RSVP for Climate Convening 2025: Building the Somerville Area’s Capacity to Respond

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Climate Convening 2025: Building the Somerville Area’s Capacity to Respond

Saturday 3 May, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. (Rain date Sunday 4 May, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.)

22 Vinal Ave, Somerville, MA

This convening will be conducted in English.

We welcome Somerville-area workers, visitors, and residents who are involved in local climate action or who want to be involved! Join us to hear what’s happening, meet other advocates, ask questions, and create a collective response.

Please confirm your participation in the Climate Convening by filling out the following form. RSVPs won't close, but if you'd like to speak on behalf of your organization during our initial "lightning round" of presentations, please complete this form by Wednesday 23 April.

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A call for mutual aid!

When a fire breaks out, emergency response teams call on each other to come to their aid, and neighbors support and sustain each other with whatever resources we can share. Everyone has something to offer, and everyone has things we need.

Given current cutbacks in funding and regulations, it is all the more crucial that we come together, knowing that one of the most important predictors of climate resilience is engaging with our neighbors.

On Saturday 3 May, Somerville-area climate, environmental, and biodiversity justice advocates; mutual aid organizers; justice advocates; and concerned residents will gather during the city’s SustainaVilleWeek to explore shared concerns and goals, network, and build resilience. Hosted by the Somerville Community Growing Center, Climate Convening 2025 will ask how we can grow Somerville-area efforts during a period of setbacks at the federal level, share responses to the obstacles we’re facing, be better accountable to anti-Blackness and settler colonialism, and make connections to support each other’s work. Community engagement is a strong predictor of resilience in our ongoing climate crisis. Convening together in common space, we will celebrate and strengthen our capacity to respond to the ongoing climate, environmental, and biodiversity emergencies, as these intersect with white supremacist and colonial agendas, and reduce harm to the vulnerable human and nonhuman members of our shared ecosystem.

How do we–Somerville-area workers, visitors, and residents–respond locally with so many national fires burning?

Climate Convening 2025: Building the Somerville Area’s Capacity to Respond is supported in part by a Public Humanities/Community Engagement Grant from the Mandel Center for the Humanities at Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts.

Email *

Please provide your name and pronouns. *

Will you attend the Climate Convening at the Somerville Community Growing Center, Saturday 3 May, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.? *

Yes

Maybe

In event of rain, will you attend on the rain date of Sunday 4 May, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.? *

Yes

Maybe

What organization(s) or group(s) will you be representing at the Climate Convening, if any? *

If you are representing an organization, group, or city office: Will you be able to share a 1-minute story about your organization's current projects or passions, obstacles your group is facing at this unprecedented time, or ways you have worked in coalition during our opening "lightning round" of introductions? *

Yes

Not applicable.

The Growing Center has a limited number of plastic outdoor armchairs. We encourage attendees to bring blankets or yoga mats for sitting on the lawn. (If it's been a rainy week, consider bringing a tarp to put under your blanket.) We also recommend bringing a magazine or book as a writing surface (we will provide paper and pens). *

Thanks for letting me know!

Required

The Growing Center is a short walk from Union Square, near the Somerville High School on Highland Avenue, and accessible via the Green Line and buses on Highland and Somerville Avenues. Although the Growing Center lawn is accessible, we do not have accessible parking. Vinal Ave is steeply sloped downhill, and parking on Vinal Avenue is by permit only. Do you have any accessibility concerns?

Please note that the Growing Center, a city-owned and volunteer-run space, cannot provide snacks or beverages. Please feel free to bring your own (non-alcoholic) beverage and snacks (a bag of clementines, granola bars etc.). You must carry out any food, wrappings, and containers when you leave the event (we do not have sufficient trash facilities). Smoking, vaping, and alcoholic drinks are not allowed on this city property. The Center has one porta-potty for our use. As this is an outdoor event, please dress for the weather. *

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Thank you! Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

A copy of your responses will be emailed to the address you provided.

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