Green Needham

March 27th Showing of Award-winning Documentary "Plastic People - the Hidden Crisis of Microplastics"
2025-03-27 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Newman School Auditorium, 1155 Central Ave., Needham, MA, 02492, United States
Green Needham, in conjunction with Sustainable Wellesley and in partnership with the Needham High School Environmental Action Club, is excited to announce that we will be hosting a viewing of “Plastic People – The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics” on Thursday, March 27th at 7PM at Newman Elementary School Auditorium. This award-winning documentary discusses the threat of microplastics on human health. Following the movie, we will lead an informal discussion. Admission is free, but please register here. Join us early to view informational displays from the event cosponsors and stay for a moderated discussion to learn more about local initiatives and how you can become involved in solutions. Other cosponsors: Needham Public Health Department, Needham League of Women Voters, Wellesley Climate Action Committee, and Wellesley Health Department.
6:30 to 7:00 p.m. – Informational Displays by Cosponsors
7:00 to 8:30 p.m. – Film Screening
8:30 to 9:00 p.m. – Moderated Discussion
Plastic People Synopsis
The award-winning feature documentary Plastic People investigates our addiction to plastic and the growing threat of microplastics on human health. Almost every bit of plastic ever made breaks down into “microplastics.” These microscopic particles drift in the air, float in all bodies of water, and mix into the soil, becoming a permanent part of the environment.
Now, leading scientists are finding these particles in our bodies: organs, blood, brain tissue, and even the placentas of new mothers. What is the impact of these invisible invaders on our health? And can anything be done about it?
Acclaimed author and science journalist Ziya Tong takes a personal approach by visiting leading scientists around the world and undergoing experiments in her home, on her food, and her body while collaborating with award-winning director Ben Addelman (Discordia, Bombay Calling, Nollywood Babylon, Kivalina v. Exxon) in an urgent call to action for all of us to rethink our relationship with plastic.

Flood Preparedness and Solutions in Needham
2025-03-31 15:00 - 16:30 | The Center at the Heights, 300 Hillside Ave, Needham, MA, 02494, United States
Concerned about extreme weather and flooding in Needham?
Please join us for an informational event on Monday, March 31 from 3:00-4:30 p.m. at The Center at the Heights, 300 Hillside Ave, Needham.
Learn how flooding impacts Needham and steps you can take at home to prepare yourself for extreme weather events. Hear from Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW) and Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) about nature-based solutions (e.g. tree planting, removing pavement, rain gardens) that can help Needham adapt to more frequent extreme weather events. Get tips on extreme weather preparedness, connect with neighbors to share your flood solution ideas, and inform Town staff about your priorities to best protect the community. Refreshments will be provided.

Sustainable Wellesley Sponsored Discussion: Healthy Future for Our Children
2025-04-30 19:00 - 20:30 | Hunnewell Elementary School, 28 Cameron St, Wellesley, MA, 02482
Pediatrician and Chief Science Officer at the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University Dr. Lindsey Burghardt discusses Climate, Kids and Health (Physical & Mental) with Wellesley parents/caregivers on Wednesday, April 30th at the Hunnewell School at 7pm. Confirm your seat here.
The recent fires in LA (even some in Milton last year) have extreme weather issues on parent’s minds. Dr. Burghardt will cover the connection between allergies, asthma, brain development, heat, pregnancy, low birth weight and preterm birth as well as vector borne diseases with our warming climate. She and others will offer suggestions on ways to mitigate these issues.
Individually and collectively, there are a variety of actions we can do to create a healthier future for our children. Make time for this important discussion.
RSVP as there is limited seating.

Needham Celebrates Race Amity Day & Richard Fry Plaque Dedication
2025-06-08 15:00 - 17:00 | Avery Field, 355 Webster St, Needham, MA, 02494, United States
Join sponsors Needham Diversity Initiative, Needham History Center & Museum, Needham Human Rights Committee, the Town of Needham, and Green Needham at this event, and enjoy live music, food, and crafts. Click here to view event flyer for more information.
Note: Parking is at Temple Beth Shalom, corner of Webster and Highland Sts.

Labor Day Rally for Democracy in NEEDHAM
2025-09-01 15:30 - 17:00 | Needham Center & Highland Ave.
Please consider joining a rally this Monday, September 1st, to show support for our communities currently under attack, and stand up for the principles of our democracy.
The rally will take place in Needham Center from 3:30 – 5:00pm. It will include a brief program midpoint with two guest speakers, former SEIU Labor Organizer, and Needham Resident, Frank Flynn, and MA Governor’s Council member Tamisha Civil.
Registration is not required but it will allow us to reach out to you if any changes are made to the event: Register HERE.

Greater Needham Wellesley Sustainability Summit
2025-10-08 16:00 - 20:00 | Marla Capozzi Rooom, Olin Hall, Babson College
Presented by the Babson-Olin-Wellesley Three College Collaboration.
An inaugural event designed for local sustainability leaders to connect, inspire and take action.
Click here to Register.

Pollard Sustainability Workshop / Climate Action Committee Meeting
2025-10-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Pollard Middle School, 200 Harris Ave., Needham, MA, 02492, United States
Please join us for the first of three workshops that will cover sustainability approaches in the design of the Pollard Middle School project.
This first workshop will be a high-level conversation about sustainability and how it could be integrated into the project while supporting the educational goals. The workshop will allow the community to establish the sustainable goals and priorities that will influence design decisions throughout the project, in whatever shape it takes.
You may attend in person or on zoom – click here for the link.

Plastics: The Mounting Threat to Public Health webinar
2026-01-28 16:00 - 17:00
with Dr. Philip Landrigan, in conjunction with LWVMA – Wednesday Jan 28, likely 4pm.
Details TBD

Plastics: the Mounting Threat to Public Health Webinar
2026-01-28 16:00 - 17:30
Microplastics pose an increasing threat to our health. They last forever and are everywhere – in the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the products we use. More work is needed to fully understand the health impacts of plastics accumulating in our bodies, but scientists have linked the particles to serious health problems, including cancer, heart disease, asthma, and disruption of the endocrine and reproductive systems.
Green Needham and the League of Women Voters of Needham will jointly host a webinar, “Plastics: the Mounting Threat to Public Health,” on January 28, at 4pm. Our speaker will be Dr. Philip Landrigan, MD. Dr. Landrigan is a pediatrician and epidemiologist, and he directs the Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good at Boston College and the Global Observatory on Planetary Health. Dr. Landrigan has collaborated with other scientists to study the health impacts of plastics throughout their lifecycles. He will share the study’s results and give his recommendations for taking bold steps now to reduce plastics and mitigate their health impacts. Dr Landrigan will also respond to questions from the webinar audience.
Register for the webinar here. A recording of the event will be sent to all registrants and will be available on the Green Needham and League of Women Voters of Needham websites.

Webinar - Learn about CRWA’s Regional Tree Planting and Protection Plan!
2026-02-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Webinar, Online
Trees are a climate solution: they mitigate flooding, provide clean air, and cool our neighborhoods. Yet the Charles River watershed is losing tree canopy at an alarming rate (an average of 6.9% across the watershed from 2008 to 2021). Join our webinar on Monday, February 9th from 7-8pm to learn about our 2025 Regional Tree Planting & Protection Plan for the Charles River watershed, highlighting recommendations for communities to protect, maintain, and grow our tree canopy.
Registration is required and can be completed using this link.

Webinar from Elders Climate Action: The Climate Obstruction Industry
2026-02-10 12:00 - 13:30
On Tuesday, February 10, at noon, Elders Climate Action, MA will host a webinar, The Climate Obstruction Industry, on the important topic of climate deception. The speaker will discuss the well-financed, global effort to thwart climate policy using disinformation, and what we can do about it. Register for the webinar here. Learn more here.
The Speaker: Timmons Roberts is the Ittleson Professor of Environment and Society at Brown University and the Executive Director of the Climate Social Science Network, a network of more than 800 scholars across 49 countries.
