Below is our newsletter which is specifically curated for our community of practice. Feel free to share this newsletter with a colleague and invite them tojoin in!
We're interested in learning more about our members and how we can support our collective efforts! Please take a few minutes to complete our short Member Survey here. We'll use your input to determine where to focus our efforts going forward. We greatly value your feedback and thanks for all you do!
The survey is anonymous, however you'll see an option to share your email to enter a prize drawing at the end. We'll randomly select two winners to receive either What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson or Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World by Katharine Hayhoe.
*Note for new members* If you joined Mass ECAN in the last three months, you should have received an email earlier this morning with a link to our separate New Member Survey. New members please take that survey, not the one above. Thanks!
Mass ECAN Field Trips
Join us for a series of field trips showcasing wildlife and amazing climate adaptation work! This series is organized in partnership by Mass ECAN, the MVP Program, DER, and local project partners.
We have an exciting day planned out in the Pioneer Valley! Join us for one or both of the field trips below on October 15 (rain date for both is October 16.)
Partnering with Beavers, Northampton
October 15, 10am - 12pm
Join us at the former Pine Grove Golf Course in Northampton to see the re-wilding and partnering with beavers happening on site. We’ll learn how beavers play a role in increasing resilience to flooding in river ecosystems and about related work at a neighboring golf course. We’ll hear from local partners from the City of Northampton, Mass Audubon, The Trustees, and Fuss & O’Neill. Afterwards, we’ll gather for an optional picnic and networking lunch. RSVP here.
Fisheries, Belchertown
October 15, 2pm - 4pm
Join us to explore fisheries in Belchertown with MassWildlife! On this trip, we will observe electrofishing, watch tag implantation, and learn about the systems used to track fish movements and population dynamics. We’ll hear about challenges for coldwater streams and fish, such as brook trout, in a changing climate. Those with waders are welcome to get a closer look in the Swift River. RSVP here.
Are you hungry for generous climate dialogue and building community around solutions? Join us for the second book of our Climate Book Club series. This time, we’re reading Rising by Elizabeth Rush. Rising weaves together stories of people dealing with sea level rise in their daily lives. During 8 sessions between September and January, we’ll reflect on these stories and work together to navigate the way forward in this challenging time. Jes Szetela of UMass Extension and Emma Gildesgame of The Nature Conservancy, in partnership with the Proactive Coastal Relocation Network, will co-facilitate a 16-week-long book read of Rising. If you are interested, see details here and fill out this survey to join!
Member Spotlight
Every month, we highlight someone in our community of practice so you can learn about a variety of adaptation work and "meet" a new colleague!
Alejandra Juárez-Díaz Community Engagement Manager
Groundwork Lawrence
Bio: Alejandra has been with Groundwork Lawrence since spring 2023, where she supports efforts to strengthen community engagement and build the leadership capacity
of the resident task force, Lawrence Pa’Lante. Previously, she worked as a Registered Nurse in a private pediatric office, where the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted for her the deep connection between mental health and the environment. Drawing from her background, Alejandra is dedicated to advancing public health and environmental justice by empowering residents, fostering environmental stewardship, and organizing for systemic change and institutional accountability.
Climate Adaptation Project:Alejandra is collaborating with Lawrence Pa’Lante and the Green Team youth program to conduct a climate-related needs assessment in the Lower Tower Hill neighborhood of Lawrence. Through community science, the project gathers data on extreme heat and air quality to guide future adaptation strategies. A great example of this work is the Climate Safe Neighborhoods Story Map. These findings will inform local interventions, strengthen youth and resident leadership, and contribute to the development of a Climate Action Plan.
Announcements
Event: The Environmental Business Council is hosting a webinar series focused on Resilient Waters – Case Studies in Flood Modeling and Adaptation. The next three webinars are happening throughout the month of September! Learn more and register here.
Event: The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), and the Municipality Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program team are hosting a webinar to officially launch the Climate Resilience Playbook! September 10 at 12pm. Register here.
Event: This month’s webinar, hosted by US Fish & Wildlife Service and partners as part of a 12-month series, will discuss managing forests for habitat in an urban environment. September 16 at noon. Register here.
Event: The Environmental Business Council is hosting a Leadership Program featuring Deanna Moran, Chief Coastal Resilience Officer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. September 17 at 4pm in Boston. Learn more and register here.
Event: Join Communities Responding to Extreme Weather for Climate Preparedness Week! A week of community oriented groups hosting events of learning, service, and actions to better prepare our communities for extreme weather events and the effects of climate change. September 22-30. Learn more and find an event here.
Event: The MA Association of Conservation Commissions is hosting their next Lunch & Learn Webinar on Stormwater Report Interpretation. September 24 at 12pm. Learn more and Register here.
Event: The Massachusetts Rivers Alliance announced their 2025 Rainwater Readiness Stormwater Workshop Series. The first workshop is in person on September 25 at 8:30am. Learn more and register here.
Event: The next Climate Adaptation Forum, From Barriers to Blueprints: Evolving Environmental Regulations for a resilient future, will explore how forward-looking jurisdictions are embedding climate adaptation into permitting, zoning, and design standards. Sept. 26 at 9:30am-12:30pm. Register for in-person or remote attendance here.
Request for Responses: The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) is seeking a vendor who can support the incorporation of climate resilience considerations into existing standards. Learn more and view the full RFQ here. Submit responses by September 19 at 5pm.
Job: Director Climate Action Accelerator, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. Build consensus for climate solutions grounded in Harvard's research and expertise. Apply here.
Job: Water Resources Engineer, Staff or Senior Staff, Cambridge, MA. Join Inter-Fluve, a water resources science and engineering firm specializing in river restoration and other water-related projects. Apply here.
Job: Sanctuary Director, Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, Lincoln. Direct Mass Audubon's programs, properties and activities at its flagship wildlife sanctuary. Apply here.
Fall Conferences
September 18-19:Local Solutions. Dartmouth College. This is the regional conference occurring in between National Adaptation Forums. Attend trainings, presentations, panels, and networking opportunities focused on promoting a climate resilient, equitable, and economically revitalized rural Northeast region. Register here.
October 22-24: Climate Beacon. Lyrick Back Bay. Join leaders, decision makers, experts, and practitioners in the climate space to chart a course to a more livable, sustainable future. Register here.
October 25:Fall MA Association for Conservation Commissions Conference. Devens Common Center. Join fellow environmental stewards to discuss opportunities for environmental protection while also developing housing and energy resources. Registration coming soon.
November 6:Regional Conservation Partnerships (RCP) Network Gathering. UMass Amherst. With an emphasis on regional collaboration and the theme “A Home for Us All: Working Together for a Resilient Future”, this gathering will focus on the crucial intersection of housing, conservation, resilience, and justice. Registration coming soon.
The Mass ECAN Reader
In case you've been wondering what to read next:
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Explore the 2025 Latino Climate Justice Framework to learn how to address the disproportionate impacts of climate change on Latino communities. Take this opportunity to celebrate and learn more about our colleagues leading climate action, for example here.
Biodiversity Conservation Goals: The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently unveiled a 25-year plan to protect and restore nature across Massachusetts. It is designed to rebuild nature, sustain the health and well-being of residents, and enhance the overall quality of life and economy for everyone. MA will also be the first state to join the IUCN. Learn more and read the Biodiversity Conservation Goals for the Commonwealth.
ow beavers play a role in increasing resilience to flooding in river ecosystems and about related work at a neighboring golf course. We’ll hear from local partners from the City of Northampton, Mass Audubon, The Trustees, and Fuss & O’Neill. Afterwards, we’ll gather for an optional picnic and networking lunch. RSVP 
out the systems used to track fish movements and population dynamics. We’ll hear about challenges for coldwater streams and fish, such as brook trout, in a changing climate. Those with waders are welcome to get a closer look in the Swift River. RSVP 