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.


By Samantha Hamilton February 26, 2026
This month, Live Well Springfield (LWS) and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) partnered with the City of Springfield to host a listening session on inland flooding. Inland flooding happens when rain overwhelms local drainage systems, for example, when basements flood or when streets and sidewalks turn into rivers and ponds during heavy rain. Participants heard directly from Chris Cignoli, Director of the Springfield Department of Public Works (DPW), about the city's history and infrastructure related to waterways, piping, and flood prevention. Residents gained a deeper understanding of how city systems respond to flooding, what the DPW is responsible for, and the budget constraints the department faces. Chris encouraged residents to contact the city using the local 311 line to report potential flood risks or flooding-related issues, which creates a formal service request that must be investigated. The workshop centered resident voices and explored how flooding from heavy rainfall and the Connecticut River is impacting daily life across Springfield. Residents shared firsthand accounts of flooded basements, eroding yards, blocked storm drains, and chronic street flooding, revealing how widespread and interconnected these challenges are across neighborhoods. Working in small groups, participants mapped the areas in their neighborhoods most affected by flooding, connecting personal experiences with broader patterns of risk across the city. The information shared by residents will help inform Springfield's upcoming 10-year infrastructure plan, as well as regional flood risk reports being developed by PVPC and FRCOG.
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