Looking for information on MAPC’s official meetings and legal notices? Find it here.
As cities and towns experience more frequent and intense weather events due to climate change, the arts offer opportunities to support climate resilience efforts. Collaborations with artists and creatives can enhance resilience, transform infrastructure, and increase community awareness of preparedness practices and climate risks.
Please join us for a conversation with Sarah Rawbottam, Creative Producer at Arts House in Melbourne, Australia; and Erin Genia, former Boston Artist-in-Residence. They’ll discuss the role of the artist in addressing climate change and building resilience, their experiences building resilience through art, and their advice for working with artists.
You’ll also learn more about “Cool it with Art,” MAPC’s upcoming how-to guide for tackling rising temperatures with art in Massachusetts.
MAPC’s Accelerating Climate Resiliency Series presents a panel of experts from across the United States who will speak about the challenges and opportunities of climate resilience coalitions.
Wednesday, December 15
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Webinar: Stretch Code Proposals Info Session for Municipal Stakeholders
Wednesday, March 2, 2022 | 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
We will be joined by staff from the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to talk through the integral components of the two straw proposals DOER announced on March 8, 2022. The first proposal is to update the existing Stretch Code, already adopted by 299 municipalities in Massachusetts, and the second is a proposal for a new municipal specialized opt-in “net zero” code, which municipalities will have the option to adopt starting in December 2022.
While there are several criteria for how the Federal government determines grant recipients, the creation of good jobs through projects with commitments to strong labor standards and practices is key. Registered apprenticeships, joint labor-management training programs, certified payroll and the support of local labor organizations can help secure federal infrastructure funding for your projects, all while creating good jobs in your community.
By all indications, apprenticeship will need to greatly expand to meet the demands of Massachusetts’ booming construction industry— the federal government has created incentives in their infrastructure funding to encourage that growth.
Join us for an important conversation co-hosted by MAPC and the Massachusetts Building Trades Unions to learn more about the tools and resources available to your municipality to aide you in your federal application process.
The panel will include:
- Jim Brewer, Director of Government Affairs, North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU)
- Frank Callahan, President, Massachusetts Building Trades Unions
- Heath W. Fahle, Assistant Secretary for Federal Funds, Executive Office for Administration and Finance
- Seth Lattrell, Port Authority Deputy/Planner for Salem
Moderated by Angela Brown, Chief of Economic Development, MAPC
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s (MAPC) Clean Energy Department is hosting a webinar on equitable community engagement for its Equity in Clean Energy webinar series. This event will provide an introduction to equitable community engagement in planning, followed by brief introductions from each of our guest speakers and the community engagement work they do in their communities. We will be joined by:
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- Niri Kumar, Natick Resident
- Marlees Owayda, Cambridge Community Engagement Manager
- Lindsay Diaz, Cambridge Community Engagement Team Co-Leader
- Gail Latimore, Executive Director, CSNDC – Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation
Questions? Please contact:
Francelis Morillo Suarez
fmorillosuarez@mapc.org
Hosted by the Eastern Massachusetts Historical Commission Coalition, this informative webinar will feature multiple presentations related to 3A-MBTA communities. One of the featured speakers will be from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), who will provide valuable insights into the topic. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session and engage in meaningful dialogue.
Register now to secure your spot!
Register here.
The Eastern Massachusetts Historical Commission Coalition (EMHCC) is a partnership between the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), the Massachusetts Historical Commission, and Preservation Massachusetts that started in 2023. Learn more here.
The Accelerating Climate Resilience 2023 Speaker Series continues on September 7th from 12-1pm. Join us to learn more about microgrids, including what they are, how community-driven microgrids provide resilient energy, how they serve as a community aid disaster response, and about their connection to climate resilience planning. You’ll hear from two leaders who are pursuing a resilient future for their communities.
Open to all, be sure to register for the Zoom event here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZclduyopzwvG9LLB-ILS62GYWOWBGbx6tno
Speakers:
Sari Kayyali, Microgrid Manager, GreenRoots Inc.
Arturo Massol-Deyá, Executive Director, Casa Pueblo de Adjuntas
In collaboration with MAPC’s Public Health Department, the Equitable Engagement with Community Liaisons webinar will explore how cities are using community-led planning to broaden and deepen engagement with residents. You will hear about projects in three Massachusetts cities leading with equitable community engagement:
- Shawn Luz, Sustainability Coordinator, City of Framingham
- Emily Sullivan, Climate Change Program Manager, City of Somerville
- Richard Harding, Manager, BIPOC Men’s Health and Community Engagement Cambridge Public Health Department
EPA Region 1 continues to work on the development of a permit referred to as an “RDA Permit” – that will regulate stormwater run-off in the Charles, Mystic and Neponset River Watersheds.
In this webinar, the EPA will discuss the background and current development of the RDA permit, the types of actions that the permit will require, and will answer questions. The EPA is particularly interested in hearing from municipalities about how this permit can best be implemented to meet local as well as federal clean water goals.
For those unable to attend the presentation, there will be a chance after the draft permit is issued later this year, to provide comments to the EPA.