussions, simulated scenarios, field observations, case study analysis, interviews with community leaders, and observational field trips.

Study topics will encompass Lowell’s history, public narrative, media relations, civic responsibility, professional networking, city governance, social services, economic growth, community health, quality of life, collaborative planning, and other themes relevant to local leadership, community thriving, and the future of Lowell.

Eligibility, Requirements, and Fees

  1. Public Matters participants are expected to participate in meetings, courses, presentations, activities, and field trips. The program schedule is shared with participants upon acceptance, allowing them to plan ahead.

  2. Participants are expected to share their experiences, viewpoints, professional expertise, and advice with fellow participants in their cohort, including those from diverse social and cultural backgrounds. Building strong, trusting, and mutually beneficial relations with other members of their cohort is a principal objective of the program.

  3. Upon completion of the program, participants will join an alumni network of more than 300 graduates from previous cohorts. The Lowell Plan organizes and facilitates alumni convenings every year.

  4. Tuition for participation in the six-month Public Matters program is $1,500. The fee pays for meals, course materials, and other programmatic costs. Additional costs, including staffing, are subsidized by the Lowell Plan, local fundraising, and volunteer contributions.

  5. A limited number of scholarships are available to those who would be unable to participate in the program due to financial constraints. Information about scholarships will be provided in the application package. In many cases, tuition fees are paid by organizations and businesses as a professional-development benefit.

  6. Tuition is due upon acceptance to the program and is payable to The Lowell Plan, 660 Suffolk Street, Suite 120, Lowell, MA 01854.