Youth Engagement on the Malden River

This spring, Malden Catholic students teamed up with Friends of the Malden River and Urban Media Arts to create a PSA for Earth Day, “Be a Role Model! Protect the Malden River.” The video focuses on pollution in the Malden River, in particular how individuals can set a good example by properly disposing of trash when they see litter in or near the river. Amanda Hurley, Interim Director of Media Arts for Urban Media Arts, commented, “I was blown away by how much we all were able to learn in just one day. The combination of the very hands-on river clean-up and the education on sustainability we received at the same time was so enlightening. I think it is apparent from the PSA that the students have a lot of passion and knowledge around the Malden River and sustainability." You can check out the PSA video below, including some excellent footage of the Malden River and the wildlife that call the river home.

This past month, the Malden High School Science Club, led by science teacher Greg Simone, did a clean-up along the Malden River that was attended by Malden Mayor Gary Christenson and United States Senator Ed Markey. The students and volunteers collected six large bags of trash along the river and had the opportunity to learn more about Senator Markey’s legislative initiatives to protect the environment. Senator Markey posted a tweet including a video about the efforts from the afternoon, but you can also check out some great photos from the clean-up below.

“It is imperative that our youth are presented and engaged with opportunities to learn about ways that they can improve our local environment, especially our waterways,” said Karen Buck, President of Friends of the Malden River and Malden River Works Steering Committee. “Their energy, coupled with focused facilitation, creates critical change and influences friends and family to join the environmental movement for enduring change. The environmental momentum is building: individuals and student organizations are contacting Friends of the Malden River with ideas, concerns, and desires of ways to improve our whole community by identifying with the Malden River!” This was made possible with funding from the State of Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Program Action Grant and a MAPC Accelerating Climate Resiliency Grant.