Coordinated Care By a Community That Goes Above and Beyond for Those Most In Need
This is a story about “John.” If you have visited Harvard Square anytime over the last two decades, there is a good chance you have come across John. He is one of the more well-known, long-term unhoused Cambridge residents in the Harvard Square area. But you might not know where his story started and how the Cambridge Police Department, Harvard Square Business Association, Healthcare for the Homeless, and many other agencies have been coming together to support John over the years.
Parent/Child (Ages 7-9) Book Group (Main)
Join us for a lively discussion of a great book in person at the Main Library! Snacks will be provided. For ages 7-9 and a parent or caregiver.
This month's book is Lowriders in Space by Cathy Camper. Lupe Impala, El Chavo Flapjack, and Elirio Malaria love working with cars. You name it, they can fix it. The stars align when a contest for the best car around offers a prize of a trunkful of cash—just what the team needs to open their own shop! What will it take to transform a junker into the best car in the universe? Copies of this month's book are available at the Children's Desk.
Both caregiver and child should read the book before the discussion to participate. Registration is required — only one registration is needed per family.
For questions about parent/child book group, please email Rachel: rbeaton@cambridgema.gov
YouCan Kits
In honor of Save a Life Day and Recovery Month, please join us on Thursday, September 24th from 6-8pm to volunteer to put together overdose prevention kits at the Cambridge Public Library, Main Branch.
The You Can initiative (youcan.info) addresses overdose deaths by increasing access to lifesaving skills and resources statewide. Volunteers play a crucial role in this program by assembling the kits that are then mailed out across the state, getting lifesaving resources out to people and families who need them, free of cost. Each kit contains naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and other vital resources.
Recovery Month, observed each September, affirms that recovery from substance use and mental health challenges is possible, and shows the city's support for every Cambridge community member in all stages of their recovery journeys. Save a Life Day is a nationwide day of action that promotes year-round widespread naloxone access as one solution to the overdose crisis.
Volunteers will be able to leave with a completed kit, if desired. Representatives from the Cambridge Health Department will also be onsite to provide additional resources and support.
This program is a partnership between the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Health Resources in Action (HRiA) and hosted by the Cambridge Public Health Department and Cambridge Public Library.
Play in the Public Realm
A summary of the many ways that parks and open space can be activated through programming and design.
Broadway Park AHO Community Meeting
JAS held an initial community meeting on January 14th, 2025 to introduce themselves and the project to the community. They are holding another community meeting on July 24th at 6 p.m. at 243 Broadway, Cambridge and via Zoom to present updated designs and to collect feedback. Those who are interested in attending can register for the meeting here.
GIS
Cambridge GIS is all about Cambridge spatial data. We are constantly working on creating, maintaining, and delivering to our users the most accurate and reliable GIS datasets we can. We supply datasets, services, and applications to City staff, as well as to visitors to our website and other departmental sites which host our maps and apps.
Inventing Samanta (Main)
Join Cambridge Camping and the Cambridge Community Center for our first 2026 Village Building Series event: a live theater performance of Inventing Samanta (Our Ray of Hope) at the Cambridge Public Library. The play is performed by actors ages 19-26, following a group of high school students and exploring why - despite age, identity, or background - anyone can be an inventor. Presented by Central Square Theater's Youth Underground, with funding from Cambridge STEAM. This event is cosponsored by the Cambridge Public Library.
Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot Recommended for Some Groups
A booster shot is an extra dose of a vaccine that can help 'boost' the immune system to better protect against disease. COVID-19 vaccines work very well to protect against serious illness and death. However, protection against more moderate disease may decrease over time. Recent research shows that a Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot strengthens the immune response in people who had had their second Pfizer shot at least 6 months earlier.