Medford Takes Steps To Connect With Under-Represented Groups

MEDFORD, MA — Medford is looking to hire five contractors to serve as part-time liaisons between the city and under-represented community groups. The city is particularly interested in residents with strong ties to the Haitian, Brazilian, Arabic and Latin populations in Medford.

These liaisons will play a critical role in the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness project to understand community needs and develop a resilient community center in Medford.

Liaisons will help the city become more "effective and culturally competent" in its communications. They will report to the Medford Board of Health Office of Prevention and Outreach.

In September, Medford and its partner agencies issued a report on the creation of Resilience Hubs and identified action steps for creating climate resiliency and preparedness locally.

The report followed a six-month community process through a grant project funded by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs Municipality Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program. Both the community process and the resulting report focused on equity and accessibility of city programs and services, setting next steps to advance racial and health equity in climate community resilience.

The "Resilient Medford, Resilience Hubs" project integrates community resilience into climate preparedness, enhancing the city's adaptability to emergencies through collaborative community efforts. The report specifically seeks to better understand how the city and its partner agencies can work together to better prepare residents for the impacts of climate change.

Resilience Hubs are designed to serve as community support centers before, during and after emergencies, including extreme weather events exacerbated by climate changes. Climate resilience is an environmental justice issue, as low-income neighborhoods and communities of color are often disproportionately more polluted, climate sensitive environments.