2026 Conference Schedule

Wednesday, April 8th 2025
Bentley University 8am – 5pm

*Schedule is subject to change and will be updated as presenters are confirmed
Download PDF Schedule here

Registration & Coffee

8:00 – 9:00 am:
Registration & Sign-in (Danielson Room)
Everyone is encouraged to arrive early for maximum networking opportunities

All Day Exhibits

8:00 – 5:00 pm
Throughout the day, explore our All-Day Exhibits — including vendor booths showcasing businesses whose support makes the conference possible, where you can connect with solution providers and discover tools for local climate action. Stop by the Youth Climate Solutions Challenge poster sessions to meet student teams sharing innovative solutions, or try your hand at a few Climate Carnival games for a bit of fun between sessions. Later in the day, visit the Nonprofit and Community Resource Fair to connect with mission-driven organizations and community resources.

Welcome & Plenary Session: (Executive Dining Room)

9:00 – 9:10 am
Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:10 – 9:25 am
Plenary Address
Senator Mike Barrett

9:25- 9:55 am
Plenary Address – Leadership & Local Climate Action 
Reverend Mariama White-Hammond

Panel Session: (Executive Dining Room)

10:00 – 10:40 am

Innovative Climate Campaigns and Tools

  • Residents Influencing Residents, The Decarbonizer Program: A very effective means to accelerate electrification in your community.  Fred Davis
  • Greenify Stoughton: Students helping underserved households adopt energy-efficient upgrades. Greenify Stoughton is a participant in the Youth Climate Solutions Challenge. Ariha Jain, Gahelle Galette & Jennifer Verdieu
  • Sustainability Cafe: A one-stop event where residents learn about resources and programs that support sustainability in Newton. Armela Gjylsheni.
  • Educators Electrifying Everything: A pilot workplace outreach program that connects local coaches with school colleagues in a group effort to decarbonize educators’ homes.  Tom Ehbrecht.
  • Massachusetts Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory Tool and Climate Goals Tracker: Tools to easily access state data on EVs, solar and heat pumps and demonstrate impact in your community.  Zana Cranmer & Ellen Tohn

10:40 – 11:05 am
BREAK
Youth Climate Solutions Challenge Poster Presentations

Breakout Session #1

11:05 – 11:55 am (50 minutes)

Choose one breakout session to attend:

  • Building Partnerships For a Resilient Community – Caroline Weiss – 325B
  • Engaging Youth Voices: Youth Perspectives on Climate Education & Action – Meera Subramanian – 325C
  • From the Ground Up: Real-World Lessons for Going Geothermal – Marybeth Martello – 305A
  • Getting the Word Out: Best Practices for Climate Communications – Scott Bernstein – 325A
  • How to Build a Community Coaching Program – Lisa Wolf – 335
  • Making Decarbonization Accessible for Everyone: Navigating Resources for Local Building Electrification – Seth Federspiel – 305B
  • Making Sense of It All – Rev. Mariama White-Hammond – 340

Lunch & Awards: (Executive Dining Room)

11:55 am
LUNCH
Book Sales Start
Student & Young Adult Networking Lunch

12:35 – 1:00 pm
MassEnergize Remarks & Awards

1:00 – 1:20 pm
Keynote Speaker
Tom Toro

1:20 – 1:55 pm
Spotlight Session
DOER Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony and GECA Executive Director Larry Chretien will share their perspectives on the 2026 “Climate Bill” and the energy affordability crisis.

1:55 – 2:20 pm
BREAK
Book Sales continue with authors Meera Subramanian and Tom Toro available to sign their books

Breakout Session #2 (50 minutes)

2:20 – 3:10
Choose one breakout session to attend

  • Art That Fuels Change: Storytelling in the Climate Movement – Val Wang, Miranda Braganini, Alyssa Dube, Meera Subramanian, Tom Toro – 325B
  • Bridging the Gap: Energy Affordability for Moderate Income Residents – Riddhima Dave – 305B
  • Municipal Sustainability Round Table: Supporting Municipal Staff & Learning From Each Other (Municipal Staff Only Please) – Jillian Wilson-Martin – 335
  • Power Mapping: A Strategy Tool to Understand Power – and How to Infl uence It – Meghan Murphy – 340
  • Rights of Nature: A Complimentary Means for Addressing Climate Change by Recognizing Rights of Wetlands – Gillian Davies – 325A
  • Using Psychology to Build Better Climate Messages – Dr. Ana Sebherwal & Prof. Gregg Sparkman – 325C
  • What Does Electrification Look Like in My Community? – Julia Fox – 305A

Closing Plenary (35 minutes): (Executive Dining Room)

3:15 – 3:50 pm
The Next Wave of Climate Innovation: What’s on the Horizon for Decarbonziation
David Miller

Closing Remarks: (Executive Dining Room)

3:50 – 4:00  pm
Closing Remarks – Nathan Scott
Evaluations

Non-Profit Fair & Community Resource Fair

4:00 – 5:00 pm
Non-Profit Fair & Community Resource Fair – Danielson Room / 325ABC

5:00 – 7:00 pm
Dinner Meetings (Invite Only – 305AB)

Translate »