United WayUnited Way

Early Education & Out-of-School Time

United We Prepare

Climate Tech Tools & Education

Powered by Verizon and United Way
We are working to build more climate resilient communities. The United We Prepare initiative powered by Verizon and United Way Worldwide, is helping communities prepare for disasters before they strike, offering practical tools, clear plans, and the confidence that comes from being prepared. This national effort will help individuals plan for natural and man-made hazards like extreme heat due to climate change with technology workshops, community outreach, and a public engagement campaign this summer. Across our Commonwealth, low-income communities often bear the brunt of extreme weather events like heat stress, poor air quality, and flooding. These communities also typically lack the financial resources to manage and recover effectively after such events.

Through this generous grant from Verizon, we're launching Climate Ready Learning: Tech Tools & Training powered by Verizon and United Way

Workshops will be held in August, September and October for family childcare providers in Greater Boston and the Merrimack Valley including Chelsea, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Revere, and Salem. These workshops will provide the necessary resources to help these providers become more climate resilient and equip them for environmental challenges.

United, we’re working to empower these small businesses and the children and families they serve to weather any climate impact through innovation and education.

DID YOU KNOW?

Cities often experience the "urban heat island effect," where buildings and paved surfaces absorb and retain heat, making them hotter than surrounding rural areas. Solutions to turn down the heat include planting trees and vegetation, using cool roofs and pavements, and incorporating water features. Last year, 49% of Americans did not feel prepared for upcoming disasters, including extreme heat (FEMA).

KEEPING KIDS COOL CAMPAIGN

Boston faces significant climate change impacts, including extreme heat. United Way of Massachusetts Bay is partnering with the City of Boston’s Office of Early Childhood on their Keeping Kids Cool Initiative to combat the effects of climate change and extreme heat. United Way, along with Boston's Office of Early Childhood, is conducting three extreme heat/climate resiliency workshops to develop equitable and community-centered solutions to fight climate change and its impact. This also includes resources to support workshop learnings.

The initiative focuses on:

Cool Public Spaces

Programming offered through the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) and Boston Children Youth and Family Services (BCYFS)

Cool Childcare Facilities

Preparing providers to respond to heat

Cool Homes

Focusing on communicating with parents and carers on best practices to combat extreme heat

SHARED SERVICES CLIMATE TECH INITITIVE

We are equipping family childcare providers from our Shared Services program with “business community kits” containing items such as laptops/tablets, and MiFi devices. We will also offer training on how to activate the devices. Over 100 kits will be distributed in Greater Boston and the Merrimack Valley including Chelsea, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Revere, and Salem.

RESOURCES FOR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AND FAMILIES

We’re conducting 3 training workshops with family childcare providers which will include key resources including downloadable tool kits for extreme heat and social media templates for the families they serve.