MVP 2.0

Ashfield and Conway Seek Paid Community Liaisons

The towns of Ashfield and Conway have received a grant from the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to help protect their communities from the impacts of climate change. The funding, which comes from the state’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program (“MVP”), will support the towns to gather input from those most negatively affected by extreme weather and other climate-related dangers. The input gathered will help the towns identify future projects that will strengthen neighborly connections while preventing or managing the harsh realities of the changing climate.

A group of five leaders representing key committees in both towns, known as the MVP Core Team, has come together and conducted research on who might suffer most as a result of climate change. The team determined that they would like to hear more about the challenges faced by low-income residents, older adults, people facing high housing costs, farmers, single parents, newcomers, and young adults. The Core Team is seeking five new members who have strong ties to these communities, who are passionate about improving the environment, and who are excited to talk to their friends and neighbors about how they are affected by climate change and how to create a stronger, more resilient community. 

Those who join the Core Team in this capacity will be known as Community Liaisons, and will receive a stipend of $200 per month from December 2025 - July 2026. People selected for this role must either live or work in  Ashfield or Conway, commit to attending two meetings per month for the full eight-month period, and be willing to get out and talk to their neighbors about their climate-related challenges. All Community Liaisons, along with the rest of the core team, will receive training to help them develop effective strategies for preventing and managing climate change. All Core Team members will also review existing research, conduct community outreach, and collaboratively decide how to spend $100,000 worth of grant funds on a project that will help protect all residents, with a focus on the  most vulnerable from climate-related disasters.

Those who have the qualities being sought and who would like to serve on the Ashfield/Conway Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness team as a community liaison should fill out an application at www.tinyurl.com/townofconway. For questions or more information about this opportunity you may contact Caitlin Marquis, a member of the Core Team, at ashfield.conway.mvp@gmail.com or (413) 203-9845.