Meet the MRW Steering Committee (Part 1)

The MRW Steering Committee is made up of a majority of resident leaders of color, along with city government representatives, and a resident environmental advocate. The responsibilities of the MRW Steering Committee are to oversee the development of the project design by giving direction to the MRW Project Team, and also leading public outreach efforts for the design of the project.

Meet a few of the Malden River Works Steering Committee members below and learn more about their experiences with the project!

CARLOS ARAGON

Carlos Aragon is a rising senior at Malden High School. He likes photography and film, and is currently doing amateur photography as a side job. Carlos is excited to continue his work with Malden River Works, and hopes to capture the river’s beauty on camera.

Why do you feel it is important to have local climate change resiliency projects in Malden?

I think having a local climate change focused project will help us as a community respond to climate changes that we know are coming. It’s just dawning on us all now that climate change is unavoidable and there are no signs of climate change stopping. This project will us prepare for what we know is coming and having a local project will help keep the community protected from coming extreme changes.

What value do you think this project will bring to Malden and to community members?

This project is going to be very valuable for the community and for Malden. The Malden River has been trashed for years and this project is the beginning of setting the river back on track. The river is not a landmark of the community yet, but it could be. When I went to DPW yard the first time to check out the river, it did not feel like a place where people could gather and I did not feel like I could be there. This project could build a place for residents to gather and make Malden stronger as a community. It’s a different feeling near the river, it just brings a different sense of community with this park. There is so much potential for this space to be something great for our community.

MARCIA MANONG

Marcia Manong is the Chair of the Malden River Works Steering Committee. Marcia has a long history of working with social justice organizations, beginning in the summer of 1964, when as a high school student, she volunteered in National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) voter registration campaign effort. Marcia is a member of Malden’s Community Organizing for Racial Equality (Malden CORE) and Mass Senior Action Council. She has also served as a citizen journalist and board member of Malden Access TV (MATV). Marcia presently works an office manager at Bread of Life in Malden, which organizes and provides community food services to Malden and to numerous surrounding cities.

What do you think are some of the key lessons learned from the project that you would want to share with others who may be interested in pursuing similar community centered projects?

The biggest lesson is that is critical to commit to building a governance structure that is equitable. Don’t practice tokenism. Communities of color are not interested in symbolic efforts to give an appearance of diversity. They want real diversity and inclusion. Trust and respect are essential components of success. The beginning of the project is really where you build that trust and respect, but that does not always happen. We all come to the table with our own baggage and mistrust, so remember that this is a relationship that you are trying to build. It takes time to build that trust and respect. You have to be willing to give up some controls and share some responsibilities for the project.

Active participation and community outreach are also invaluable to success. You need to get specific commitments from community leaders to make the project a success. People liked to be asked their opinion and know that it is valued. It is worthwhile to also be intentional in holding community meetings at a time that is best for your audience. You have to consider your audience and your community and plan your meeting times accordingly. Find ways to decrease those barriers to get community members involved. If your meetings are in person, consider providing food or have a kids activities table if you cannot provide childcare. Getting the youth involved in very important and they have much to offer. Meeting people at their place of cultural comfort is also integral to true engagement. Be sure to also find ways to accommodate multiple languages. Listening is absolutely fundamental to an equitable process. Processes must be collaborative and ensure that all voices are heard. Building equity takes time and on-the-ground communication.

BOBBY KNOX

Bobby Knox has served as the Malden Director of Public Works (DPW) for the past eight years. He has been an employee of the City of Malden for twenty-eight years, first working as a laborer for the DPW and eventually working his way up to Director. Bobby is a lifelong Malden resident and his children both attend Malden schools. He is very active in the city, in particular with youth sports and dance as both his children participate in those activities.

Why was it important for you to be involved in the Malden River Works project?
I was involved in this project from the very beginning because of my connection to the DPW yard as the DPW Director. Because the project is situated right on the DPW yard, I had the chance to be involved in how the whole project came together. I’ve been working to make sure the main DPW functions are still being met with the project, but we are still also able to make these improvements with the park. There have been a lot of changes in the city over these last few years, but this project is one of the great ones.

What value do you think this project will bring to Malden and to community members?

I think this park is going to be a great addition for the City of Malden and for all members of the community. Similar to when we were able to add the bike path in the city, this new park is going to give residents more options to enjoy safe outdoor activities. Residents will have a chance to explore a new space and do new things, like spending time on the river, which they might not have been able to do before if this project had not moved forward.