Report by Judith Black, Photos by Jerry Halberstadt
[Judith Black hosted the gathering, supported by 350 Mass members including Steve Andrada, Jim Mulloy, and Ellen Leaman]
Stronger together
On April 11, 2024, at a meeting organized by members of the 350 Mass-North Shore Node, advocates for climate and justice launched the Northeast of Boston Climate Roundtable at the Torigian Senior Center in Peabody.
The primary objective of the roundtable is to enable all the fabulous groups doing this work on Cape Ann, Greater Andover, and the North Shore to collaborate to advance each of our missions.
When we gathered, cheese and humus and crackers and grapes and cookies consumed, we began with a story from W. Africa about how all things are connected, and then we played! Moving around a small space we greeted one another with our eyes, shoulders, elbows, and more. This broke down barriers, introduced a sense of play, and enabled us to meet one another outside ye old brain center.
Many justice issues are also climate issues. Many climate issues are also justice issues. Both climate and justice issues are impacted by our political system. Whether an organization is pressing for specific legislation, getting out the vote, working for a sea change in how we obtain and use energy, promoting and building green, affordable housing, or trying to raise awareness on the precarious state of our oceans and natural habitats, and moving to support them, we are stronger together.
Many justice issues are also climate issues. Many climate issues are also justice issues. Both climate and justice issues are impacted by our political system
A broad base
The roundtable enjoyed wide participation, including 350 Mass North Shore, Andover WECAN, Breathe Clean North Shore, Cape Ann Climate Coalition, Citizen Climate Lobby, Green Beverly, Green Peabody, HealthLink, Healthy Air/Clean Air Coalition, Ipswich Climate Resiliency Committee, ISO-NE CLG & No Coal No Gas, Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN), Mass Sierra Club, North Shore Parish Climate Justice, Salem Alliance for the Environment (SAFE), and Town Green (Cape Ann).
Presentations
A representative of each organization shared their mission, the tactics they employ, some of their wins, and issues they are still wrestling with.
People smiled and laughed in relief as they heard that someone else had run into the same frustration or gained a similar victory as they had experienced.
This enabled us to see how various groups were addressing everything from town-based issues, like establishing composting in their schools, to educating their communities regarding clean air and regenerative agriculture, to pressuring state and federal legislators for laws that adequately address important issues, to trying to close down all the New England peaker plants.
Critical mass
Here was the real galvanizing energy of the night. The challenge we faced was, with such a broad range of concerns and styles of approach, how could we support one another?
Participants then assembled into small groups to discuss how we might support one another. Here was the real galvanizing energy of the night. The challenge we faced was, with such a broad range of concerns and styles of approach, how could we support one another?
For starters, we saw that there was a great deal of experience and knowledge in the room.
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Why should one town have to start from zero, trying to adopt the Specialized Stretch Code when a number of the towns represented had already done it, or experienced setbacks in their attempts? We could create a google drive, and possibly a spin-off gathering, that included all of their approaches and experiences. Groups just wading in could learn from them and save valuable time and effort.
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Many groups were looking for broader engagement in their communities. When Green Beverly said that they had 100 active volunteers there was almost a group faint. What we learned from Green Beverly was that if you offer food, child care, and transportation, they will come!
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Repeatedly, people echoed that they needed more social media presence, but weren’t sure of the best way to create that and wanted training.
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Everyone wanted to engage more youth, and two of the groups did extensive and successful youth outreach that we could all learn from.
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Everyone is concerned with air quality, and we learned about Purple-Air air quality monitors, which can startle and motivate people to become involved once the health and climate hazards are spelled out.
Everyone agreed that they wanted to continue this effort and they wanted it to be fun. Thus, our future meetings will probably happen either on trampolines or over green drinks.
