New Role Integrates a Mental Health Professional with Dispatchers
In 2023, the City of Cambridge designated a new position within the Emergency Communications Department; a 911 Call Center Clinician. This is a new, unique public safety position as it places a mental health professional directly inside the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) alongside dispatchers.
Staff Provide Help with Winter Heating Costs
Every year, the Fuel Assistance Program helps more than 1,200 residents in Cambridge and Somerville pay their winter heating bills between November 1 and April 30. Most residents don’t think about heating bills until temperatures drop, but for the staff managing this crucial service, planning for Fuel Assistance begins in the heat of the summer.
How Cambridge Arts Cares For 280+ Public Artworks
Cambridge’s Percent-for-Art ordinance, established in 1979, has led to the city housing the largest municipal collection of contemporary public art in the region, along with the responsibility of maintaining it. The 2024 exhibition Rust Happen(s): Caring for the Public Art Collection showcased the challenges of preserving outdoor artworks, from rust and graffiti to storm damage, and highlighted the meticulous work of Cambridge Arts’ conservation team. Through stories of restored sculptures and murals, the exhibit underscored the science behind art conservation and encouraged community engagement in protecting public art.