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Harnessing clean energy along Rt. 25, Buzzard's Bay. Photo credit: Jo Jagger
Welcome to the August edition of our newsletter! We are in full swing this summer supporting our multiple community programs. Read below about several important initiatives taking place in Environmental Justice communities in our network. From building capacity for effective community engagement to preparing for extreme heat, EJ communities are leading the way!
As always, please reach out to let us know what else we can be doing to support you or your community on the road to a healthier planet for all!
It’s getting hot in Massachusetts, but Boston residents kept their cool with an Extreme Heat Preparedness Workshop from theFairmount Indigo CDC Collaborative (FICC) on June 28th. FICC focuses on bringing climate justice and health equity to the communities they serve along the Fairmount Indigo Rail line.
The recent Extreme Heat Preparedness Workshop got started with community education about extreme heat events, led by FICC staff Kendra Beaver and Andrealis Martinez and physician speakers fromClimate Code Blue. Then, Kendra and Andrealis invited attendees to participate in advocacy:
Interested participants could either scan a QR code to access an online portal that automatically sends an email to their state legislators about FICC’s policy priorities, or write a physical postcard advocating for regulations against predatory energy suppliers.
Once participants finished sending emails and writing postcards, excitement built as FICC raffled off five free window A/C units to participants.
And the giveaways didn’t end there! The workshop concluded with the distribution of 50 extreme heat preparedness kits, which included items like water bottles, sunscreen, hats, umbrellas, and first aid supplies.
Community members left the event well-equipped with knowledge and supplies to tackle Boston's warming summers. Kudos to FICC for putting on a fantastic workshop!
Last October, we were delighted to share that MassEnergize received a grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center for an exciting project called Supercharging Clean Energy Engagement in Environmental Justice Communities. We are partnering with Fairmount Indigo CDC Collaborative (FICC) in Boston and Vineyard Power on Martha’s Vineyard to boost clean energy engagement in underserved communities, particularly focusing on low-income and non-English speaking residents in the Fairmount Corridor and on the Vineyard.
We have completed Phase I of the project, in which we engaged 76 residents from the Fairmount and Vineyard communities to participate in a survey about how they hear about community events. We delivered the surveys in three languages, and worked closely with our partners on outreach in our targeted communities.
What’s next?: Analyzing survey results to identify barriers to clean energy participation in EJ communities. This knowledge will help us determine how we can create the most effective tools and strategies for empowering residents to join the clean energy movement. We will continue to work closely with community members and our partner organizations as we develop user-friendly, multilingual engagement methods that can ultimately be replicated and scaled in other EJ communities.
Do you have or know of any office space that MassEnergize could use - rent free? We are looking for private space for 1-2 people, in or near Arlington, Lexington, Concord, or Waltham. Please let us know at info@massenergize.org.
Join the MassEnergize Board of Directors
MassEnergize is recruiting new volunteer Board members! Join a dynamic working Board committed to advancing community climate action across the region. Please send a note expressing why you are interested in this opportunity to: nathan@massenergize.org.
Follow @MassEnergize on Social Media
Follow us on Facebook and Instagramfor video recaps of events, weekly clean energy content, and all the latest updates.
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