Art, Faith, & Activism with Reverend Mariama White-Hammond
February 8, 2019

The Live Well Springfield Climate Justice Initiative will address climate change and health equity policy issues in Springfield with funding from the Kresge Foundation over the next three years. The Coalition is excited to continue the climate justice work started by grassroots advocacy groups and community residents around the creation of the Strong, Healthy, and Just: Climate Action Resilience Plan (CARP). 

 

In 2019 the Coalition was awarded a one-year planning grant by Kresge to identify one to two policy ideas that could significantly impact greenhouse gas emissions, health, equity, and racism.  The coalition partners, Live Well Springfield, Arise for Social Justice, Way Finders, Neighbor to Neighbor Public Health Institute of Western Mass, and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, worked closely with stakeholders, Resident Advocates, and residents to narrow down to two policies out of 156 in the CARP. The partners created a variety of community engagement projects like community conversation, surveys, and workshops to gain community input and feedback.


The Coalition is excited for this next chapter to address the systemic issues of climate change.  To show appreciation for the community engagement, they created a thank you response video to Springfield residents and climate justice allies who help the Coalition narrow down to two policies. And going forward, they will be advocating for community choice energy and a race and health equity impact assessment requirement. 

 

Learn more about Live Well Springfield Climate Justice Initiative.


October 27, 2025
In late September, resident advisors (RAs) from the Public Health Institute of Western MA gathered at Regreen Springfield for a Peer-to-Peer Learning Workshop. RAs from the following 5 coalitions shared successes, challenges, and key learnings. A team of RAs representing each initiative led presentations that sparked dialogue, allowing everyone to learn from one another, ask questions, and deepen their understanding of community efforts. Intergenerational Social Connections (ISC): Focuses on bringing youth and older adults together in Springfield to reduce loneliness, build relationships, and strengthen community across generations. Live Well Springfield Climate Change & Health Equity (CCHE): Focuses on advancing community choice energy for Springfield, creating strategies to address extreme heat, and developing a new Climate Change Action Plan for the city. Live Well Springfield Transforming Communities Initiative (TCI): Focuses on addressing Springfield’s housing needs by improving housing conditions, increasing affordability, and expanding opportunities for homeownership. Healthy Air Network: Focuses on monitoring air quality, exploring transportation issues, developing an innovative app, and tackling climate change challenges. The workshop also served as a warm welcome and orientation for new RAs joining the committees, especially our new Parent Advisors for the Youth Mental Health Coalition (YMHC), which is focused on youth mental health and problem gambling prevention. This was the largest cohort of resident advisors for the Public Health Institute and Live Well Springfield yet.
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