The Kresge Foundation has awarded the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts a $600,000 grant for the Live Well Springfield Coalition to advance policy solutions aimed at combating climate change and equitably reducing health risks in low-income communities. The initiative brings together over 30 organizations working together to build and sustain a culture of health in Springfield that includes the broadest definition of health, including healthy eating, active living, the built environment, economic opportunity, housing, and education.
Livewell Springfield Coalition
- Ongoing Projects
- Health & Aging (...)
- Springfield
Overview
This effort involves diverse cross-sector stakeholders willing and committed to working together. Priorities, decisions, and resource allocation will be equitable, data-driven, built on trust, and culturally humble. To ensure lasting and equitable change, the work has to happen at multiple levels – policy, systems, programs, and environment and be dedicated to undoing structural and institutional racism. We celebrate our accomplishments together and know that there will always be work to do to safeguard and sustain the culture of health for all in Springfield.
Timeline
- 2012-2014—on behalf of the LWS Coalition, PVPC secured $2 Million grant from US CDC to expand and strengthen the infrastructure of the LWS Coalition.
- 2014-2016 City of Springfield engaged PVPC to facilitate development of the city’s first Climate Plan: Strong, Healthy & Just Climate Action & Resilience Plan. PVPC did so via LWS, collaborating with PHI-WM, Arise for Social Justice and students and faculty at UMASS.
- 2016-2018 PVPC joined PHI-WM in their successful application to the Trinity Health Systems Transforming Communities Initiative; PVPC advanced Complete Streets demonstration days in Springfield and documented the process to organize events on the city’s streets.
- 2019-2024 PVPC assisted PHI-WM and other LWS coalition members to secure funding from the Kresge Foundation’s Climate Change Health Equity Initiative PVPC researched and assisted with the design of the Community Choice Aggregation initiative and the Race & Health Equity Impact Assessment tool—drafting a Community Benefits Ordinance and related background research and educational materials.
- 2024-present PVPC assisted the LWS Coalition to secure $20M from the EPA’s for funding to update the Springfield Climate Action & Resilience plan among other projects. Work is currently on hold.