THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, March 22, 2024 Page 9 MESSAGE | FROM PAGE 1 tional activist group Clean Water Action, which celebrated its 50th birthday in 2022. Clean Water Action’s founder – in 1972 – was David Zwick, who was instrumental in writing and securing passage of the federal Clean Water Act of 1972. Sadly, Zwick passed away after an illness just over a month ago at the age of 75 on February 5. According to Clean Water Action representatives, “The Clean Water Act ended the culture of dumping raw sewage and untreated industrial waste into our waters and led to a dramatic improvement in the health and safety of waterways across the country.” In its 50-plus years, Clean Water Action has expanded on a national basis to all 50 states, from its base in Washington, D.C. One of these outreach states is Massachusetts. For the past several months, Malden High School students from MHS educator Kathy Maglio’s classes and others at the school have reaped the benefi ts of a regular outreach from Clean Water Action MA. Omesa Monkaya is the Youth Engagement Program Manager for Clean Water Action MA, and Recycling Day. To help celebrate, Monkaya led the group in some activities where they learned how to tackle waste and “embrace a zero waste lifestyle,” Monkaya said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “These future leaders will build our sustainable future!” Monkaya added to his post on Wednesday. Monkaya, who grew up in the ZERO WASTE INITIATIVE: Malden High Scho ol students who are members of the school ’s Youth Action Collaborative this week participated in a “Zero Waste I nitiative” led by Clean Water Action Massachusetts ’ Youth Engagement Pr o gram Manager, Omesa Monkaya. (Courtesy/CleanWater/MA/Posted on X) he is a regular visitor to Malden High student members of the MHS Youth Action Collaborative. Monkaya works with the student members and staff to familiarize them with the Clean Water Action concepts and initiatives, both national and state issues. This week, on Tuesday, March 18, Monkaya was at Malden High School to help the Youth Action Collaborative mark World Kisii highlands in Western Kenya, says he “witnessed fi rsthand the devastating impacts of climate change and made it a personal mission to help communities adapt to and enhance their resilience towards those impacts.” Monkaya graduated from Clark University in Worcester in the summer of 2023 with a master’s degree in Environmental Science & Policy with a concentration in Climate Change Impacts & Adaptation. He brings his over eight years of experience in environmental campaigning and climate advocacy to his role at Clean Water Action as the Youth Engagement Program Manager where he will be adapting the Youth Action Collaborative curriculum and empowering youth – including the Youth Action Collaborative at Malden High School – to take action on environmental issues in Massachusetts. COORDINATOR | FROM PAGE 1 cently and outlined her plans and goals in her new role. Chief among her goals, Harling said, is outreach— both to city staff and also the community. "I want to make sure everyone who needs a resource has one in me if they want to discuss anything, if it's a complaint, a suggestion or to express a need for assistance through a resource," Harling told the Councillors at a recent meeting. The new Malden DEI Coordinator, who is part of the staff of the offi ce of Mayor Gary Christenson, said another key goal is to include as many people in possible in the outreach plans. To that end, Harling and the Mayor's Office staff recently hosted a well-attended public meeting in the Council Chamber on DEI, explaining what DEI actually is and the ways in which the community can access information and services in this realm. "We want to reach out to more staff as well as more community members— more than just the same faces," Harling said. She told the Councillors she has made survey forms available to many diff erent groups around the community to try and formulate a database of contacts and information about exactly what people might be seeking from her as the DEI Coordinator. Harling said she also intends to plan her own events from the Mayor's Offi ce as well as participate in others in the community. Councillors At-Large Carey McDonald and Karen Colon Hayes and Council President Steve Winslow all commended Harling on her presentation and encouraged her to move forward on the goals she had put out for their information. "We appreciate the work and presence you have already established with the Racial Equity Commission and what you plan on doing in the future," Councillor McDonald said. "DEI is really always a responsibility for me as a City Councillor and for all of us Councillors. It is also exciting for Malden to be a part of the new regional consortium on racial equity (REACH) which will keep us up-to-date on best practices and DEI strategies." Subscribe to The Advocate: www.advocatenews.net
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