Kresge's PathBreakers
August 10, 2025

Samantha Hamilton Named A Pathbreaker by the Kresge Foundation  

Last month, the Kresge Foundation unveiled their 2024 Annual Report, which featured a dozen PathBreakers from across the country. Our Director of Coalition Building and Community Engagement, Samantha Hamilton, was one of the twelve remarkable individuals highlighted for their work in their communities of creating opportunities for people too often left behind. Named Pathbreakers for cutting through the noise, red tape and all the other obstacles to forge new solutions for American cities. She was quoted saying, “It’s one thing to hear people’s voices and not do anything. It’s another to hear their voices and incorporate it in the next steps.” We are so proud of Samantha and are fortunate to work alongside her. We can't wait to see what the Live Well Springfield coalition will achieve next under her leadership. Read more at Kresge.org and catch their podcast episode that featured Samantha.

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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