Cooler Communities Update Spring 2024

With Canadian wildfires, record high temperatures around the world, and many other daunting natural events that have happened so far this year, we would like to take this moment to emphasize connectedness. Together, we will discover and innovate solutions to our ongoing climate crisis, whether that be remediation or prevention. We often find strength and inspiration by watching all the amazing work that climate activists are doing around the world. And at the forefront of this movement are passionate young people eager to do what they can to change this world for the better. We, Cooler Communities, are grateful to give a platform to such engaged and inspirational students across Massachusetts. Take a look at our yearly highlights below.

—Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

In this post, you will find:

• Town highlights from the 2022/2023 Cooler Communities Program
• An Action Item that will help you save energy this summer
• A spotlight on a young environmental activist

Springfield

In Springfield, we piloted an enrichment course at Kiley Middle School, held an event at the Springfield Museums involving teachers and students across the city, we spread the word about our program to community members at the Earth Day event at the Springfield Museums, and participated in the Susainathon at STCC. If you live in Springfield, you can still help lower the community’s carbon footprint and support the students by taking a pledge!

Agawam

Agawam has completed its third run of the Cooler Communities program, this time at the Roberta Doering Middle School. The event featured artful superhero projects around energy efficiency, robots from the robotic club, and energy efficient model buildings. If you live in Agawam, please help lower the community’s carbon footprint and support the students by taking a pledge!

Middleborough

Middleborough ran a remarkable Cooler Middleborough event that featured an inflatable whale and many fascinating displays and kids activities by NECWA, a local non-profit protecting ocean life.  Students tallied visitors pledges and calculated the pounds of CO2 saved, then measured them in the weight of whales!

Hatfield

Hatfield ran its first ever Cooler Communities program on May 4th, 2023. This event, organized in close collaboration with the town’s resilience planning committee, featured student projects on climate change, artistic displays, and a musical performance from climate rapper, Tem Blessed. If you live in Hatfield, you can help lower the community’s carbon footprint and support the students by taking a pledge!

Framingham

Framingham’s 2nd Cooler Communities program featured student projects from 4 schools in Framingham with topics ranging from composting to the waste of fast fashion to marine life pollution. There were also lots of opportunities for residents to take action. You can help lower the community’s carbon footprint and support the students by taking a pledge!

Greater Commonwealth Virtual School

GCVS’ second Cooler Communities event featured even more in depth projects around environmental issues and solutions. Students made PSA websites and shared their work virtually while celebrating their learning with the entire school. You are welcome to help lower the community’s carbon footprint and support the students by taking a pledge!

West Springfield

West Springfield’s event highlighted a “Greener Westside” featuring energy efficient future landscape displays and other projects emphasizing solutions to environmental issues. If you live in West Springfield, you can still help lower the community’s carbon footprint and support the students by taking a pledge!