2025 All-America City Finalist – Chelsea, MA

Chelsea, Massachusetts exemplifies resilience—a city that has continually risen from adversity through unity, determination, and innovation. From major fires and a city in Receivership due to corruption and bankruptcy, to school closures and a global pandemic, Chelsea has not only endured but reimagined itself time and again. These challenges have catalyzed collaboration between residents, local government, and community-based organizations to build a more inclusive, engaged, and transparent city.

Today, Chelsea continues to lead with a strong culture of civic engagement, equity, and representation. The city is home to a diverse, multilingual population and a local government that reflects the racial, cultural, and generational makeup of its community. Through initiatives and over two dozen resident-led boards and commissions, Chelsea ensures that its residents are not only heard but directly shape the city’s future. This ongoing spirit of collaboration is reflected in several impactful programs that empower residents and promote equity, resilience, and sustainability.

Cool Down Chelsea

Chelsea, Massachusetts is a frontline environmental justice community facing long-standing public health and climate challenges. With only 3% of land dedicated to parks, 80% impervious surfaces, and just 2% tree canopy, the city suffers from extreme heat, flooding, and poor air quality—conditions that disproportionately affect its largely immigrant, working-class population.

In response, Chelsea residents and organizations launched the Cool Block Initiative: a pilot project to transform one of the city’s hottest blocks into a greener, healthier, and more resilient space. In collaboration with Boston University’s School of Public Health and the Boston Society of Landscape Architects, residents identified heat hotspots, collected data, and co-designed cooling strategies.

Over 60 trees were planted with care led by the resident-run Tree Keeper Program, boosting tree survivability from 30% to 87%. A white roof was installed at the Boys and Girls Club, and residents designed and advocated for a new green space—ultimately securing unanimous city council approval to create it.

Looking ahead, 150 more trees will be planted, and the Tree Keeper Program will expand. The Cool Block has become a model for grassroots climate resilience: cooling the city, empowering residents, and demonstrating that those most impacted by injustice can lead the way toward lasting change.

Looking ahead, 150 more trees will be planted in the city’s hottest neighborhoods, and the Tree Keeper Program will expand. This project not only cools the city, but builds community, health, and power from the ground up.

Community Microgrid

In the wake of Hurricane Maria’s devastation in 2017, which left Puerto Rico without power for months, many displaced residents relocated to Chelsea, Massachusetts. The disaster highlighted the life-threatening impacts of grid failure and inspired Chelsea residents to prioritize local energy resilience.

At a 2018 community meeting, residents, many with direct ties to Puerto Rico, identified a microgrid as a top priority. Though technically complex, the concept resonated with a community that had seen the human costs of unreliable energy. This shared urgency sparked a collaborative, community-led effort, spearheaded by the Resilient Urban Neighborhoods – Green Justice Coalition (RUN-GJC), to design a virtual microgrid tailored to local needs.

The microgrid will power critical infrastructure, including city hall, the 911 center, the police station, senior housing, and other public buildings. Featuring solar panels, battery storage, EV chargers, energy-efficient upgrades, and backup broadband, it will deliver clean, reliable energy while reducing emissions and utility costs.

The initiative also includes resident training, educational installations, and plans to expand to private buildings. With strong support from the city manager and city council, Chelsea’s microgrid is a pioneering model for community-driven energy governance—shifting power from extractive utilities to local hands in the face of escalating climate threats. 

GreenRoots vs. The League of Air Pollutants: Chelsea’s Quest for Clean Air

Air quality is a critical social determinant of health—and in Chelsea, residents are leading the fight for cleaner air. In May 2020, during the height of the pandemic, a major air emissions violation occurred when contractors renovating the Tobin Bridge Viaduct released thick dust into nearby neighborhoods. Already burdened by high rates of respiratory illness and COVID-19 infections, the community mobilized quickly. Public outcry led to the installation of a stationary air quality monitor by state and federal agencies.

Building on that momentum, Chelsea partnered with Northeastern University to significantly expand local air monitoring. Today, more than 80 QuantAQ air quality monitors are installed across the city’s 1.8 square miles, capturing neighborhood-level pollution data. A multilingual, community-informed dashboard is in development to make this real-time data accessible to residents and researchers alike.

Chelsea is also engaging the community through creative approaches to address indoor air quality and urban heat. At public events, residents built their own air-filtering box fans, while comic strips featuring GreenRoots battling the League of Air Pollutants taught families about pollution’s health effects.

When a dangerous pile of asbestos was found illegally dumped near public housing, the community responded immediately. They demanded its removal and comprehensive environmental testing.

This proactive response is part of Chelsea’s ongoing fight for cleaner, safer air for all.

Return to the complete list of the 2025 All-America City Award Finalists.