How We Work

Live Well Springfield partners include residents, non-profit organizations and representatives from healthcare, regional transit authority, and Springfield city departments. Learn more about our partners.  The coalition is convened by the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.  Live Well Springfield is organized into committees based on currently funded initiatives and ongoing programs. 

Climate Change, Health & Equity Committee

The coalition core team partners include Arise for Social Justice, Way Finders, Neighbor to Neighbor, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, and Live Well Springfield. The team is also working with residents and stakeholders most impacted by issues. The Climate Change and Health Equity committee meets monthly to do strategic planning to design community awareness and action campaigns for both policies.

Go Fresh Mobile Farmer’s Market Advisory Committee

The Go Fresh Advisory Committee provides guidance and support to the Go Fresh Mobile Farmer’s Market. Go Fresh is a project of Wellspring Community Harvest.

Age-Friendly City Advisory Committee

The Age-Friendly City Advisory Committee provides guidance and support for the project to officially designate Springfield as an Age-Friendly city. Convened by the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, the committee includes representatives of the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA), Springfield Health and Human Services DepartmentBaystate Medical CenterSpringfield Partners for Community ActionStavros, and Mass Senior Action. To learn more or participate in Age-Friendly activities, contact Samantha Hamilton, LWS Director at shamilton@publichealthwm.org.

Age-Friendly Ecosystem Committee

The Live Well Springfield Age-Friendly Coalition is working with Baystate Health Center, TechSpring, Springfield Dementia Friendly Coalition, Public Health Institute of Western Mass, Baystate Geriatrics, Resident Advocates, and other partners to address the barriers of optional health care at home for older adults.


The coalition hopes to identify innovative solutions that address the digital divide barriers and enhance the telehealth experiences. The pandemic forced health care to pivot to virtual and remote ways of delivering care; the coalition wants to capitalize on the opportunities created during a critical time in all our lives.


The Age-Friendly Ecosystem solution model was inspired by the research of Terry Fulmer and her team who highlighted the possibilities of integrated sector collaboration when communities have multiple Age-Friendly designation and Moving Towards and Age-Friendly Ecosystem. Springfield was designated the first city in the nation to have trible designation as a Age-Friendly, Dementia  Friendly, and Age- Friendly Hospital System. With this designation and  momentum the coalition hopes to develop a blueprint on how other communities can strive for  higher levels of Age-Friendly integration across multiple sectors. 


Health Impact Assessment Advisory Committee

The Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts conducted a health impact assessment (HIA) to answer the question, "If housing providers changed policies and practices about criminal background checks, what affect would that have on health?"


The Age-Friendly Health Impact Assessment Advisory Committee was convened to develop the assessment plan and outreach strategy for the assessment. The committee's efforts resulted in the development of the; Healthy Aging with a Criminal Record in Hampden County MA, A health impact assessment about the use of Criminal Offender Registration Information (CORIs) in housing decisions,  a community presentation that highlighted the lived experiences of older adults advocating for change, key results, and policy and systems change recommendations.


Having a criminal record (CORI) creates barriers for older adults and others who are trying to access affordable housing. As we advance, the HIA committee and the Age-Friendly coalition will promote the report and advocate for policy and practice change within the region and lift up the voices of the residents most impacted by the issue. 


To get involved, contact Samantha Hamilton, LWS Director.


Built Environment Committee

The Springfield Built Environment committee brings together City of Springfield staff members who work on the Built Environment to assure regular communication and collaboration. The group, which meets monthly, first started meeting nearly 20 years ago. Members include representatives from the following city departments: Public Works, Planning & Economic Development, Parks, Buildings & Recreation Management, Health & Human Services, Elder Affairs, Police and Springfield Public Schools.


In addition, representatives from other organizations participate, including Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA), Way Finders, TDI, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Mass DOT) Safe Routes to School Initiative, and the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts (PHIWM). PVPC and PVTA are quasi -governmental organizations that serve the city. Way Finders, TDI and PHIWM are nonprofit organizations that work in Springfield to advance a healthy built environment. The Mass DOT Safe Routes to School Initiative advances safe walking and bicycling to school.

Pioneer Valley Healthy Air Network Advisory Committee

This Advisory Committee brings together residents, stakeholders, and representatives from City of Springfield, City of Holyoke, Yale University, Earthwatch, ReGreen Springfield, Live Well Springfield and the Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition to support the development of the  Pioneer Valley Healthy Air network. For more information, contact Sarita Hudson.

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