Community-led Development

The Malden River Works (MRW) Team is organized to promote equitable project outcomes by centering the voices of Malden residents of color.

MRW Steering Committee

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 were to oversee the development of the concept design by giving direction to the MRW Project Team, and lead the outreach effort for the public design process.

Resident Leaders of Color

Marcia Manong*
Souad Akib
Carlos Aragon, Youth Leader
Linda Cline
Khalil Kaba (former)
Laura Le (former)
Emmanuel Marsh
Ramon Norales
Erga Pierette
Caroline Santos, Youth Leader
Daniel Shea, Youth Leader
Billy Zeng (former Youth Leader)

Environmental Advocate

Karen Buck, Friends of the Malden River*

City Government Rep

Bobby Knox, Director of DPW
Rebekah (Bekah) McPheeters, Sustainability & Grants Manager for Malden's Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development
Steve MacEachern, Assistant Director of DPW
Karen Colon-Hayes (Councillor at Large, Chairperson of Waterfront Access Committee)

MRW Steering Committee and Project Team | Photo Credit: Khalil Kaba

MRW Project Team

The MRW Project Team includes urban designers, watershed and climate resilience planners, and a community outreach specialist. Three members of the Steering Committee also serve on the MRW Project Team to ensure communication between the two groups.

The MRW Project Team was responsible for the technical development of the concept design and public outreach and engagement materials, survey analysis, as well as grant applications for further project funding.

Architect / Urban Designer, MIT

Marie Law Adams

Resident Leader of Color

Marcia Manong*

Leventhal City Prize Project Lead

Kathleen M. Vandiver

Environmental Advocate

Karen Buck*

City Government Rep

Rebekah (Bekah) McPheeters, Sustainability & Grants Manager for Malden's Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development
Karen Colon-Hayes (Councillor at Large, Chairperson of Waterfront Access Committee)

Watershed & Resilience Planning

Amber Christoffersen (former)
Melanie Gárate (former)
Marissa Zampino (MyRWA Community and Wicked Cool Mystic Organizer)
Karl Alexander (MyRWA Greenways Program Manager)

* On both Steering Committee and Project Team

Young and old and black and white.
Now is the time to stand and fight.
To make these Malden waters stream,
Let’s build a dynamic neighborhood team.

Excerpt from “Malden River Works” by Terry Carter | Contained in the published volume, “Brown Skin and the Brave New World: A Poet’s Anthem” (Xulon Press, 2020)