Community Services Department

The Department of Community Services is comprised of the Divisions of Elder Services, Recreation, Youth Services, Veterans Services and new this year, Andover DIVERSE; a Division focused on advancing community-driven initiatives and engagement with the goal of building a more inclusive Andover.

The Department of Community Services is deliberately public-facing; focusing its work and mission on improving the quality of life for all who call Andover home.

Additionally, the Department of Community Services in conjunction with other Town Departments serves as trustee and programmer for many of Andover’s most treasured resources such as Pomp’s Pond/Rec Park, the Andover Youth and Senior Centers, Veterans memorials and our many green spaces and playgrounds. The Department places a high priority on collaboration in and among its Divisions to maximize service delivery to the community.

Our Divisions

Alphabet Soup: Understanding Gender and Sexuality

Thursday, October 21, 2021
7:00 PM 8:30 PM

LGBTQ+ may seem like alphabet soup to you, but now is your chance to find out more about the individual identities that make up a diverse and complex community. Not sure about what nonbinary is? What is asexual? What are ways to be a supportive straight ally? There are lots of questions and this online event will offer you a great opportunity to find some answers. You’ll hear personal stories from SpeakOUT speakers and have the chance to ask the questions you may not have anyone else to ask.

SpeakOUT Boston has been telling the stories of LGBTQ+ lives for almost 50 years. Since 1972, SpeakOUT has shared personal stories in an engaging way and fostered dialogues within middle and high schools, colleges, businesses, faith communities, nonprofit organizations and more. Join SpeakOUT for an evening of sharing about the LGBTQ+ community in a safe and supportive atmosphere.

Commission on DEI shares their Strategic Plan: Tuesday, September 14th, 7:00 pm

The Town of Andover's Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is looking for your input on their strategic plan. Please join us for this virtual public forum! Here's the link:

https://andoverma.gov/882/Diversity-Equity-and-Inclusion-Community

Town of Andover launches

Monday Nights on the Common:

Celebrating our Cultures

The public is invited to join friends and neighbors for a new Monday Nights on the Common series Celebrating our Cultures. The events are free and open to the public.

Organized by the Town of Andover’s Community Services Department and a working group of volunteers, the series brought together many community members who were interested in putting together an evening of arts, culture and celebration with the express intent of highlighting the many different cultures in our community.

Monday Nights, 7:00 pm. Rain date Tuesday night

Andover Town Commons, Bartlet Street

Free and open to all.

Bring a chair, blankets for a fun family night!

This summer’s events include:

Monday, June 28th 7:00 pm

An educator’s perspective on the Strength of our Differences

Movie: Monster’s University

Activity: Free printable Monster’s U activity sheets at: momendeavors.com

Monday, July 12, 7:00 pm

Celebrating Israeli Culture

Movie: Operation Egg

Activities: Games and activities for kids and adults with the Israeli Scouts

Food: Bonapita Mediterranean Restaurant will deliver your pre-ordered food. Visit Bonapita.com

Monday, July 19, 7:00 pm

Indian Night: A Glimpse of our Culture

Movie: Dangal

Activity: Henna Art

Monday, July 26, 7:00 pm

Celebrating Chinese Culture

Movie: Monster Hunt

Activities: Chinese Zither, GongFu demonstration, jump rope performance, calligraphy and paper cutting activities and traditional Chinese games.

Karma Andover will deliver your pre-ordered food to you on the common. Visit karmaandover.com

Contact: Jemma Lambert; Jemma.lambert@andoverma.us 978.623.8312.

July 15, 2021

Earlier this week, a North Andover resident received a threatening anti-Semitic and homophobic message at their home. Sadly, this was the second reported incident of harassment in the town over the last month. These incidents of hatred are happening with more frequency, especially closer to home.

Andover's Commission on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion stands with our North Andover neighbors in condemning these actions and the hatred behind them. We remain committed to partnering with communities across the Merrimack Valley to help create safe spaces in our neighborhoods that are free from hatred, racism, anti-Semitism, and homophobia. Praise to the North Andover Police Department for investigating this incident as a hate crime.

March 30, 2021

This week Andover WECAN: Working to Educate for Climate Action Now begins its first program in our three part "Beyond the Bin" virtual series on recycling, food waste/composting, and trash in our community. This series is presented in partnership with Memorial Hall Library.

Thursday, April 1 @ 7:00 p.m.: Is Recycling Still Alive? Neil Rhein, Keep Massachusetts Beautiful with Sandra Gerraughty and Rachel Ciaramitaro, Andover DPW

Are you confused about what goes in your trash bin and what goes in your recycling bin? You’re not alone! This evening's speakers will talk about what really happens to our trash and recyclables here in Andover and how trash and recycling are managed in Massachusetts. Learn how to make informed decisions about your own personal habits. Learn ways to reduce the amount of trash you generate, improve your recycling habits, and make small changes to lead a more sustainable lifestyle.

For more information and link to register for all three events, please visit:

https://andoverwecan.org/events

Upcoming programs in the series:

Thursday, April 15 @ 7:00 p.m. - Andover WECAN Beyond the Bin: Don't Throw Your Spaghetti in the Fireplace - presentation by Julia Greene, MA DEP with Sandra Gerraughty and Rachel Ciaramitaro, Andover DPW

Thursday, April 29 @ 7:00 p.m. - Andover WECAN Beyond the Bin: Trash - Can We Do Better? - presentation by Waneta Trabert, VP MassRecyle