July 1, 2026
Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Healthy Environments Advance Learning (MVP HEAL)
The City of Lynn’s Health Division partnered with Frederick Douglass Collegiate Academy (FDCA) and Lynn Public Schools (LPS) School Nurses Jackie Westrin and Deb Tanzer under the state-funded MVP HEAL initiative to evaluate and address environmental health barriers affecting student learning. Following an initial physical walkthrough that identified structural and aesthetic gaps, the Health Division empowered FDCA students to design and distribute a peer survey evaluating their physical environment. The data revealed a strict hierarchy of student needs, led by an overwhelming concern over temperature instability (57%), which students reported causes physical sickness and disrupts concentration. Additionally, students advocated for expanded indoor and outdoor greenspaces (28%) to combat stagnant air, and had strong feelings about the building's sterile, institutional look—comparing the feeling of the facility to a hospital and requesting vibrant colors and student artwork to improve mental well-being.
To resolve these challenges, the students’ data was shared with City Hall officials, The Mayor, the School Committee, and other community partners: asking on-site teachers, the LPS Administration, the Mayor and local politicians for their support and buy-in to address issues highlighted in the data. Ultimately, this youth-led assessment demonstrates that addressing climate-resilient temperature control and softening institutional school environments are not just cosmetic choices; under the MVP HEAL framework, they are vital environmental health and municipal equity interventions directly tied to student productivity and mental health. As a result of this grant, cooling window tint will be applied to the floors in which students learn, and funds will be provided to the students new greenspace/garden club that was identified. EEA Undersecretary Antos hailed the work in Lynn as one that can be used as a statewide template for approaching this work.
