Springfield Climate Change &
Health Equity Initiative
The Kresge Foundation Awards $150,000 more to support
Live Well Springfield’s Climate Change, Health & Equity Project
At the 2023 Kresge Convening Conference, CEO / President Rip Rapson announced that 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. This award of $150,000 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, who also attended the conference, are grateful for the continued support. It allows us to keep advancing policy advocacy on Community Choice Energy and Race & Health Equity Impact Assessment Requirement and work to address the needs of those impacted the most by climate change.
The three-day conference occurred in San Diego, California, between April 16th-19th.
Senior Manager of Community Engagement, Samantha Hamilton was a panel guest alongside other statewide grantees which shared strategies and tips for moving climate policies on local, statewide, and national levels.
The coalition is excited and grateful for the continued support of the Kresge Foundation and the growing friendships and connections made by the staff, technical assistance team, and fellow grantees.
Click here to learn more about the coalition's current policy advocacy efforts in Springfield.
Art, Faith, & Activism with Reverend Mariama White-Hammond
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 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.
For more information about the Live Well Springfield Climate Justice Initiative and to learn how you can get involved, visit www.Livewellspringfield.com.
Initiatives
Springfield Climate Change &
Health Equity Initiative News
Survey: What do you think would have the biggest impact on climate change, racism, air quality and health for your family?
We need your voice to decide on the best policy ideas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, improve health, and address racism for Springfield.
We invite you to take this 10-15 minute survey on climate change, health, and equity.
From the survey, you will learn more about the four policies listed below. You will watch policy pitch videos from resident advocates passionate about climate change. We hope to get a broad range of community input for this Springfield. Please share this survey with your networks!
Below are the links to the survey and the pitch videos for each policy.
Community Choice Energy
A program the city of Springfield could set up to switch everyone in the city on basic Eversource electricity service over to clean energy like solar, wind, and hydropower.
Free and Safe Buses
All PVTA bus rides in the city will be free and safe for everyone.
Downloads
Racial and Health Equity Impact Assessment
Require consideration of the racial and health impacts on people of color and other minority groups when the city begins a new project or procedure.
Complete Streets Prioritization in Previously Redlined Neighborhoods
Invest more in sidewalks, bikeways, and transit in the neighborhoods in the city that historically have been under-invested in.
The LWS Climate Change and Health Equity Committee has been meeting since January to narrow down the key policy priorities to focus on with our advocacy efforts.
Through the Springfield Climate Justice Initiative, the coalition will engage key stakeholders and residents to be a part of a Climate Justice and Health Equity Committee (CCHE). The CCHE committee will work to narrow down the policy priorities building on Springfield’s Strong, Healthy Just: Climate Action & Resilience Plan. We believe that change cannot happen without the people most impacted by the issues at the table. Through a 1 to 1 key stakeholder to the resident ratio, we hope to balance and uplift the voices of the community.
Meeting Schedule
- The CCHE Committee will meets monthly by Zoom. For more information about the CCHE committee, please contact Samantha Hamilton.
Samantha Hamilton Shamilton@publichealthwm.org.