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The Metropolitan Area Planning Council and the Metro Mayors Coalition welcome Shannon-funded partners and others from across the State to discuss best practices and emerging trends in youth gang and violence prevention. Registration is required and will close on 12/5.
The Summit will include a keynote by Thomas Abt, a senior research fellow with the Center for International Development at Harvard University and author of “Bleeding Out: The Devastating Consequences of Urban Violence–and a Bold New Plan for Peace in the Streets.”
Breakout sessions will include a law enforcement roundtable discussion and discussion of the benefits of arts-based programming for at-risk youth.
An afternoon panel will discuss best practices for building and sustaining relationships between law enforcement and youth.
Hosted in partnership with the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA) and MassDOT
Hear from MassDOT, the Barr Foundation, and the Operational Services Division on how cities and towns can apply for the new MassDOT Shared Streets and Spaces grant program.
In addition to an overview of the program from MassDOT, we will learn more about the technical assistance available through the Barr Foundation and representatives from the Operation Services Division will discuss how municipalities may purchase materials needed for their pilots using OSD’s statewide contracts.
How can public-making—the collective creation and activation of public spaces for interaction and belonging—be a radical, joyful tool for spatial justice? Join artists, activists, and community leaders to discuss how public-making can create opportunities for interaction, laughter, dialogue, and surprise, and explore real-life examples of public-making that you can bring to your community.
In 2020, cities and towns throughout Greater Boston re-imagined their public spaces, converting streets and sidewalks into spaces that would promote active transportation, social distancing, outdoor dining, multimodal transit, and safe exercise.
Now, in partnership with MassDOT and the Solomon Foundation, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council is inviting cities and towns to look back at their recently-completed shared streets projects.
Please join us next Tuesday from 4 to 5 p.m. for a panel discussion and Q&A on Shared Streets. Municipal representatives will reflect on the complex projects they undertook, share lessons learned, and look forward to what’s next.
PANELISTS INCLUDE:
- Kate Fichter (moderator): Assistant Secretary for Policy Coordination, MassDOT
- Wayne Feiden, FAICP: Director Planning & Sustainability, Northampton
- Katrina O’Leary: Town Planner, Middleton
- Police Chief Tom Galvin, Berlin
- Ben Cares: Senior Planner and Project Manager, Chelsea
Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcscOmsqT8pHNcSGhLomujxws6wdxAfRJk6
Part of the “Rooted in Nature: Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Resiliency” online speaker series, this session serves as an introduction to indigenous kinship systems and how it informs how Tribal Nations and Peoples perceive climate health and how it informs the approach to solutions. Guest speaker: Ryann Monteiro.
Attempts to engage Tribal Nations are generally well-intended but under-informed. A general lack of understanding of Indigenous worldviews and tribal sovereignty has often led to “one size fits all” solutions that do not fit the needs, wants, or desires of that community. Layered with a history of non-indigenous entities utilizing extractive practices in their relationships, the result has been a legacy of distrust. In response to this, many tribes are highly selective in who they work with and why as they seek to protect the very things that have been, and currently are, under threat: their land, language, culture, families, and sacred teachings.
Part of the “Rooted in Nature: Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Resiliency” online speaker series, this talk focuses on the power of indigenous land management practices that have taken place for thousands of years, and the importance of traditional ecological knowledge in the preservation of these native ecological systems that have been severely damaged by human and industry impact for hundreds of years. Guest speaker: Leslie Jonas
Currently, the condition of the water is critical as our waterways are sick and dying. This current condition threatens the lifeways of the local indigenous people who have lived and thrived in these natural environments for millenia. Concepts like Rewilding were introduced to reverse biodiversity loss but can exclude the local traditional ecological knowledge systems that have kept the natural world in balance since time immemorial.
Part of the “Rooted in Nature: Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Resiliency” online speaker series, this presentation will delve into the intricate connection between traditional ecological knowledge and the Wampanoag perspective. Guest speakers: Linda Coombs and Bret Stearns
It will trace the evolution and expression of their worldview up until the time of initial contact. The discussion will cover how the Wampanoag people managed to preserve certain traditions despite colonization’s challenges. Moreover, it will emphasize the critical contemporary implications of these dynamics, particularly underscoring the pivotal role of the Wampanoag perspective in strengthening climate resiliency efforts in the present day.
Part of the “Rooted in Nature: Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Resiliency” online speaker series, this discussion will lead us beyond land acknowledgments to a more collaborative and rights-based approach to climate resilience. Guest speaker: Kristen Wyman
Learn how indigenous land back efforts in both private and public lands are benefiting municipal efforts to restore and manage forests and waterways for increased biodiversity, greater productivity and resilience to shock and disturbance. Specifically, we will explore the historical characteristics of local indigenous foodways and consider how a transition to an alternative food system grounded in indigenous knowledge and leadership can support a more robust and resilient ecosystem in the context of our rapidly changing climate.
Join us for the Community Safety Day on the Hill to learn how the Shannon Community Safety Initiative and the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative build partnerships between communities and law enforcement to prevent and address youth violence across Massachusetts.
This will be an opportunity to connect in-person to discuss the importance of annual state funding to support regional and multi-disciplinary youth programming to prevent gang violence.
Mark your calendars, and register to join us!
Questions? Please contact: Rosemary Volinski (rvolinski@mapc.org)