Our Chapter's Working Groups
In addition to advocating for strong climate legislation at the state and local levels, our chapter of Brookline Mothers Out Front is organized around these local working groups:
Community Bridges
Brookline Mothers Out Front recognizes that climate change and environmental degradation disproportionately impact those in marginalized communities, including low income residents, people of color, and seniors. Through our Community Bridges Team, we build relationships with allied groups led by people of color, Indigenous people, and poor and working class people to build a shared vision of environmental justice and to support their efforts and leadership.
Fossil Fuel Free
A livable future for our planet is possible—and practical. We can replace fossil fuels in our buildings and vehicles with less polluting, cost-effective all-electric technology. Brookline Mothers Out Front championed local initiatives for fossil fuel-free buildings, which eventually led to statewide legislation that codified a pilot program for fossil fuel-free construction in Massachusetts. Now we are reaching out to Brookline residents—renters, landlords, condo-owners and homeowners—with a campaign called “Electrify Brookline” to rapidly shift away from fossil fuels. The campaign has launched a series of How-To guides packed with practical tips, technical information and available resources including a chart of financial incentives. The How-To guides can educate our community about weatherization, induction cooking, all electric heating and cooling, and spreading the word about how easy and affordable it is to sign up for 100% renewable electricity. We also remain committed to finding and stopping leaks in existing gas lines.
The Power of Trees
Trees reduce carbon dioxide in our atmosphere naturally while also cleaning the air, absorbing stormwater, sequestering carbon, reducing heat islands, and boosting energy conservation. But Brookline’s tree canopy is declining. We can reverse that trend, support climate resilience, and boost our urban forest by working toward Brookline’s goal of planting 400 trees a year for the next 10 years. We are partnering with the Town to expand the tree canopy by helping the Town plant Mini-Forests in public open spaces and encouraging residents to apply for a free “Front Yard” tree. Learn more.
Zero Waste and Compost
We are working toward universal composting and the elimination of single-use plastics. By reducing throwaway materials and making sure that organics are turned into compost, not trash, we are moving toward a zero waste future in Brookline and beyond. Through collaboration with the Brookline Department of Public Works and other partners, we are advocating for policies and practices that reduce the amount of waste Brookline incinerates, move us beyond plastics and make composting easy and accessible for everyone in Brookline. Learn more.
