Nov 02, 2023

A Cool Place in the Neighborhood

On a small triangle of land between Bennington and Lawrence Streets stand picnic tables, corrugated metal beds bursting with flowers, and trees in planters of hot pink, lemon yellow, and royal blue. It’s an uplifting treat in this Lawrence, Massachusetts, neighborhood and a considerable contrast to what stood here before – a jumble of parked cars… Continue reading A Cool Place in the Neighborhood

A view of Lawrence's Bennington Triangle pop-up park.
Oct 11, 2023

Q&A with Monica Huertas

Monica Huertas is among those leading the fight for environmental justice in her community. The mother of four’s passion lies in her work as a doula, but she recognizes that for her own kids – and the babies she delivers – to grow up healthy, she and her neighbors must take a stand against the industrial pollution fouling her community.

Monica Huertas, a Latina woman wearing a brown t-shirt and jeans, sitting in front of the water with a crane in the background. Her shirt reads "People's Port Authority."
Sep 18, 2023

$2.2m project will fund 500 trees for ‘disadvantaged’ neighborhoods in Manchester, N.H.

For those on the ground, the project will address disparities they’ve long observed. Arnold Mikolo is an environmental justice advocate with the Conservation Law Foundation, an environmental advocacy group partnering with the city on the tree planting project. He’s been speaking with residents to gather their feedback and concerns about environmental issues in the center city communities. “One of the main things they said was, ‘This neighborhood is really hot,’” Mikolo said.

Sep 15, 2023

Conservation Matters: Fall 2023

The fossil fuel industry spent billions to sabotage trust in climate science. Now, they’re spending billions to recast some fossil fuels as clean and sustainable. 

Image shows the cover of a newsletter with the words Conservation Matters and Conservation Law Foundation at the top. A photo shows three smokestacks spew white clouds of smoke against a blue sky. "The Dirty Truth about Greenwashing" is written against a swatch of bright green paint.
Sep 14, 2023

Manchester Receives $2.2 Million USDA Grant for Urban Forestry Project

“This award is a testament to the commitment of Manchester to create a more equitable and sustainable urban environment,” said CLF Environmental Justice Advocate Arnold Mikolo. “Urban forests provide critical shade during heatwaves, help control stormwater, and provide a habitat for animals. By maximizing community access to these benefits, this initiative promises to transform the quality of life for residents and enhance the city’s ecological and economic sustainability for years to come.”

People sitting and walking along a treelined street
Sep 13, 2023

The Power of Social Investment

In the world of investing, real-world outcomes are often neatly severed from investment strategy. Return on investment, rates, and yields are guiding principles that supersede seemingly idealistic notions of community-building and the environment. But a more thoughtful and creative investment approach has taken root over the past decade. That approach recognizes that the savviest long-term… Continue reading The Power of Social Investment

building in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood