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The Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program is a complementary grant program to the city’s Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant. It is a special program helping Cambridge’s U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) eligible for-profit retail, food, personal services, and creative businesses with a grant up to $10,000 per brick and mortar business. The program provides short-term working capital assistance to support businesses with inventory purchases (perishable and non-perishable), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) purchases or upgrades, and rent payments to enable businesses to open and ensure the retention of jobs after the severe interruption of business related to COVID-19 social distancing requirements.

In May 2026, the Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) purchased two existing residential buildings located at 1648 & 1654 Massachusetts Avenue with financial support from the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust (CAHT). The CHA will convert these properties to fully affordable housing as the existing market-rate units naturally turnover. The buildings contain a total of 56,614 square feet, including 62 one-bedroom units and 17 two-bedroom units and two commercial spaces. The commercial spaces are located on the first floor of the 1654 Massachusetts Avenue building and are currently leased to Huron Cleaners and Marathon Sports. Located between Harvard Square and Porter Square in Neighborhood Nine, the buildings are located in a prominent location with near access to local restaurants, shops, and public transit.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling Resource Line is a dedicated telephone line available to residents 75 and older. The call center will be staffed with over 500 representatives who can provide live phone support to assist residents with booking an appointment. The line will be open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. Live call center workers will be available in English and Spanish, and 100 additional languages will be available through translators. Call center workers will have the same access to appointments that users will see on the public website. The line can be accessed by dialing 2–1–1 and selecting the prompt for “Help Scheduling a Vaccine Appointment.”

Learn Where to Turn Please join us! In celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Cambridge Public Health Department in collaboration with the Community Safety Department, the Cambridge Public Library and Find It Cambridge will be sponsoring a panel discussion and tabling event. Come learn from our panel of local mental health providers as they discuss how to access support for yourself or a loved one and what to expect when reaching out. The event will take place on May 19th, 6-8pm at the Cambridge Public Library, main branch. Light refreshments and childcare will be provided. Registration requested (required for childcare, deadline Friday, May 8th). Please use the QR code below or go to finditcambridge.org/Where2Turn for more information and to register

What happens when mental illness meets homelessness and there’s nowhere to turn? What does healthcare look like when you’re sleeping outside, alone, and invisible? Join NAMI Cambridge/Middlesex and the Cambridge Public Library for an unflinching look at healthcare on the margins as Dr. Jim O’Connell, founding physician and President of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) shares stories, insights, and hard truths from a lifetime spent caring for patients—not in pristine clinics but in shelters, on sidewalks, and under bridges. Moderated by Dr. Rich Parker, this one-night event will explore the barriers so many in our community face when mental illness goes untreated, housing is out of reach, and support feels out of sight. Cosponsored by Cambridge Public Library. Registration is required.

The City of Cambridge is moving forward with targeted improvements to the 158 Spring Street building and Ahern Field to strengthen this important East Cambridge campus. The building project focuses on addressing aging infrastructure and improving safety, accessibility, and major systems such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and building envelope components. Limited classroom upgrades and common area improvements will help enhance the learning environment for students, staff, and visitors. Planned upgrades to the playground and splashpad areas will improve accessibility, safety, and functionality. These multi-use spaces support both school and neighborhood use. At Ahern Field, proposed improvements include a new synthetic turf field with lighting, renovated basketball and hockey/pickleball courts, better park entrances, new seating and gathering spaces, and enhanced landscaping to create a more welcoming and active space for people of all ages.

World Portuguese Language Day is celebrated every year in May. It is a celebration shared by millions around the world, including among the vast and important Portuguese speaking communities in Massachusetts. Portuguese is a global language, spoken by millions in different continents, and it is one of the most spoken languages in Massachusetts. Join us for an afternoon of celebration with the music of Portugal, Cape Verde, and Brazil, followed by light refreshments. Performers at the event include Mia Tomé, accompanied by Zé Manel Cavaco from Portugal; Vuca Pinheiro and Nhela Sax from Cape Verde; and the Trio Alma Brasileira from Brazil. The event is organized by the Consulates General of Portugal, Cape Verde, and Brazil, with the support of Camoes, Institute for Cooperation and Language, and in partnership with the Cambridge Public Library.

Join the Cambridge Public Library and the International School of Boston as they collaborate to host a French story time and a music-and-movement session where children will sing, move, enjoy a classic book read aloud in French, and create a small craft to take home. Parents will walk away with simple, effective tips to support interactive reading at home. No prior French experience is needed; this program is designed to spark curiosity, build cultural awareness, and make language learning joyful for all! Recommended for youth ages 3 to 6 years with their caregiver. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis on the day of the program. The entire party must be present to receive a ticket. This program starts promptly, and any unclaimed seats will be offered to someone waiting. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Please call 617-349-4038 for more information.

Every year, June is proclaimed Month of Portuguese Heritage in Massachusetts. Join us for a free concert at the Main Library in celebration of Portuguese Heritage Month. The concert will feature a jazz quartet performing works by Carlos Paredes and other Portuguese composers. Carlos Paredes (1925 – 2004), the most renowned Portuguese guitar composer, maintained significant artistic dialogues with other musical genres. Amongst his most important collaborations was an album recorded together with jazz musician Charlie Haden. The concert will also be a tribute to Paredes’ work on the 100th anniversary of his birth. The band consists of Tim Pascoal on piano; Gen Yoshimura on Drums; and Youngchae on upright bass. The performance will also feature Francisco Pais Cardoso on Guitar. A reception with Portuguese pastries will follow the concert. This event is cosponsored by the Cambridge Public Library and the Consulate General of Portugal in Boston, with the support of Camoes – Institute for Cooperation and Language (Portugal). Registration is required.

Join Earthwise Aware for a thought-provoking workshop examining how land use and climate change influence the design, function, and future of urban green spaces. Starting at the library’s front lawn, we will explore how conventional designs can undermine biodiversity and tree health. What makes a space truly nature-friendly? Can a lawn, sidewalk, or plaza be transformed into habitat? We will compare low-functioning green spaces with examples of micro-forests, native plantings, and meadows. Along the way, we will observe seasonal changes in plants and wildlife through the lens of phenology, the study of nature’s calendar. We will also introduce simple participatory science tools that help monitor habitat quality, foster community engagement, and inform better decisions. Even a modest native plant patch can be a pocket of resilience. Come learn how to spot, support, and reimagine urban nature that works with the ecosystem, not just mimics it. The program will start with a workshop in the Rossi Room, then move outside to Joan Lorentz Park. Registration required.