Planning 101 Blog

Metro Mayors Coalition’s 2026 Shannon Grant Summer Event at Rumney Marsh Academy

Posted on July 14, 2026 at 11:53 am. Written by Jenifer Wallitsch

On July 10, more than 75 youth and over 30 adult volunteers, law enforcement officers, and community-based organization staff came together for the Metro Mayors Coalition’s 2026 Shannon Grant Summer […]

Building a Cool Culture in the Lower Mystic: The Summer 2026 Cool Communications Campaign

Posted on June 23, 2026 at 12:36 pm. Written by Amanda Linehan

Massachusetts residents are no strangers to inclement weather conditions – preparing for winter weather is part of our culture. Extreme heat, however, is a newer public health threat in Massachusetts, […]

Governor Healey Signs Important Transportation Funding Bills

Posted on June 15, 2026 at 11:19 am. Written by Georgia Barlow

Investments in transportation infrastructure are key to the success of the MAPC region and the whole Commonwealth. A safe, efficient, and reliable transportation network connects residents to employment, housing, education, and healthcare […]

Cooling our Homes & Buildings

Posted on June 12, 2026 at 9:14 am. Written by Amanda Linehan

While outdoor heat matters, people also experience high temperatures in their homes, schools, and workplaces. In fact, most heat-related deaths occur in people’s homes. Massachusetts buildings were historically designed to […]

Cooling our Blocks

Posted on June 11, 2026 at 9:42 am. Written by Amanda Linehan

Cooling does not only happen on the individual or building scale – it can also be done on the neighborhood scale through proactive land use choices. Shade, plant life, reflective […]

Cool Communities

Posted on June 10, 2026 at 10:04 am. Written by Amanda Linehan

Community plays a major – and possibly unsurprising – role in keeping people safe during extreme heat events. Researchers have found that most heat deaths happen at home among people […]

Cool Communications

Posted on June 9, 2026 at 9:45 am. Written by Amanda Linehan

Building heat resilience means building effective communication networks, so you can reach people before the next heat wave hits. Awareness of extreme heat, its impacts, and what people and decision-makers […]

Extreme Heat 101

Posted on June 8, 2026 at 9:13 am. Written by Amanda Linehan

Over the last couple of decades, heat-related deaths have risen dramatically in the U.S. even though they are largely preventable. Extreme heat can increase the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, […]

Shannon Grant Community Safety Day on the Hill 2026

Posted on April 21, 2026 at 1:50 pm. Written by Georgia Barlow

On April 14, 2026 violence prevention leaders, law enforcement, elected officials, and youth from across the Commonwealth gathered at the Massachusetts State House for the annual Community Safety Day on […]

MARPA Gathers for District Local Technical Assistance Day at the State House

Posted on March 10, 2026 at 1:02 pm. Written by Amanda Linehan

March 5, 2026 – Executive directors and staff representing the Commonwealth’s 13 Regional Planning Agencies gathered for a day of advocacy at the State House to brief lawmakers and staff […]