Building community resilience requires collaboration, innovation, and a focus on equity. Medford Connects, led by the Medford Health Department’s Office of Prevention and Outreach, is transforming social infrastructure to support historically marginalized communities facing climate change impacts.
Launched with eight initial partners, the initiative grew to include twenty diverse members with the support of ACBC Consulting. This coalition of nonprofits, community-based organizations, and city departments focuses on priority areas such as language access, economic stability, and senior support. Through multilingual engagement and community-centered strategies, Medford Connects is breaking down barriers to essential services for environmental justice groups and climate-sensitive populations.

The initiative employs workshops, strategic partnerships, and trusted local leaders to co-design solutions that address challenges like limited civic participation and access to resources. Bilingual liaisons fluent in Medford’s primary languages play a key role in fostering trust and expanding service awareness, which increased by 30%. These efforts have strengthened collaborations among providers and enhanced Medford’s readiness for climate-related crises.

As a model for the Massachusetts, statewide Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) 2.0 program, Medford Connects has set a new standard for community engagement, demonstrating how locally driven, equity-focused solutions can drive systemic change in the face of climate challenges.