Read on for updates on what we've been up to this summer, and how you can get involved during Climate Preparedness Week in September!
Dear CREW Community,
Happy summer! As hot days grow longer and stronger, make sure to protect your homes, families, and pets from overheating!
Stories of flooding and disasters abound in the media, yet our CREW team continues to march forward. Our CREW team in the Port Neighborhood of Cambridge has started canvassing the neighborhood to connect with vulnerable residents, and this month, CREW also welcomes Aaron and Amber, our two new staff members.
Read on for updates on CREW's success at local health celebrations and advocacy awareness festivals.
Keep an eye out for Climate Preparedness Week events, especially as we head into September, which is National Preparedness Month. We encourage you to reach out if you would like to host or volunteer for an event in your community!
Do you have any questions or ideas that you would like to share with us? Are you inspired to join or to start a CREW? Let us know! We would love to support you and your community!
Cheers!
Craig S. Altemose
Founder and Executive Director
CREW Events, Past, Present, & Future:
25th Annual Hoops 'N' Health Celebration - June 16th
What better way to celebrate Father's Day weekend and health awareness than a day of basketball and flag football tournaments, free healthy lunches, cooking demonstrations, and a health fair? The 25th annual Hoops 'N' Health, hosted by the Men's Health League and the Men of Color Task Force last Saturday in Hoyt Field, Cambridge, proved to be a great success. CREW invited participants to stop by our table for a build-your-own-emergency-kit challenge and information about how to stay prepared for extreme weather. We enjoyed meeting with the many community members who stopped by!
First Annual Climate Preparedness Week - September 24th-30th
CREW is organizing the first annual Climate Preparedness Week to be held during the last week of September. We will be coordinating a variety of events in the Greater Boston area, so watch out for climate readiness workshops, tree-plantings, and more. We are also inviting individuals and group organizations alike to host their own climate preparedness events. Those who are interested should contact Aaron Troncoso at [email protected].
CREW Team Happenings
Meet Aaron, our new Volunteer Engagement Coordinator!
Aaron joined our staff two weeks ago, and he will be leading the preparations for Climate Preparedness Week and managing the growing number of CREW teams. A 2017 graduate of Yale College with a dual degree in Environmental Studies and Global Affairs, Aaron worked for the City of Burlington, VT, and the Natural Resources Defense Council before joining CREW. Read his full bio on our site.
Meet Amber, our summer intern!
Amber just finished her second week with CREW as well, and she is excited to help build CREW's presence at the local and regional levels, as well as to develop Climate Preparedness Week in September. You may have seen her tabling for CREW at recent events in the Boston/Cambridge area. She is a rising sophomore at Williams College. Read her full bio on our site.
Why we rallied: preserving the tree canopy in Cambridge
On Thursday, June 14th, CREW joined other Cambridge residents on the steps of City Hall to rally for preserving the City's tree canopy. Organized by the office of Councillor Quinton Zondervan, advocates spoke on behalf of three policy orders presented at the regular council meeting the following Monday, June 18th. The objective of the policy orders is to preserve Cambridge's tree canopy, which currently reduces local smog, improves residents' respiratory health, provides shade on hot days, and boosts community morale!
June and July meetings coming up
Cambridge City Engineer Kathy Watkins, as well as representatives from Kleinfelder, Inc., and the Cambridge Housing Authority will all be joining us on Thursday, June 21st from 6:30-9pm at the Pisani Center to speak on behalf of the city's emergency preparedness plans. Our next Cambridge CREW meeting is scheduled for July 18th. Interested in learning more? Email Cambridge CREW leader Liz Layton at [email protected].
News Updates: Extreme Weather and Climate Resilience in the Media
Death toll estimates following Hurricane Maria's aftermath put under the spotlight
A recent Harvard study found the death toll from Hurricane Maria to be far higher than the government's official count. As climate change increases the likelihood and severity of extreme weather events, we need to make sure that we're taking care of the most vulnerable members of communities. That's why it's so important to get together with your friends, family, and neighbors—before a big storm is even on the radar—and plan ahead and prepare.
Disaster floods Ellicott City for the second time in three years
Drainage systems in Ellicott City, Maryland, proved insufficient and outdated following the major flash flood that hit two weeks ago. As a result of rising ocean temperatures, storms like these have increased in both frequency and intensity. How can cities in vulnerable areas such as Ellicott City dedicate resources to adapting to changing climate patterns? And how can we better prepare our communities so that we are not just recovering but ready for the next disaster?
New Antarctica ice loss rates put coastal communities further at risk
Polar scientists recently found that Antarctica is losing ice three times faster than a decade ago. What does this mean for our vulnerable coastal communities? As the ice sheet in Antarctica melts, the continent exerts less gravitational pull on the world's oceans. Consequently, places like Boston and New York will be hit hardest in the coming years.
Check out our new Facebook page and keep following our Twitter!
CREW's Facebook page is up and running! Follow us to stay up to date on access to educational tools and support networks that we offer, news, event information, and updates about our work. Share with your friends to optimize climate resilience awareness in your community!
Follow us at @climatecrews on Twitter for emergency preparedness tips, relevant resilience news, and more!
Please help us build neighborhood resilience across New England by donating on our website, or sending a check to 30 Bow Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138.
Your support will make it possible for us to reach out to more communities and help them prepare for extreme weather events.
