The Kresge Foundation Extends Funding to Climate Change, Health & Equity Initiative
October 8, 2025

Kresge Awards Live Well Springfield $150K More to Continue Work

At the 2023 Kresge Convening Conference, CEO and President Rip Rapson announced, all grantees under the Climate Change and Health Equity Initiative (CCHE) will have nine more months to continue to address climate change, health, and equity issues in their respective communities. The $150,000 award is to support Live Well Springfield’s Climate Justice Initiative through the end of 2024. We and our Springfield partners at Way Finders and ARISE for Social Justice, who also attended the conference, are grateful for the continued support. It allows us to keep advancing policy advocacy on Community Choice Energy, the Race & Health Equity Impact Assessment Requirement, and work to address the needs of those impacted the most by climate change. 

The three-day conference took place in San Diego, California, between April 16th and 19th.

Senior Manager of Community Engagement, Samantha Hamilton was a panel guest alongside other statewide grantees which shared strategies and best practices for moving climate policies on local, statewide, and national levels. 


The Coalition is excited and grateful for the continued support from the Kresge Foundation and the growing friendships and connections made by the staff, technical assistance team, and fellow grantees. 

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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