WORCESTER, Mass. - The city of Worcester hosted their first ever Green Worcester Summit Saturday. Part of the Green Worcester Plan, the inaugural gathering was focused on showcasing actions the city and community can take to improve resilience and livability.

The summit, hosted by the city's Department of Sustainability and Resilience, featured the second and final plantings for the Miyawaki forests, raingarden case studies, and other nature-based solutions for local residents and businesses. 

The hope is the summit inspires people to step up and get involved.

"Most of all, I hope people come away with two things: they're inspired to take action in their own home," said John Odell, the city's Chief Sustainability Officer. "Whether it's in their own yard or to join a group. Whether it's to be planting things like a pollinator garden or a raingarden, or just to talk and share with their friends about what's going on in the city and how they can participate."

The theme of the summit was "Building resilience, together." The hope is to have the summit annually, with a new theme each year.