Advancing Equitable Energy Programs: Breaking Barriers to Access
Riddhima Dave, Fabiane Goncalves, Andrealis Martinez Padilla, Bryson Rose
ROOM 325C
Across Massachusetts, equitable energy programs are essential to ensuring all communities—especially those historically excluded—can benefit from clean energy and efficiency initiatives. This panel brings together leaders working at the intersection of climate justice, community engagement, and energy access to share strategies for breaking down barriers and increasing participation in energy programs. Panelists will share guidance on creating and maintaining solid grassroots partnerships with local organizations, fostering trust amongst diverse types of communities and coordinating between public and private sector stakeholders to ensure inclusivity permeates through every facet of a program. Speakers will draw examples from their work community organizing and advocacy work to discuss both successes and failures, along with how to maintain accountability and handle mistakes.
Adventures in Heat Pump Coaching
Steve Breit, Mary Gard, Mark Ralston, Lisa Wolf, Bob Zogg
ROOM 305B
Coaching by local volunteers has proven to be a highly effective way of helping residents convert their homes to energy-efficient heat pumps. From this panel of experienced coaches, we'll learn about what motivates them, how they were trained, how they help clients, obstacles faced, and lessons learned.
Engaging Youth Voices:
Youth perspectives on climate education and action
Lisa Paul, Sara Karp, Lincoln Pekock, Gabriella Temps
ROOM 335
Hear from a panel of youth leaders and adult mentors on ways that they enact change and educate their schools and communities on the issues surrounding climate change. They will share their experiences around what initially drew them to this work, what projects that have completed and are currently working on, and what challenges they have faced. This workshop is an opportunity to listen to and amplify the voices of our youth, learn what motivates their action, and learn how we can support their work.
Grassroots Volunteer Roundtable:
Share your successes and ask questions of your peers
Aimee Powelka & Karen Root Watkins
ROOM 325A
Join other grassroots volunteers for a peer-to-peer discussion. Come with your questions and be ready to volunteer information on something your group has worked on that had a successful outcome. Our focus will be on the ways that grassroots groups can act to help create positive change in their community.
Mass Save 2025 – 2027:
Learn about the new Program Plan
Emily Horton-Hall, Gabrielle Hajos, Jayne Lino, Kevin Parse, Lori Timmermann
ROOM 305A
The Sponsors of Mass Save will share what resources and programs are available including new focus areas and an interview with a Community First Partnership organization utilizing the program offerings for their community.
Municipal Sustainability Roundtable:
Supporting municipal staff & learning from each other
Jillian Wilson Martin
ROOM 325B
Join other municipal sustainability professionals for a roundtable discussion. Come with two best practice suggestions and two questions for your peers. Also - is there a municipal program you admire? We'd love to know about it!
Power Mapping:
A strategy tool to understand power — and how to influence it
Meghan Murphy
ROOM 340
As community climate leaders we work with many stakeholders, each with their own level of influence over decisions — some will be allies, others will be in opposition to your goals, and more will fall in between. Power mapping is an exercise to help you identify who holds power and figure out what will move them to the action you want. In this participatory session, we’ll learn about the power map, practice making our own in groups, and show how to use them to develop effective community organizing strategies. Expect to leave with a new strategy tool for your team’s next campaign.
