Climate Justice Mural with Fresh Paint Springfield Unveiled
Jacqueline Velez • July 18, 2023

Mural in the North End of Springfield

by World Renowned Artist Betsy Casañas

On July 12th, the Climate Change & Health Equity (CCHE) Coalition hosted a ribbon-cutting event at 470 Chestnut Street in celebration of the unveiling of our Climate Justice Mural with Fresh Paint Springfield and Common Wealth Murals. The mural brings together arts, culture, and activism. This work was done in partnership with community residents, resident advisors, and climate justice activists. The mural was painted by world-renowned artist Betsy Z. Casañas who engaged the community. Her work has been well received in the city, neighboring communities like Holyoke, and worldwide.


The painting depicts Brendaliz Cepeda, a Bomba y Plena dancer with Bomba de Aqui, and plants native to Puerto Rico which purify the air. Once named the asthma capital of the United States, Springfield now comes in 12th in part because of community efforts to address respiratory health needs and indoor air quality including the Healthy Homes Initiative. The powerful stance of the Bomba dancer represents the importance of taking action NOW on environmental justice issues.


"This mural is a representation of community, partnerships, and trust. The coalition's commitment to work with diverse community partners, such as activists, arts culture, and the economic sector, is the only way we can significantly impact city government and the community," said Live Well Springfield Director Samantha Hamilton.


The Live Well Springfield CCHE Initiative, funded by the Kresge Foundation, is advocating for Community Choice Energy and implementation of recommendations in the Race and Health Equity Impact Assessment. Communications funding from Trinity Health of New England and Blues to Green supported the development and creation of our beautiful climate justice mural in which community members can see themselves. The residents of the North End of Springfield are almost 65% Puerto Rican natives.    

 

"Blues to Green is a committed partner in the work for climate justice, leveraging the power of the Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival to connect this issue with a large audience, raise awareness, and inspire collective action for change. In the past few years, we have incorporated programming into the festival to connect arts, culture, and activism around the issue of climate justice." shared Kristen Neville, Executive Director of Blues to Green. 

 

Live Well Springfield Resident Advisor Katrelia Bryant shared, "this is a beautiful artwork representing heritage, pride, love, and community bonding."  

 

The two-year project was carried out in partnership with Fresh Paint Springfield, Common Wealth Murals, Blues to Green, Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival, and Trinity Health of New England Mercy Medical Center.  


By Samantha Hamilton March 24, 2025
This month, Live Well Springfield Coalition proudly served as the host site for the National Transforming Communities Initiative (TCI) Learning Institute at the Marriott Hotels and Conference Center in Downtown Springfield. The event brought together grantees from nine awarded sites across the country, with participants traveling from as far as Illinois, California, and Michigan. Led by our national Trinity Health partners, Jaime Dircksen , Vice President of Community Health and Well-Being, and Beth Geno-Otto , Manager of Operations & Community Initiatives, the conference provided a dynamic peer-learning environment. Grantees shared best practices and strategies for addressing community-based challenges through a policy, systems, and environmental change framework, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange across sites. Across the nine sites, grantees are tackling critical issues such as housing, food security, neighborhood safety, and mental health. These focus areas were identified through an inclusive, community-driven process following a review of each hospital’s Community Health Needs Assessment and additional local assessments conducted over the past two years. During the three-day conference, attendees were welcomed by Jessica Collins , Executive Director of the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts (PHIWM) , along with Robert Roose , President of Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford, CT, and Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, CT. Dan Keenan, Vice President of Government Relations for Trinity Health of New England, also provided remarks. Additional special guests included PHIWM Board President Luz Lopez , Board Chair Dr. Edna Rodriguez , and Valerie L. Powell-Stafford , President of Saint Francis Hospital and Syed A. Hussain , MD Chief Clinical Officer. As part of the conference, grantees participated in three community tours across Hartford, Springfield, and Holyoke, each focused on key issues: housing, food access, and mental health. These tours were coordinated by local community sites with support from grassroots organizations working within their respective coalitions. Highlights from the tours included: A visit to Wellspring Harvest Greenhouse , where Trinity Health’s initial investment through the first round of TCI funding helped provide low-interest loans to support community development. A stop at Gardening the Community and Farm Store , where youth leaders discussed urban agriculture and preparations for the spring planting season. A thought-provoking conversation on housing development led by Keith Fairey, CEO and President of Way Finders . We extend our deepest gratitude to the many organizations that welcomed grantees and shared both the challenges and successes of their work, including Arise for Social Justice , Neighbor 2 Neighbor , Gardening the Community , Wellspring Harvest Cooperative , the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts , Revitalize CDC , and Way Finders . Our community partners showcased their dedication to creating safe, sustainable housing, advocating for tenant rights, and ensuring that families have access to healthy homes and thriving neighborhoods. Their work uplifts communities, allowing residents to live in safe, stable environments where they can grow and thrive. As the conference came to a close, Jaime Dircksen shared her heartfelt gratitude and underscored the importance of continuing this work, despite the challenges posed by the current political climate. Trinity Health remains steadfast in its commitment to investing in the nine sites throughout the remaining three years of this five-year grant. Together, we will continue building healthier, stronger communities through collective action and shared vision.
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