Become A Cambridge Heat Justice Community Liaison

As part of Cambridge’s ongoing work to protect communities from extreme heat, the Office of Sustainability is looking for residents to participate in an 18-month heat justice project funded by a state grant. We’re selecting five people who have strong connections in vulnerable communities, who want to listen to their friends and neighbors, and who can use what they learn to help shape real solutions.

The liaisons are part of a state initiative called the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness 2.0 Program. It helps Massachusetts cities and towns identify local climate risks and create projects that build social resilience. The idea is that stronger, more connected communities are better able to respond to and recover from extreme weather.

We’re especially hoping to reach communities most at risk from extreme heat, such as outdoor workers, youth, older adults, and people with disabilities. We also want to connect with groups that have historically been excluded. It’s a plus if liaisons have lived experience with financial or housing insecurity. Experience with community engagement and bilingual skills would also be helpful.

Liaisons will join a group of municipal staff, and together they’ll make up the Core Team. In the program’s first year, the Core Team will lead conversations across the city to understand community needs and develop a resilience project. In the second year, the team will help put that project into action.

Core Team members will organize, promote, and run community events such as shared meals, pop-ups, surveys, social media campaigns, focus groups, or interviews. They’ll bring what they hear back to the group at about a dozen meetings throughout the year, usually in person but sometimes online. Meetings will last 1–2 hours and may also include looking at data to better understand community needs.

Once the team selects a project, they’ll meet with residents to get feedback and keep refining the plan as they roll it out. The goal is to build trust, create lasting relationships, and deliver solutions that truly serve the community.

Applicants must be 18 or older and cannot be employed by the City of Cambridge. Community Liaisons will receive compensation for their time. Learn more here.