Page 10 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, July 15, 2022 Resident Researchers to Center Community Voices in Creating Solutions to Rising Heat and Displacement A RLINGTON, MA — The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) and Everett Community Growers (ECG) were awarded an Environment Justice grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 1 to study residents’ experience with extreme heat and develop resident-led solutions in Everett. “The pandemic has laid bare the limitations of programs and policies that respond to Everett residents’ basic needs, such as food and housing, during emergencies,” said Kathleen O’Brien, Operations Manager at the Everett Community Growers. “Climate change is known to be a threat multiplier, most heavily impacting environmental justice communities — like Everett. At the same time, traditional strategies to mitigate climate change impacts, such as ‘green development’ may exacerbate social inequities and increase gentrification. Through this project, we will learn from residents about how best to protect our community from the hotter summers and heat islands we are experiencing. By engaging residents in workshops and activities aimed at understanding the connections between these issues and building power to organize for solutions, we hope to ensure that those historically left out of decision-making processes are at the forefront of climate resilience planning and implementation.” The project team will: 1) Examine policies, plans and programs that were activated during the pandemic via municipal and community-based organizations in Everett through participatory research; 2) Identify if these strategies are adaptable or improved upon for long-term climate resilience, with a particular focus on extreme heat, housing, and food insecurity; 3) Determine resident-led policy, systems and environmental change (PSE) strategies to combat extreme heat, housing and food insecurity. The research will be led by resident researchers using a participatory action research (PAR) model, which is grounded in the idea that the people who are most impacted by a problem are in the best position to understand and solve that problem. This means that research on the health impacts of climate change should be led by the people in the communities experiencing that change. Thus, our assessment will 1 focus on residents’ lived experiences and expertise and will be a collaboration with the One Everett coalition. “Though many entities are laying the groundwork for climate resilience planning and implementation, those most impacted are often not prioritized or involved in planning or implementation. Such is the case in Everett, a J& • Reliable Mowing Service • Spring & Fall Cleanups • Mulch & Edging • Sod or Seed Lawns • Shrub Planting & Trimming • Water & Sewer Repairs Joe Pierotti, Jr. vibrant and diverse environmental justice community in the Boston area,” said Melanie Gárate, Climate Resiliency Manager at the Mystic River Watershed Association. “It Is critical to understand residents’ current experiences of extreme heat, housing and food insecurity in order to implement climate resilience efforts and ensure that potential strategies to combat these issues do not increase social inequities, such as gentrification and displacement of lower-income and working-class residents.” About Everett Community Growers: Everett Community Growers (ECG) is a community-based food justice organization working to improve health and racial equity through urban agriculture, youth workforce development, and equitable policy change. We believe that everyone in Everett should have access to healthy, affordable, culturally appropriate food. We work to engage the community around food justice & sustainable agriculture, focusing on growing and distributing local produce, increasing social cohesion, and sharing local food knowledge through collaborative workshops and events. ECG currently runs the Florence St. Community Garden, the Tremont St Community Garden, the Northern Strand Community Farm and the Broadway Farm. S LANDSCAPE & MASONRY CO. Masonry - Asphalt • Brick or Block Steps • Brick or Block Walls • Concrete or Brick Paver Patios & Walkways • Brick Re-Pointing • Asphalt Paving www.JandSlandscape-masonry.com • Senior Discount • Free Estimates • Licensed & Insured 617-389-1490 Designing and Constructing Ideas that are “Grounds for Success” Landscaping Everett Students Who Made the UMass Amherst Spring 2022 Dean’s List A MHERST, Mass. – Below is a list of local students who were named to the dean’s list at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for the spring 2022 semester. In order to qualify, an undergraduate student must receive a 3.5 grade-point average or better on a four-point scale. EVERETT MCGONAGLE | FROM PAGE 5 setts Boards of Registration to accept a military spouse’s application for licensure or notify the spouse of what criteria the spouse was not able to meet within 30 days of the application. Expedited military spouse teacher licenses: establishes a military spouse certificate to be issued by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner to military spouse teachers that meet certain requirements. School enrollment for military children: allows military families to register and enroll in a school district when a service member first receives their relocation order, waiving the proof of residency requirement at the time of registration. This provision also allows military children who are transferring midsemester to enroll in and attend one of the Commonwealth’s virtual schools. Purple Star campus designation: establishes the Purple Star Campus Program, to be administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, to designate schools that demonstrate a commitment to students and families of service members. In-state tuition continuity for military-connected college students: ensures that a member of the military stationed in the Commonwealth, their spouse, or their children are deemed an in-state resident after their acceptance at one of the state’s higher education institutions. Civilian licensure and certification information: directs the Commissioner of Veterans’ Services to make information on civilian licensure and certification opportunities available to service members and veterans, and to provide information on military education and skills to relevant agencies. Open Burn Pit Registry: • Directs the Commissioner • Keara Marie Farrell • Brenda Amaral Genium • Sarah Haile • Sara Joujoute • Marisol Palencia Pinto • Abhik V Patel • Michelle Pham • Isadora Pimenta • Ashley Querette • Molly Solano • Kristopher Samuel Torres • Caroline Tran of the Department of Public Health (DPH) – in consultation with the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans’ Services and the Adjutant General of the National Guard – to develop learning resources on the health impacts of open burn pits during overseas deployment and information on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry to be distributed to health care providers, veterans’ service offices and organizations, service members and veterans. • Directs the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans’ Services – in consultation with the DPH Commissioner and the Adjutant General – to contact all members of the Armed Forces, National Guard and veterans to register for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry. • Requires the Adjutant General to request that the periodic health assessment for National Guard members determine whether a member is eligible to participate in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry and, if eligible, that the member register for the Registry. Massachusetts National Guard family education program: establishes a Massachusetts National Guard Family Education Program to allow National Guard members to transfer their unused education benefits under the National Guard Education Assistance Program to their dependents. Slot machines at veterans’ organizations: allows the Gaming Commission to issue limited slot machine licenses to veterans’ organizations. Founding anniversaries of U.S. Armed Forces: requires MCGONAGLE | SEE PAGE 12
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