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.
Join the Mass. Association of Regional Planning Agencies and Division of Local Services to hear from special guests Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, the Governor’s former Chief of Staff, Steve Kadish, as well as Secretaries Tesler, Acosta, Kennealy and Card about how to make the most of unprecedented infrastructure modernization resources and build a firm foundation for our Commonwealth’s future. Click here to register.
“Building the Foundation for our Future: Equitable Infrastructure Modernization in Massachusetts” will be hosted at College of the Holy Cross on Thursday, September 29, 2022.
After remarks from the Governor and Lt. Governor, we’ll welcome to the stage Secretaries Tesler, Acosta, Kennealy and Card to talk about the potential available funding in each of their fields, and how communities can work with the Commonwealth to make the most of this funding, followed by a brief audience Q&A.
Afternoon workshops led by senior administration officials and local leaders from across the Commonwealth provide the chance, among other things, to dive deeper into these funding opportunities, think through the challenges facing your community, and hear from other communities looking to work through those same challenges.
Finally, you’ll hear from former Baker Chief of Staff and Harvard Taubman Center Senior Fellow Steve Kadish about some of the most promising strategies for working with community members and stakeholders to make the local change that our communities need.
Workshop topics include:
- Building the Municipal Workforce Pipeline: Challenges and Opportunities
- Early Education Reimagined: Funding Reform and Municipal Implications
- Broadening Broadband: Expanding Access to High-Speed Internet
- Transportation Infrastructure and Recovery: Stimulating Local Economies with Infrastructure Improvements
The Central Transportation Planning Staff to the Boston MPO is hosting an upcoming discussion on resilience in transportation planning at next week’s Regional Transportation Advisory Council meeting on May 10, from 2:30-4:05 PM. The Advisory Council is an independent public body that meets monthly to discuss transportation topics in the Boston region and help direct the Boston MPO’s work by advising staff and voting on the MPO board.
Staff will be discussing the MPO’s environmental and resilience work, and will welcome feedback on goals and ideas for the resilience program and priorities for incorporating resilience and climate adaptation into transportation planning.
You can find a Zoom link for the 5/10 Advisory Council meeting on the MPO Calendar, where a detailed agenda and more materials will be posted shortly.
Please reach out to Stella Jordan at sjordan@ctps.org if you have any questions.
Join us for an informational webinar about the next round of MAPC’s Accelerating Climate Resilience Municipal Grants which is launching the Invitation for Proposals on August 15!
MAPC is launching this next round to help advance strategies that protect people, places, and communities from the impacts of climate change.
Register for the informational webinar
For more information about the ACR grant program, please visit the program webpage.
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
Save the date – the Accelerating Climate Resilience 2023 Speaker Series continues in December. Learn about cleantech in your community and stay tuned for more details and featured speakers.
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
This event is now full. However, you can still join the waiting list, and if a spot opens up between now and the date of the event and you are next on the waiting list, we will contact you by email. Thank you!
MAPC invites you to join us for this exciting MetroCommon 2050 Speaker Series event featuring keynote speaker Henry Grabar.
Event Program:
- Keynote address by Henry Grabar; Slate staff writer, author (Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World), and a Loeb Fellow at the Harvard School of Design
- Panel of municipal planners will discuss how they are taking on the issue of the “perfect parking space”, and advancing sustainable and equitable housing and transportation options.
As cities and towns work to comply with the MBTA Communities Act, this event will focus on how to “right-size” parking for your community while managing this political issue and promoting healthy neighborhoods that are economically vibrant, equitable, and sustainable by design.