Boston Flora

Category: Volunteer Opportunity

  • Monday, February 10 – Wednesday, February 12, 2025 – MYCC Lobby Day

    Join the Massachusetts Youth Climate Coalition as we sit down directly with our legislators to fight for state-level climate justice policy during our Youth Climate Lobby Week (week of 2/10/25). This is a great way to represent your community, have fun, and make a difference!

    The Lobby Week schedule:

    • Monday 2/10: afternoon and evening virtual trainings on how to lobby
    • Tuesday 2/11 IN-PERSON LOBBY DAY: Rally & legislator meetings at the MA Statehouse
    • Wednesday (2/12) – Friday (2/14): virtual legislator meetings for those unable to make it on 2/11

    The short link to this form is: bit.ly/mycc2025lobbyweek

    This event is designed to center the voices of people ages 14-24. If you’re 25+ we still welcome your support but we will ask you to indicate that below and prepare to take on more supportive roles, like note-taker, practice legislator, moral support in meetings, help navigating the statehouse, securing in-kind donations, etc.

    As always, we are advocating for policies aligned with our coalition Policy Principles. The list of actual priority bills will need to be refined once they have been filed in mid-January. Regardless we know already we’ll be asking for:

    1. Inclusive & Transparent Governance
    2. Environmental Justice
    3. Renewable Energy
    4. Equitable Funding
    5. Intersectional Climate Justice & Civics Education
    6. Nature, Land & Food-based Health

  • Thursday, January 16, 6:00 pm Eastern – How Your Voice Can Help Make the Charles River Swimmable

    The Charles River Watershed Association will host a virtual public meeting on Thursday, January 16 at 6 pm on making the Charles River Swimmable. The 1972 Clean Water Act promised “fishable, swimmable” rivers by 1983, yet we still cannot safely swim in the Charles River.

    However, the US Environmental Protection Agency is trying to force polluters to curb their stormwater runoff – the largest source of pollution in the river – and your voice is needed to make it a reality. Will the EPA continue to pursue its strategies during the next four years without public involvement?

    Join the webinar to learn about what’s prevented the Charles from being swimmable and how you can support the EPA proposal that will clean up the river. Register at https://www.crwa.org/events/reducing-phosphorus-pollution-in-the-charles-river

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  • Boston Flood Survey

    The Charles River Watershed Association, the Neponset River Watershed Association, and the Mystic River Watershed Association invite you to participate in an effort to make our community more climate resilient. If you see street or sidewalk flooding in Boston, let them know. By visiting bit.ly/floodsurveyboston and completing a brief form with a photo (a less than perfect shot from your phone is just fine!), the City of Boston Office of Green Infrastructure will develop a map of flood-impacted areas to inform policy decisions and design flood mitigation efforts. You may spot a corner drain that always overflows, a dip in the sidewalk that becomes a pond in heavy rain, or something much more significant, but please do report it. Add the link to notes on your phone so you have it the instant you see something.

  • Wednesday, January 15 – Application Deadline for 2025 Urban Ag Mentor Farm Program

    UMass Extension will work with three urban farms across Massachusetts to provide tailored and sustained technical assistance to help them tackle their most challenging issues over the course of the next year. Application deadline is Wednesday, January 15. For more information email urbanag@umass.edu.

    Last year’s farms were Nordica Street Community Farm in Springfield, the Regional Environmental Council’s YouthGROW program in Worcester, and Boston’s Urban Farming Institute. Each farm chose a program focus on pest management.

  • Gene Bollinger Named Interim President of The Friends of the Public Garden

    Leslie Singleton Adam, Chair of the Board of The Friends of the Public Garden, is pleased to introduce Gene Bolinger as Interim President.

    “Gene’s long-standing connection with our organization and his profound understanding of our mission and values will ensure the continuity of our efforts to enhance our community’s greenspaces into the new year. We are fortunate to have Gene’s decades of experience enhancing Boston’s open spaces, which will welcome an inspiring new chapter for the Friends.

    The staff’s dedication and professionalism have allowed for an incredibly smooth leadership transition over a busy holiday season, demonstrating the stability and strength of our organization. Gene’s background in open space and landscapes, coupled with 38 years of working and advocating for improvements to Boston’s park system make him a valuable addition to our team.

    Gene was appointed to the Boston Parks Commission in 2023 and has served as a volunteer on the Friends Common Committee and Council, becoming Council Co-chair this year. As Vice President and head of the landscape architecture practice of Weston & Sampson for decades, he participated in completing the recent Master Plan for Boston Common. Gene enjoys exploring our downtown parks through the lens of a park user, identifying ways to better the park experience.

    Gene will work alongside Liz Vizza as she prepares to part with the organization on December 31, 2024. We are immensely grateful to Liz for her unwavering dedication, inspiring leadership, and countless contributions to the Friends over the last 15 years. Liz, your impact on our organization will be felt for years to come.

    Please join me in welcoming our newest Friend, Gene. We are excited to harness his expertise and look towards the future as he supports us during this transition and sets the Friends up for success in our next chapter, which will begin with the appointment of a new President in the first quarter of the new year.”

  • The Robert F. and Jeanne R. Para Family Preserve

    The newly conserved Robert F. and Jeanne R. Para Family Preserve is a perfect example of what we can accomplish when we work together and plan for the future. This property is home to a variety of wildlife and important habitats including several ponds where osprey and bald eagles fish for their dinner, active beaver colonies creating dynamic wetland habitats, and sandy uplands that are perfect turtle nesting spots.

    And making this parcel even more important – the property borders Cohasset Brook Reservoir, an important source of drinking water for the town of Southbridge.  It not only expands the region’s protected habitat, but also safeguards the drinking water supply for Southbridge residents.

    Robert and Jeanne Para purchased this land in 1956 for their family of seven. They built a home and gardens for vegetables and planted fruit trees and blueberry bushes. They created a beautiful place for the family to grow, live, and play.  Once the children were grown and had families of their own, they shared their love of this land, nature, forestry, ponds, brooks and wildlife with their children and grandchildren. 

    For the Para family, completing this project fulfills a special wish. As Nancy Whittemore, trustee of the Robert F. Para Family Trust, puts it: “It was my parents’ dream that this land be protected and left in its natural state.” We’re honored to help make that dream a reality. To learn more, visit the website for the Opacum Land Trust at www.opacumlt.org

  • Saturday, December 14, 11:00 am – River Advocates Workshop

    Join the Charles River Watershed Association on Saturday, December 14 at 11 am in Cambridge for a River Advocates Workshop. This is designed for current advocates and anyone interested in learning more about the program. We will gather to discuss various advocacy issues affecting the Charles River watershed, and explore opportunities to get involved with the CRWA. Lunch will be provided. For details, visit https://www.crwa.org/

  • Saturday, December 14, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm – Winter River Advocates Workshop

    Join the Charles River Watershed Association for its Winter River Advocates Workshop, designed for current advocates and anyone interested in learning more about the program. We’ll gather on December 14th at 11 am at First Church in Cambridge, 11 Garden Street, to discuss various advocacy issues affecting the Charles River watershed and explore opportunities to get involved with the Charles River Watershed Association. Lunch will be provided. We hope to see you there!

    SPACES ARE LIMITED; RSVP TODAY! https://www.crwa.org/events/winter-river-advocates-workshop

  • Saturday, December 7, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm – The Museum of Science Green Jobs Fair

    The Museum of Science is celebrating green careers, jobs that help to improve the environment and conserve natural resources. The green job sector is on the rise, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting the industry to grow rapidly by 2032. Are you interested in joining a green career or learning more about the industry? Participating Organizations Include: Boston Medical Center, Boston Society of Landscape Architects, Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation, College to Climate, The Food Project, Greentown Labs, Local 103’s Joint Apprentice and Training Center, Lutron, Ocean Spray, The Possible Zone, PowerCorps Boston, Solaris Renewables, …and more!

    Event participants will receive a pass for Exhibit Halls admission at the check-in table in the Museum lobby. Passes are limited; available on a first-come, first-served basis – register now to guarantee your spot today!

    This showcase is the culmination of the Museum’s Year of the Earthshot, an exploration of the climate solutions and the actions we can take now to live sustainably on Earth. 

    This December 7 program is free, thanks to the generosity of the Lowell Institute. To register, click https://www.mos.org/events/careers-tomorrow-green-jobs-showcase

  • Tuesday, December 3 – Application Deadline for First Grants from The Henry Lee Fund for Boston Parks

    The Henry Lee Fund for Boston Parks aims to enhance public greenspaces throughout Boston by providing grants to support the care of trees and turf, sculpture maintenance, and special projects in neighborhood parks where the needs are clear, but the resources are limited. Friends President Emeritus Henry Lee demonstrated a lifelong commitment to public greenspace and historic preservation throughout Boston. Best known as one of the founders of Friends of the Public Garden and its leader for 41 years, Henry was an ardent champion of our entire urban park system. A staunch advocate for the restoration of sculpture throughout the city, he also helped to revive the city’s Art Commission in the 1980s.

    In recognition of his commitment to all our city’s parks, and in celebration of his 99th birthday, Friends of the Public Garden established The Henry Lee Fund for Boston Parks. This new fund embodies Henry’s commitment to equity in the quality of our public greenspaces. Grants will be supported by an endowment created by the Friends of the Public Garden, established with a $250,000 commitment from our Board. Administered by the Friends, grant decisions will be made by a committee that includes FOPG staff and board, representatives of the Boston Parks & Recreation Department, community volunteers, and the Friends’ arboriculture and sculpture consultants. Learn more, donate, or apply at https://friendsofthepublicgarden.org/leefund/ Awardees will be notified January 12, 2025.  For 2024, the Friends of the Public Garden will distribute nearly $40,000 with a grant maximum of $5,000.