It’s a little past 9 am on a beautiful spring morning in the LMA. The streets are brimming with commuters, students, patients and visitors. As you settle into your morning routine, fire up the computer, grab an extra cup of coffee, your cell phone starts buzzing madly with emergency alerts and emails.

“There’s an active shooter in the LMA.”

But most importantly, THIS IS A DRILL.

Go Green! Reduce! Reuse! Recycle! Compost!

Those are definitely the buzzwords of the decade.

All around us organizations are making sustainability a key priority in their operations, and sustainability is a cornerstone of the work that MASCO does throughout the LMA. Late last fall MASCO hosted a panel on the opportunities and challenges of Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP).

Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a finalist for the Second Nature Climate Leadership Award, an annual competition among US colleges and universities that are signatories of the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).

You can watch MassArt's video submission here.

No young person expects to go off to college and be diagnosed with cancer.

But it happens. Here in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area we have students being treated for cancer away from their home institutions, and students at our Colleges of the Fenway battling cancer while trying to maintain their academic standing. 

Last month, MASCO President and CEO Marilyn Swartz-Lloyd participated in a panel discussion on the state of transportation in Massachusetts.

Hosted by NAIOP (The Commercial Real Estate Development Association), Secretary of Transportation Richard Davey was the keynote speaker and provided an overview of transportation priorities, economic development and growth in Boston and beyond.

MASCO Senior Accountant Adam Chamberlain won a coveted spot on the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s 2014 Marathon Team by sheer determination, and keeping a promise to his dad.

“My father has been my biggest fan and my best friend for as long as I can remember. So, when he suffered a heart attack four years ago, we were prepared to do whatever it took to support his recovery,” said Adam.  

With the help of a tax-exempt lease from MassDevelopment, MASCO has purchased a new fleet of buses and cut vans for its shuttle services.

Canada-based New Flyer Industries will manufacture 30 Xcelsior clean diesel heavy-duty buses for MASCO, and Krystal by ElDorado National will manufacture 7 new cut vans. 

We here at MASCO are excited to report that more than 2000 LMA employees have taken the pledge to be safer, more courteous commuters as part of our Karma Commuting Campaign.

And, many people have shared their thoughts, opinions and experiences about commuting in the LMA and in the city in general. We thought you'd like to see what people had to say, so we've included a sampling here.

Do you drive to work? We'll pay for you to Try the T on Thursday June 16th

Participation limited to first 100 registrants

Register at www.masco.org/dump-the-pump or commuteworks@masco.harvard.edu