Mass Climate Summer seeks community partners!

 This summer, Massachusetts Power Shift (MAPS) is coordinating an innovative program to tackle global warming and build a movement commensurate with the enormity of the crisis.  We are looking to partner with community and faith groups from across the Commonwealth as we send teams of 8-10 college students biking from town to town during Mass Climate Summer.

 MAPS is the state-wide student driven climate change network dedicated to advancing bold and science based solutions to this enormous crisis.  MAPS works with college and university students on over 20 campuses to coordinate action and share resources.

 Climate Summer teams will spend between 3 and 4 days in each town they visit.  Teams will go door-to-door distributing Compact Fluorescent Light-bulbs and information about home energy audits and efficiency to help residents take the first step to saving money and the planet.  Residents will also be asked at the door to sign a petition demanding bold state and federal action in solving the climate crisis and invited to upcoming public events.  All team members will be trained to present an inspiring and motivating sustainability program.

 What Can You Do?

 Housing: Participants will need a roof to sleep under for the duration of their stay (generally 3-4 days).  All will be equipped to sleep comfortably on the floor.  Students should have access to any available kitchen to prepare meals and ideally would be able to use space during the day for staging and planning space.  It would be fantastic, but not necessary, to arrange for showers or potlucks with the host congregation.

 Presentation: We are looking for venues and partners to host the sustainability symposium called “Awakening the Dreamer”.  This three hour motivating program catalogs the state of environmental sustainability, spiritual fulfillment and social justice of our society, asks how we got here, and explores possibilities for the future.  We are looking for space to be used for the program with a projector or television with a DVD player.  We are also looking for partners to help with advanced advertising, calendar listings, outreach to other congregations and possible refreshments More information can be found about the program at www.awakeningthedreamer.org.

 Congregational representatives from all denominations, please contact:

Marla Marcum

Chair, Climate Change Task Force, New England Conference, United Methodist Church

781-475-0996    marla.marcum@gmail.com

SCHEDULE: Towns and dates in Italics are TENTATIVE and not yet confirmed.

Cummington                        June 12               1 night

Great Barrington                June 14 - 18         4 nights

Lenox                                    June 19 - 21        3 nights

Pittsfield                                June 21 - 24         3 nights

Williamston/North Adams      June 24 - 26         2 nights

Greenfield                            June 26 - 28        2 nights

Northampton/Holyoke         June 28 - July 1   3 nights
   Ware

Worcester                            July 1 - 4              3 nights

Marlboro/Hudson               July 4 - 7               3 nights

Sudbury                              July 11 - 14            3 nights

Maynard                             July 14 - 17            3 nights

Concord/Acton                  July 18 - 10             4 nights

Lexington                            July 21 - 24             3 nights

Waltham                            July 24 - 27             3 nights

Newton                             July 27 - 30              3 nights

Boston                              July 30 - Aug 1        2 nights