July 26 Working Cities Wednesday – Berkshire Bridges

Below is a summary of discussions from the July 26 Working Cities Wednesday meeting and how to get involved in each topic.

Art Place America Grant to help educate about storm water

Alison Dixon [email protected] 413-298-7024

Discussion:

Three things to do before the next meeting:

Talk to City about refilling dog waste bags
Create a map of all the rivers and lakes that show the storm drains into the river
Contact Kiwanis, Boy Scouts, Youth Action Research Team

Resources needed:

Access to energy conservation and renewable energy for low income residents

Nat Karns [email protected] 413-442-1521x 26

Discussion:

Use community (meaning neighborhood) leaders to provide information to their network and use existing organization leadership that is working with lower income populations already to provide information;
Need information on programs that are most applicable and useable to the population in common language and in multiple languages – certainly at least Spanish; there may be others such as Portuguese that need to be considered as well. They don’t need jargon or bureaucratic terms – need to be straightforward and pretty simple.
Use community events – block parties, 3rd Thursday, festivals, etc. to spread information

Transportation*

Barbara Bizzi [email protected] 413-442-0649

Discussion:

Resources needed:

*Working Cities is focused on transportation in the Berkshires. If you would like to work with us, please contact our Initiative Director.

Using technology to support food pantries

Zach Durso [email protected] 413-347-9224

Discussion:

Three things to do before the next meeting:

Resources needed:

Trauma Informed Berkshires

Chris Haley [email protected] 413-355-2014

Discussion:

Three things to do before the next meeting:

Resources needed: